Pasatiempo - a few dozen pictures

[Jim Johnson]

In early May my wife and I traveled to California and had the pleasure of golfing at Pacific Grove, Pasatiempo, San Juan Oaks, Monarch Dunes, Sandpiper, Oak Quarry, Desert Willow-Firecliff, and LaQuinta Mountain.

Pasatiempo was founded by U.S. Women's Amateur champion Marion Hollins and was designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie. Pasatiempo opened September 8, 1929 featuring the foursome of Bobby Jones, Glenna Collett, British Amateur champion Cyril Tolley and Hollins. MacKenzie declared the 16th 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. Dr. MacKenzie moved permanently to Pasatiempo and you can see his house to the left of the 6th fairway about 100 yards short of the green.

The course has three sets of tees ... 5,685 yards, 6,125 yards, and 6,521 yards. Any distances posted in these photos are from the set of 6,521 yard tees.

Opening hole ... 457 yard par-4


2nd fairway, 437 yards


3rd hole par-3 235 yards


4th tee shot, 378 yards


4th approach


5th par-3 190 yards


Tee shot on 6, 567 yard par-5


Plaque


The good doctor's house, beside the 6th fairway


Tee shot on 7, 348 yards ... this hole seemed out of place to us


Par-3 8th hole 176 yards, with 9th in background


Tee shot on 9 ... uphill par-5 of 500 yards


Temp was in the low 70's with minimal breeze. Out of the 8 courses played on the trip, it was our favorite, although one of the other courses may actually have been a co-favorite (stay tuned).

Back 9 to follow.

Cheers,
Jim

[JLahrman]

Those are certainly some big green fairway stripes.

And I agree with you regarding the 7th hole...and the 6th as well actually, especially once you get up closer to the green.

[Mac Plumart]

The greenside bunkering on 7 is fantastic IMO.

[Zack Molnar]

One of the holes at Pasa that I think is underrated is #2. I think the tee shot provides a lot of options. I remember when I played there I hit a short tee ball down the right side as the hole was playing into the wind, and I was able to run a 3-iron onto the green using the feeding slopes down around the green. On the other hand, my friend pulled his tee shot down the left side, but was also able to feed his ball onto the green, but it required a much more accurate and skillful approach. Is this the prevailing wind on this hole?

I also love #4, but the close proximity of the houses really detracts from the hole. But all in all, a trip to NorCal without stopping at Pasa if there is time and funds is a wasted trip IMO. I eagerly look forward to a return trip there soon.

[Mac Plumart]

Zack...agreed.  Two was a jaw-dropper for me as I watched the members I played with use those slopes and features to feed their balls to a tucked left front-ish pin placement.  Super cool!

[Peter Ferlicca]

I don't like the mowing patterns they are doing with contour mowing lines.  It stands out to much and detracts from the architechture.  I would much prefer the classic, half and half method there.  I am pretty sure that is new.  I have never seen pictures where they stand out so much.

[Mac Plumart]

Great pick up Peter.

Here is what 3 looked like just a few months ago.




Also, here are those greenside bunkers on 7 I mentioned.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Great pics, Jim.

I absolutely love Pasatiempo. It's one of a handful of courses I've visited/played that exceeded already high expectations. There's something very pleasant about a round there. The course is a perfect challenge, without ever being 'too much' - ideal.

The fairway mowing (stripes) really jumped out at me in these photos, too. Not the greatest presentation, I don't think - but, the course still looks to be in excellent condition.

I don't think the 7th hole 'seems out of place' - it's the 'picket fence' of trees on both sides of the fairway, in my view, that makes the hole look, and perhaps 'seem out of place'. It's actually a great little hole - in the right spot in the round - that would be much improved if it were still connected with the adjacent 6th and 8th holes (open space), as per Mackenzie's original design. However, we've learned elsewhere, this is impossible. The safety issues in this tight area of the course are real. If my memory serves correct, someone was killed by a golf ball in this vicinity not so long ago.

