The Passing of Time

The captivating Par 3 finish at the "Good Doctor's" Masterpiece in Santa Cruz-- Pasatiempo

It was the morning after Cypress.

I was still marinating in my euphoric bliss from the previous day and was now on the road early with my father to enjoy what was yet another chapter in “The Good Doctor’s” works. As stated in a previous post, Cypress engaged me in deeper ways than just the architecture. The overall inner-soul had been enriched by such a fine experience that one can only hope to have again on the links.

A frost delay and a mid-day flight put a premium on LC’s schedule, but it did allow for us to see the last 3 holes on the front nine and entire back nine. Once the temperatures ascended, the weather was superb, and the architecture on this rolling location was prime. So prime that Dr. MacKenzie called Pasatiempo his home right off the 6^th hole.

In the spirit of the great links courses overseas, Pasatiempo operates as a private club who openly accepts outside play. Similarly, the total focus on golf and the void from needless “service candy” via beverage carts, crappy food, and unhelpful outside service people was congruent with some of the

It was so good that he called it home: MacKenzie's residence off the famed 6th at Pasatiempo

best clubs overseas.

Let me make this simple: Pasatiempo is a golf club. The course features world-class architecture and caters to members/guests who both appreciate the design and are caretakers of Dr. MacKenzie’s legacy. Its that simple. It is for that very reason that I applaud Pasatiempo for their dedication towards focusing on what is important: providing great architecture and removing and/or avoiding any obstacles which would divert a player’s attention from the great artwork in front them.

It is always rewarding to see a club willing to share its treasure with those who appreciate great design, and on behalf of Links Confidential, my personal thanks to the staff at Pasatiempo for allowing us the opportunity to enjoy such a fine routing.


A brief description of Pasatiempo was located in the yardage book:

Pasatiempo Golf Club was founded in 1929 by U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Marion Hollins and designed by world-renowned golf course architect Dr. Alistair MacKenzie.  Hollins and MacKenzie first collaborated on designing and building Cypress Point and continued through Augusta National. Pasatiempo is one of the last great courses built in the classical tradition when match play was the norm and amateur golf was at its peak.

Pasatiempo’s dramatic elevation changes and natural hazards highlight Dr. Mackenzie’s most rugged site, yet throughout their round, players will appreciate how his fairways and green complexes blend harmoniously with the environment. MacKenzie declared the 16^th hole to be “the best two-shot hole I know” and described Pasatiempo’s undulating fairways as bearing a remarkable resemblance to those of the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Holes of Note:

Hole 10: Par 4, 440 yards

An abrupt change in topography immediately greets you at the 10^th hole. The first of many forced carries over a deep canyon has MacKenzie trying to dictate to the player to aim towards the right-hand side of the partially-blind horizon tee shot. For many mortals, it will ultimately require a 3^rd shot to a heavily sloped green that is dictated by a hill off the right-hand side of the green. What is truly wonderful about this hole is the options that MacKenzie provides you: With a right-hand front pin placement, the hole requires skill in the ground game which ultimately accepts a shot short of the green and then propels via he contours towards the pin. In the event of a deep-left placement, players will have the option of either attacking it from an aerial-based shot or choosing a more low-flying ground approach which will feed back to the hole given the contour and speed of the green.  This green-site and approach represent s perfectly one of MacKenzie’s “13 General Principles”  when he referenced “There should be infinite variety in the strokes required to play the various holes…with every club utilized.” Tom Doak did a masterful job of relocating and re-storing the bunkering on this hole which will threaten approach shots coming in from the left side. The green provides what seems limitless pin placement options and combined with speeds of up to 11, proves out once again that MacKenzie’s intense approach on providing multiple strategies throughout the entire hole is at a premium.

Hole 11:  Par 4, 392 yards
This is the LONGEST 392 yards I have EVER played. MacKenzie made great use out of a natural feature with the canyon and created what is a world-class par 4 hole. A solid tee shot down the left side of the fairway only leaves more choices for the player during his journey through Pasatiempo: do you have what it takes to execute a shot of roughly 160 yards (which will actually feel and play like 175+) to a thin double-tiered elevated green that is heavily protected, or do you take the more conservative approach and lay up? Once again, the options here are limitless, but MacKenzie’s bold use of the canyon along with a green that is perfectly sited within its location will serve to absolutely scare the player with his second shot with heroic-style architecture.  ^th hole.

