Pasatiempo is a gem

[Patrick_Mucci]

Wow.  I have not been back there for 4 or 5 years, and have never seen it looking as good as in those pictures, brown around the edges like that.  Ten years ago it was extremely over-watered -- the swale on 14 was best avoided because you had a terrible wet lie in the bottom of it.

Tom,

Part of the problem that Pasatiempo is experiencing is due to that overwatering.

Had they not overwatered, the grass/turf wouldn't have taken such a hit from the drought.

It's really, really, really a good/great golf course.

Challenging and fun.

I never saw green complexes like that in my life.

 

[David Stamm]

Thanks for the pics, Howard. I never tire of looking at photos of my favorite course.

[BShannon]

Howard,

Thanks for the terrific pictures.

I last played Pasa in September 2013 and I must say that I like the look of the "restricted watering version" much better.

Where did you leave your approach on 16? My favorite green complex anywhere and it looks like you were treated to a really interesting pin position.

[Andrew Buck]

Great pics.

Just wondering if the trees in perfect rows lining 7 are native, or were added later?

[Bill_McBride]

Great pics.

Just wondering if the trees in perfect rows lining 7 are native, or were added later?

Added later to separate the sixth, seventh and eighth fairways.   The story is someone on the eighth tee was struck and killed by a tee shot from the seventh tee. 

That corridor is really the only uncomfortable spot on the course.   

[Eric Smith]

Great pics, Howard! Pasa has everything going for it. Great land, great architecture, challenge, beauty, great weather! It is one compelling golf course. Definitely one of my favorites.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Great pics.

Just wondering if the trees in perfect rows lining 7 are native, or were added later?

Added later to separate the sixth, seventh and eighth fairways.   The story is someone on the eighth tee was struck and killed by a tee shot from the seventh tee. 

That corridor is really the only uncomfortable spot on the course.   

Bill, the look from the tee is certainly a departure from the look from all the other tees, but, it is a short hole, and it provides an interesting challenge versus the wide open tee shots.

I managed to buzz a high right drive behind a tree and cut a 6-iron from 127 about 20 feet from the hole.

There is NO mandate to hit driver and the look is claustrophobic, so the golfer has to decide:  How do I play this hole.
One golfer in my group hit 4-iron and duck hooked it into the trees.
No one hit the fairway, which was sort of neat when you think about the intimidating look from the tee.

[Howard Riefs]

Wow.  I have not been back there for 4 or 5 years, and have never seen it looking as good as in those pictures, brown around the edges like that.  Ten years ago it was extremely over-watered -- the swale on 14 was best avoided because you had a terrible wet lie in the bottom of it.

My wife walked the course with me while I played. I told her about how the course was altered over the years, and how Tom and his team completed a significant renovation project.  

While in the fairway on #10, I pointed out the group of bunkers short of the green that Tom brought back after they were previously removed. (For others’ benefit: http://www.pasatiempo.com/page.php?page_id=5936)  

I then promptly hit my approach shot into one of the said bunkers. As if on cue, she replied: “You should have played the course before Doak restored it.”

Howard,

Thanks for the terrific pictures.

I last played Pasa in September 2013 and I must say that I like the look of the "restricted watering version" much better.

Where did you leave your approach on 16? My favorite green complex anywhere and it looks like you were treated to a really interesting pin position.

Thanks.  I didn’t play 16 too well.  I thought there was more room to the right side of the fairway. My tee shot ended up running through the fairway and near one of the trees, where I was blocked out from going for the green . Instead, I had to lay up just short of the cart path. From there, I hit a low, runner that almost climbed to the top of the ridge and then slowly came back to the front of the green. From there, it was an easy two putt – ramming the first past the pin so it would funnel back and then a tap in.

Added later to separate the sixth, seventh and eighth fairways.   The story is someone on the eighth tee was struck and killed by a tee shot from the seventh tee.  

That corridor is really the only uncomfortable spot on the course.  

I would also add the tee shot on six.  The tree line on the right, housing left and to a blind fairway.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Howard,.

I loved the bank in the DZ on the 6th hole and the location of the left side fairway bunker in the DZ.

The tee shot looks easier than it plays.

[Bill Seitz]

I seem to recall hearing that the trees between six and seven were added to protect golfers from being hit by balls coming from the other hole, but I can't verify that as the truth. They certainly don't look like part of the original design. As for six, I played my only round there with Connor Dougherty who hits it pretty long. He hit a perfect drive, and I can't recall what he had in, but whatever it was he knocked it to about six inches for eagle.