To me, Pasatiempo isn't so much about disecting the merits of each hole - it's the overall experience; the setting, and the way the course flows (so well) from the first tee to the last green.

Fantastic place, Pasatiempo.

P.S. When I was there, in 2009, I looked over at Mackenzie's house and there was an older gentleman near a window sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen... I wondered if he had the same thoughts/feelings about that house I did at that moment?!!

P.S.S. The 'half and half' mowing pattern is a much better presentation, at Pasatiempo anyway.

[Marty Bonnar]

What is going on with that mowing regime?
Is there a new Super - or worse still - a new Greens Committee Chair with 'ideas'...
Aaarrgghhhh...

F.

[Matthew Mollica]

Nice images Jim. Great day for your round. Here's a pic of 5 from early April. Stripes had arrived by then...   

[Alex Miller]

I was there in September. There were similar stripes, but nothing close to this dramatic in coloring. Loved everything about the course though, save the extra defined playing corridor of #7. I wonder if it's too narrow to create a large shared fairway of 6&7 with scattered strategic bunkering and lone trees to break it up.

[JLahrman]

I don't think the 7th hole 'seems out of place' - it's the 'picket fence' of trees on both sides of the fairway, in my view, that makes the hole look, and perhaps 'seem out of place'. It's actually a great little hole - in the right spot in the round - that would be much improved if it were still connected with the adjacent 6th and 8th holes (open space)

This is what I meant...the extreme hallway feel just puts it at odds with the feel of the rest of the course.

[Brent Carlson]

Nice pics Jim.  Pasa is a special place.

What a great view up the 9th from the 8th tee.  Does anyone know if trees were removed to open the view up?  It looks fantastic.

Par-3 8th hole 176 yards, with 9th in background

[Brian Hilko]

These photos reminded me how much I love the par 3's at pasa. That bunker behind the pin on 5 is so tough. I spent 10 min in that bunker trying diffrent shots to multiple pin locations. So hard to stop the ball if the pin is up front. I am going to make burger dogs and drink some tall boys. I love pasa.

[Carson Pilcher]

#7 used to have a lot more trees on both sides of the fairways and at the green.  That tee shot used to be TIGHT!  Doesn't look as difficult now.

[Matthew Mollica]

It has cleared out appreciably since my visit in 2001.
There's an old picture of the hole somewhere in the archives of GCA, and it is NARROW.

It could be really something with almost all the trees gone, and some good bunkering.

MM

[Scott Warren]

I can't wait to play Pasatiempo in August, but oh Lordy those fairway stripes are honking!

[Tim Bert]

I know the repetitiveness is growing tiresome but I must say if the focal point of the pictures becomes the mowing patterns then something is wrong. I don't think I have ever looked at a set of pictures from Pasa and even given two seconds thoughts to how the fairway was mowed but my goodness it is distracting here.

[Jim Johnson]

On to the back 9...

It begins on 10 with the tee shot over a chasm to a heaving fairway. The ideal tee shot is long and to the right, while still keeping it in the fairway. The hole is 440 yards, doglegging to the left.


The approach shot on 10


The 10th green


11th hole, par-4 of 392 yards climbing uphill over a dry wash which is about 275 out but on a diagonal so the more you hit left off the tee the closer you come to the wash.


While listening to a lady on the deck of her house next to the tees discuss her legal problems over the phone, we teed it up at the 12th hole, a par-4 of 373 yards.


Zoomed in on the 12th hole. Left is not good.


13th tee shot, a par-5 of 531 yards.


13th fairway


14th tee, 429 yards. Note the dip in the fairway, which extends most of the way across the fairway.


15th hole, 141 yard par-3, a cute and sexy little harlot squeezed into the property.


15th hole


16th tee shot, the "signature hole" on the course, a par-4 of 387 yards. Dogleg slightly left.