Hole 13:  Par 5, 531 yards
The main take-away Links Confidential had with the 13^th hole is MacKenzie’s use of bunkering to both navigate and overwhelm the player during his walk down the fairway. Once again, Doak did a first-class job in re-capturing both the size and drama of these bunkers. Although reachable in 2 in theory if the player challenges the left-side of the fairway, the overall size of the green and the bunkering encompassed at each area would demand a sensational shot. Furthermore, MacKenzie’s use of a Y-shaped green featuring multiple undulations will provide players coming in at regulation limitless fear and choices. In finishing the hole, stop and take a look back. The intense bunkering quickly disappears, leaving just runs of fairway and closely-mown turf; a common practice by MacKenzie that was pointed out to me by our caddie Matt at Cypress, and possibly a method for the player to recover from such a sensory experience.

Hole 14: Par 4, 429 yards
There is not a single architect in the world today who would leave the massive undulation on the left-side of the fairway located 240 yards from the tee. The dozers would be in full-force bringing in fill to eliminate this “blemish” and make the hole more ‘fair.”It is for this reason that Links Confidential recognized this hole as one of the very best as it relates to overall strategy and genius during the round. A tee shot to the lower fairway leaves the player with a 100% blind shot to you guessed it….a well undulated and protected green. Local knowledge is key here…if the player can utilize the right side of the fairway, many of the terrors recede leaving for an offensive position in which the player can attack the flag. Although MacKenzie states “There should be a minimum of blindness for the approach shots,” it is absolutely refreshing to see and play this hole. Golf in its modern era has become way to predictable and fair in LC’s humble opinion, and situations like the 14^th at Pasatiempo re-capture many of the childhood elements of adventure on the course while blending an innate need to learn the intentions of the architect and try to follow his direction.

Hole 15: Par 3, 141 yards
A stunner of a Par 3. Doak’s re-placement of MacKenzie’s original bunkering within the front hillside on this short hole makes for a major opportunity within a match to earn momentum prior to heading to the 16^th. It is truly a “backyard hole” whereby I would enjoy playing every day. The art of the short Par 3 should require more study by modern architects infatuated by the 200+ hole. In the spirit of the 17^th at Sand Hills, the 15^th at Pasatiempo provides the player the entire core elements of a great hole (visual, strategic green site with multiple locations) while also giving him a chance to make a good score.

Hole 16: Par 4, 387 yards
Similar to the 11^th hole, throw your scorecard away when you read the yardage….the constant remark you will have when playing any MacKenzie course is “how in the hell is this only 6,500 yards?” The nature of the property combined with his architectural genius will require numerous rounds on property to fully understand and feel Alistair’s overall intent and nuances provided in the routing.
The 16^th IS a world-class hole. Beginning with an uphill blind tee shot from a lower canyon tee, the player is truly required to challenge the top-right portion of the fairway mounding which then will provide additional roll for the upcoming approach shot.
Sound easy enough? You just got started my friends.
The approach shot is both breath-taking and terrifying. At the same time, a player will be faced with a down-hill lie to an uphill, three-tiered green which is protected by one of MacKenzie’s most beautiful bunkers. There is no doubt in my mind that the 16^th at Pasatiempo has yielded very few great scores, but instead has been the critical point in every match and medal round. In the event that you are short on time when visiting Pasatiempo (like LC was due to a frost delay and return flight) don’t miss the 16^th. The pure strategy and architectural merit a must-see as an example of what needs to take place more in today’s modern architecture.

Located just 45 minutes from the San Jose airport, Pasatiempo is a must-play for those in the area. In finishing our abbreviated-round on the wonderful Par Three 18^th, I was keenly aware that missing the first 5 holes was a disappointment, but another memorable trip with my father over such great architecture was the larger reward. It was difficult to play Pasatiempo following Cypress, but having more time to reflect on the design has allowed me to truly appreciate the genius of MacKenzie.  Although abbreviated on the front 9, the back 9 was about as strong as a design hole-for-hole that one will play. Pasatiempo is a fine club, and an even greater treasure of architecture…don’t miss it.