Pasatiempo Golf Club
Alister MacKenzie's own favourite course and the daily-fee sibling of Cypress Point and Augusta — a barranca-laced masterpiece above Monterey Bay that anyone can book.
Pasatiempo Golf Club in photos
Can I play Pasatiempo Golf Club?
Yes — Pasatiempo is a daily-fee course and any golfer can book a tee time, no membership or introduction required. It runs as a semi-private club, so members get first call on the sheet, but a block of public times is released online each day and the course actively welcomes visiting golfers. Because it is Alister MacKenzie's own favourite design, demand is high and prime weekend slots go quickly.
How to book: Book online through the club's tee-sheet or by calling the pro shop; public times are typically released a couple of weeks out, with weekend mornings the most contested. A non-refundable priority-reservation fee applies to lock in a guaranteed time. Caddies can be arranged by phoning the pro shop at least 24 hours ahead.
About Pasatiempo Golf Club
Pasatiempo opened in 1929 as the personal masterwork of Alister MacKenzie, who built a home on the course and later declared it the finest layout he ever designed — ahead of even Cypress Point and Augusta National. Set on rolling ground above Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay, it is defined by deep natural barrancas, boldly contoured greens and a back nine MacKenzie called the best nine holes in golf. A meticulous restoration has returned the bunkers and putting surfaces to their original 1929 shapes. Crucially for travellers, it remains a public daily-fee course, so an ordinary golfer can walk the same fairways MacKenzie perfected for himself.
Signature hole
The par-4 16th — a downhill drive to a fairway split by a barranca, then a mid-iron over the ravine to a fiercely tilted three-tier green — is regarded as one of the greatest inland par 4s in America and was a MacKenzie favourite.
What makes it special
MacKenzie's favourite
The only course the architect of Augusta and Cypress Point called his personal best — and it is open to the public.
The barrancas
Deep ravines slash across the fairways, forcing constant risk-and-reward decisions off the tee and into the greens.
A restored classic
Greens and bunkers have been rebuilt to their exact 1929 forms, so you play the design as MacKenzie drew it.
Tournament pedigree
- Western Intercollegiate (annual NCAA college event)
Need to know
Best time to play
Playable year-round in the mild coastal climate; spring through autumn is driest, though morning fog rolling off Monterey Bay is common. The greens were fully restored to MacKenzie's 1929 design in a recent renovation.
Dress code
Collared shirts required; no denim, gym wear or cut-offs. Soft spikes only.
Good to know
One of the most walkable of the great American courses — it was built before electric carts — but the terrain has real elevation change, so it is a genuine hike. Caddies are available with 24 hours' notice; allow about four and a half hours for the round.
Upcoming golf tournaments
Prefer to watch the world’s best? Book tickets to an upcoming tournament, then add a hotel and flights.
Getting there
Nearest airports
San Jose (SJC) ~40 min; Monterey (MRY) ~45 min; San Francisco (SFO) ~1h30.
On arrival
Pasatiempo sits just off Highway 17 on the north edge of Santa Cruz, about 40 minutes over the hill from San Jose and roughly 90 minutes south of San Francisco. A rental car is the practical way in; the course is a short drive from the Santa Cruz beachfront.
Stay near the course
There is no lodging on site, so most visitors base themselves in Santa Cruz or fold the round into a Monterey Peninsula trip, with Carmel and Pebble Beach around an hour south. Downtown Santa Cruz and the beach boardwalk area offer the closest hotels.
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
Santa Cruz
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices Chaminade Resort & Spa
Santa Cruz
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices La Bahia Hotel and Spa
Santa Cruz
A taste of the luxury stays near Pasatiempo Golf Club — tap any hotel to see live availability and prices for your dates, or search them all.
Plan your golf trip
Hotels near the course
Live-priced stays a short drive from the 1st tee.
Search hotelsFlights
Get to Santa Cruz — search fares to the nearest airport.
Find flightsTournament tickets
Rather watch the pros? Book golf tournament tickets.
See golf ticketsThings to do
Tours and experiences around Santa Cruz.
Explore Santa CruzFrequently asked questions
Can the public play Pasatiempo?
Yes. It is a daily-fee, semi-private course — members get booking priority, but public tee times are released each day and anyone can reserve one online or by phone.
How much does it cost to play Pasatiempo?
Visitor green fees run roughly USD 325–429 per round depending on day and season, with cart and priority-reservation fees extra. Prices are approximate and change seasonally.
Do I need a handicap to play?
No handicap certificate is required for public play, but this is a demanding championship course with severe greens, so a degree of golfing competence makes for a much better day.
When is the best time to play Pasatiempo?
Spring through autumn offers the driest, warmest conditions, though it plays year-round; expect coastal fog on some mornings, which usually burns off by midday.
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Golf guideSources & pricing note
Green fees, access rules and tee-time policies change frequently and vary by season. The figures here are indicative for trip planning — always confirm on the official site before booking.
Guide updated 2026-07-27.