Approach on 16


Zoomed in on the 16th green


From the left rough on 16


Golfers ahead, on the 16th green


Walking onto the green


Brenda putting up the slope (note the contours in the left half of the photo)


17th tee shot, 371 yards


A par-3 to finish the round, downhill 169 yards


The following day it was inland to golf at San Juan Oaks, a Gene Bates/Fred Couples design...

Cheers,
Jim

[Mac Plumart]

I truly enjoyed Pasa.  Lots of great and interesting stuff there.

I'd heard so much about 16 and I couldn't wait to play it.  But I thought 11 just might be the best hole on the course...and frankly there are a lot of good ones to choose from.

What do you think Jim?  Favorite moments?  Least favorite?

[Jim Johnson]

Mac, I think the favorite moments were standing on that 1st tee on such a beautiful day and anticipating the upcoming round, the amazing 16th green and its incredible slope(s), the bunkering on the course, the fairway contours ... with the 2nd and the 10th being good examples as seen in the photos, the bold par-3's on the front 9 and the shorter par 3's on the back, the flow of the routing, the width - a nice variety of width throughout the course, and the fantastic green complexes. It was important not to be above the hole whenever possible on your approach shots. We employed the services of a caddie which was quite enjoyable, the only other times being Bandon 3 years ago and Chambers Bay last year golfing with Rich Choi. Ryan was quite helpful and made the overall experience that much more enjoyable. Overall, just a great day ... great weather, great golf course.

The least favorite? Not much to speak of. If anything comes to mind, it would be hole #7, I just wasn't a big fan of it, it just seemed out of norm on the course, with that corridor of trees as it is. But as Jeff said, if it could be "part of" the 6th and 8th holes and opened up I think it would make for a "better" change. Now that I think of it, I wasn't really enamored with the 6th hole either, at least the approach. It was quite flat in that area, was bordered by a row of houses on the left side (including MacKenzie's former home) and not of huge interest, compared to the rest of the course. That, and perhaps finishing with a par-3 hole, although it didn't bother me and I didn't not like it, I just thought it "different". Not a bad thing actually. The range had mats which I'm not crazy about but it was certainly enough to warm up on and that's all I ask of a range, particularly when it's only the 2nd round of the season, I'm not into working on my game seriously on a practice range at this point in time.

Jim

[Jim Johnson]

I think the back 9 outshines the front 9. When you drive over to the additional parking lot (you do when it's 12 noon) you get smacked in the face with the views of the 10th hole just off to the side of that road, and the 18th green below you. It's a bit of a teaser, knowing that you won't hit it for a couple of more hours.

That, and the 16th green. I just couldn't get enough of it. And I can't imagine having a front pin position to play to on that hole. Our caddie mentioned that Tiger Woods 4-putted the green once while playing college golf.

Cheers,
Jim

[Jim Tang]

Jim -

Thanks for the pictures.  Fantastic!  I've never been to Pasa, but may be there this July.  Some say the playing corridors are very narrow.  Did you feel that way?

That bunkering is awesome.

[Zack Molnar]

Mac,

I have to agree with you that I was blown away by 11. That second shot across the chasm is remarkable. I also loved 10.

The one hole on the back that I wish I had paid attention to more was 15. I played it quickly b/c I was so excited for 16, and now looking back on it, I completely regret overlooking it. It's a devilish little short hole, with great green contours, and lots of trouble all around. When I get back there I can not wait to really get a good look at that hole.

[Mac Plumart]

Zack...

Great point on 10 and 11.  I'm wondering if that was the apex of the course for me.  Great front nine, mind blower of a tee shot on 10.  Terrific approach on 11 with a stellar green waiting for you.

And the run from there to 16 is really good.  I agree 15 gets overlooked in the shuffle, but 14 might be more overlooked.

I suppose the bottom line is that the course is really good.  Plain and simple.

And I hear people on 7, but that green complex is really excellent.