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John Connolly

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Pasatiempo condition
« on: January 21, 2015, 10:45:07 PM »
Heading to Santa Cruz next week and wondering if Pasatiempo is back from its reportedly horrid conditioning from the drought. There was some recent rain that has helped.  Some of the autumn reviews online were merciless. I'm keen on playing it but all the fuss is makin' me wonder ... Thoughts?
"And yet - and yet, this New Road will some day be the Old Road, too."

                                                      Neil Munroe (1863-1930)

Tyler Kearns

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Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2015, 10:47:26 PM »

John Connolly

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Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2015, 10:54:39 PM »
Tyler,

Thanks for your response. Indeed, I have had a chance to review their site and elsewhere where the super has indicated things are near 80-90%. But I'm interested in some objective opinions from those that have played it. There are unlimited tee times available which leads one to believe that for such a world class course, something remains amiss.
"And yet - and yet, this New Road will some day be the Old Road, too."

                                                      Neil Munroe (1863-1930)

David_Tepper

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Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2015, 10:56:30 PM »
John C. -

I am not sure about the Santa Cruz area. Here in San Francisco we have not had any rainfall of consequence for well over 3 weeks.

The rain in December was very welcome, but we need plenty more over the next 2-3 months.

DT

Pete_Pittock

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Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2015, 11:07:11 PM »
I used the search engine for Pasatiempo in the last 99 days and found this thread http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60127.0.html

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2015, 11:35:07 PM »
Let me just say I would rather play Pasatiempo in less than 100% condition than most anywhere I can think. 

Indeed, the last time I played there, perhaps June 2006, the greens had just been punched and I didn't regret playing that incredible course -- is it Mackenzie's only public access course -- at all.  The routing and use of the barrancas are just marvelous.   

Benjamin Litman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2015, 11:53:02 PM »
Glad you posted this, John. I was actually planning to post about how great I thought Pasatiempo's "drought" conditions, which I experienced in early July, were. From what I've read and seen, everything is back to normal, but I'm not sure that's necessarily a good thing. When I played, the drought was at its worst, and the first third/half of each fairway was unwatered. I thought both the look and the playability of the course was superb BECAUSE OF IT. Part of me wishes that other courses not under city orders to reduce water usage would nonetheless do what Pasatiempo was forced to do. The cost efficiencies are obvious, but less obvious are the benefits to look and playability. Contrast is what makes for great visuals, and wall-to-wall green generally (with one obvious exception in Augusta, GA) looks bad. Having the first third/half of each fairway essentially dead is also fair. If you're a beginner with minimal length, the dead fairway might give you a few extra yards of roll that you otherwise might not get on your tee shot. If you're an intermediate or advanced player and pop one up into the dead fairway, sure, the lie might not be "perfect," but it's an appropriate penalty for a bad miss. My trip around Pasatiempo was my first ever, and I had no complaints whatsoever about the conditioning. I thought it actually enhanced the experience.

Here are a few photos to show you what I'm talking about:
Third Hole (Tee)

Fourth Hole (Tee)

Fifth Hole (Tee)

Eighth Hole (Tee), with Ninth Hole in Distance

Twelfth Hole (Tee)
« Last Edit: January 22, 2015, 10:31:06 AM by Benjamin Litman »
"One will perform in large part according to the circumstances."
-Director of Recruitment at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda on why it selects orphaned children without regard to past academic performance. Refreshing situationism in a country where strict dispositionism might be expected.

John Connolly

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Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2015, 11:59:28 PM »
Ken Woods, Pasa's head pro is the one who stated its "80-90% back".

http://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/pasatiempo-golf-club-santa-cruz-california-14982.htm


It sounds from others online the green complexes withstood the drought very well - fairways and tee boxes were what suffered.

Ben, would love to see your photos.
"And yet - and yet, this New Road will some day be the Old Road, too."

                                                      Neil Munroe (1863-1930)

Mike Benham

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Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2015, 12:34:19 AM »
There are unlimited tee times available which leads one to believe that for such a world class course, something remains amiss.

Unlimited is an overstatement, obviously.

The price point of their green fees, by design, keeps tee times available, both for member and guest play, even more so during the weekday.  Even though some may consider $ 150 a bargain, for 99% of Santa Cruz County, it is not.

In over 30 years of playing golf at Pasatiempo, I don't recall not being able to get a tee time, winter or summer, even a few days out.
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Benjamin Litman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2015, 01:04:02 AM »
John, I just modifiedmy previous post to include a bunch of pictures from my early/mid-July visit.
"One will perform in large part according to the circumstances."
-Director of Recruitment at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda on why it selects orphaned children without regard to past academic performance. Refreshing situationism in a country where strict dispositionism might be expected.

Stephen Davis

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2015, 08:53:42 AM »
I also played in July and thought it played fantastic, maybe even the best of anytime I have played it. I agree with Bill, I too would rather play a less than 100% Pasa than just about anywhere else.

Mark Fedeli

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2015, 09:08:31 AM »
John, I played in September and it looked similar to Benjamin's photos. Here is my thread with plenty of photos: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59422.0.html

As the rest said, I thought it was in terrific condition and only experienced a couple small dead spots in the fairways.
South Jersey to Brooklyn. @marrrkfedeli

Alex Miller

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2015, 10:23:33 AM »
I played it Dec. 31 just after the rain.

The course actually took the rain very well and was not overly soggy or slow. Drives were bouncing and rolling in fairways and the greens were fantastic. I had maybe 1 or 2 mud balls and the grass was green and growing strong, although not back to what I assume is 100% for them. Probably ~70% or so.


Patrick_Mucci

Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2015, 09:30:02 PM »

I also played in July and thought it played fantastic, maybe even the best of anytime I have played it. I agree with Bill, I too would rather play a less than 100% Pasa than just about anywhere else.

Stephen,

I'm with you and Bill.

I played it several times in August and loved it even though many would balk at the condition of the fairways and roughs.

I find it interesting that conditioning that's almost embraced in the UK is reviled in California.

Maybe I'm just partial to tight lies and don't need monochromatic grass


John Crowley

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Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2015, 12:50:29 AM »
In late November the greens were very good some fairways understandably  spotty. But, just being able to experience those green complexes and hole designs out weighs any temporary condition issues.

John Connolly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #15 on: January 23, 2015, 08:19:51 AM »
Ben et al.,

Really great input from you all, thank you. Ben the pics make the course look fantastic. I'm encouraged by the comments. I'm in like Flynn. I shall report back.

Cheers.
"And yet - and yet, this New Road will some day be the Old Road, too."

                                                      Neil Munroe (1863-1930)

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #16 on: January 23, 2015, 11:26:00 PM »
John,

It's really, really special.

I'd make one suggestion.

Try to play 36.

If you get decent weather, you'll have a blast.  It's unique.

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Pasatiempo condition
« Reply #17 on: January 23, 2015, 11:48:41 PM »
John,

It's really, really special.

I'd make one suggestion.

Try to play 36.

If you get decent weather, you'll have a blast.  It's unique.

It's an energetic but exhilarating walk.