We played it in late December 2012 right after a fair amount of rain. I was surprised at how those hills held the water. It really seemed like a course that doesn't drain particularly well, at least in some spots. It was most noticeable on the first half of the front nine, and the middle part of the back nine. Connor hit a great drive on 13 that just absolutely plugged.

[Jim Nugent]

Great pics.

Just wondering if the trees in perfect rows lining 7 are native, or were added later?

Added later to separate the sixth, seventh and eighth fairways.   The story is someone on the eighth tee was struck and killed by a tee shot from the seventh tee. 

That corridor is really the only uncomfortable spot on the course.   

Wonder why Mackenzie routed those holes that way?  Land restrictions? 

[Bill_McBride]

Great pics.

Just wondering if the trees in perfect rows lining 7 are native, or were added later?

Added later to separate the sixth, seventh and eighth fairways.   The story is someone on the eighth tee was struck and killed by a tee shot from the seventh tee. 

That corridor is really the only uncomfortable spot on the course.   

Wonder why Mackenzie routed those holes that way?  Land restrictions? 

The three holes are a bit squeezed into a corridor between out of bounds left of six and the entry road right of eight.  The seventh fairway is now very narrow between the two rows of trees that separate the three holes.

[John Cowden]

My go-to tee shot on seven is usually a hybrid or fairway wood unless my drives to that point have been unusually straight.  It's not a long hole, and the green complex is exceptional, even for Pasa.  But driver isn't out of the question.  I once played with Jason Kokrak when he was still a collegian, and he drove the front left of the green, the only spot where it's possible to do so. 

[Pete Lavallee]

I remeber the Good Doctor stating in one of his books that there was a bunker on #6 that could easily hide 100 men! He and his wife apparently were discussing it from his backyard on the 6th and walked out to see if was really possible. Surely a function of his camouflage experiences in the Boer war. Has anyone ever seen a picture of this bunker? Does anyone know exactly where it was located?

[Ruediger Meyer]

Does anyone else think #3 should be maybe 20 Yards shorter? 214 Yards with that kind of bunkering is just brutal to hit and hold the green.

[Bill_McBride]

Does anyone else think #3 should be maybe 20 Yards shorter? 214 Yards with that kind of bunkering is just brutal to hit and hold the green.

After watching the PGA, I think that's just a 6 iron, maybe 5.   A good play is front left, pretty easy chips from there. 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Does anyone else think #3 should be maybe 20 Yards shorter? 214 Yards with that kind of bunkering is just brutal to hit and hold the green.
I wouldn't oppose a tee 20 yards up.

[Bill_McBride]

Does anyone else think #3 should be maybe 20 Yards shorter? 214 Yards with that kind of bunkering is just brutal to hit and hold the green.
I wouldn't oppose a tee 20 yards up.

Is there a rule that there can't be a par 3 where you have to hit  a driver?    As it happens my only career ace was with in a driver.   

[John Cowden]

No. 3 is a wonderful hole.  Play any tee you like.  Many play it as Bill suggests, as a short two shotter.  Hell, no. 4 at Riviera is 223 from the white tees and similarly offers a wonderful two shot option, but from the right.

[Chris DeToro]

Number 3 is a fantastic hole.  I don't remember any other hole on the course that demands such a long shot, so why not have it in a par 3?

[Patrick_Mucci]

#  3 is a great par 3, requiring an exceptional tee shot.

Could it be MacKenzie's tribute to #5 at PV

[Pete Lavallee]

#  3 is a great par 3, requiring an exceptional tee shot.

Could it be MacKenzie's tribute to #5 at PV

MacKenzie, try to out do Colt?

[Eric Smith]

#  3 is a great par 3, requiring an exceptional tee shot.

Could it be MacKenzie's tribute to #5 at PV

Haven't seen Pine Valley but it does seem to me the shot required at Pasatiempo is quite similar to that at Merion's 3rd.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Eric,

# 3 at Merion seems to be a hybrid Redan and much shorter than the 3rd at Pasatiempo.

The 3rd at Pasatiempo is one of the most challenging and architecturally pleasing holes I've ever played

[Eric Smith]

Eric,

# 3 at Merion seems to be a hybrid Redan and much shorter than the 3rd at Pasatiempo.

The 3rd at Pasatiempo is one of the most challenging and architecturally pleasing holes I've ever played

Pat,

I just know that at either hole it's a long iron (3 or 4 for me) and that my low hook is not the preferred method of attack. Isn't short right pretty much dead at either of them?