Pasatiempo Renovation schedule

[Lefty Canuck]

I will be in Northern California in late November and would like to play Pasatiempo, but I hear that they are undergoing a renovation on the green’s starting with the front nine this month, does anyone know what the availability will be for public play? 

[Mullenboy]

All the club has said publicly is that there will be "limited public play" available during the restoration.  Which of course makes sense given they have an active membership who will want to keep playing.

 

So all you can do is call or go online closer to November and see what times will be available.  I'm guessing it won't be too bad for you as fewer people will want to play only one of the nines.  Also the weather is likely to be iffy then.  But who knows?

 

 

[doc52]

The front nine is currently closed and plans to reopen on Dec. 1.

 

They plan to open up the restored front nine and current back nine for the '24 Western Intercollegiate. After the tournament, the back nine will close and reopen in December 2024. During the time periods when only nine holes are open, public golfers and members can play the available nine twice to get in 18 holes.

[Lefty Canuck]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated 

[ndra7100]

going to the bay area next week and trying to fit a round of golf into my schedule. Is it "worth it" to play the back 9 twice or play 18 elsewhere? If not pasa, where should i go?

[So_Cal]

1 hour ago, ndra7100 said:

going to the bay area next week and trying to fit a round of golf into my schedule. Is it "worth it" to play the back 9 twice or play 18 elsewhere? If not pasa, where should i go?

Well, it’s one of the best 9s anywhere.  That being said it’s your call. 

[eboettne]

17 hours ago, ndra7100 said:

going to the bay area next week and trying to fit a round of golf into my schedule. Is it "worth it" to play the back 9 twice or play 18 elsewhere? If not pasa, where should i go?

If it helps your decision, I'm planning to play it next week if I can't get on Pebble as a single.

[doc52]

17 hours ago, ndra7100 said:

going to the bay area next week and trying to fit a round of golf into my schedule. Is it "worth it" to play the back 9 twice or play 18 elsewhere? If not pasa, where should i go?

It's worth playing the 9 twice, especially with discounted greens fees.

Edited July 12, 2023 by doc52

[Otts]

I played Pasa on Friday and the back 9 was in exceptional condition.  As others have mentioned, the back 9 is considered one of the best 9 hole stretches in all of golf, I wouldn't miss it, especially considering the discounted rate.

[mlwenzlick]

On 7/16/2023 at 1:40 PM, Otts said:

I played Pasa on Friday and the back 9 was in exceptional condition.  As others have mentioned, the back 9 is considered one of the best 9 hole stretches in all of golf, I wouldn't miss it, especially considering the discounted rate.

Are they letting folks play 9 at 1xx$? Selfish me was pondering sneaking on for 9 if they were before spanish bay…already been to pebble.

[callawayjay]

On 7/30/2023 at 4:08 AM, mlwenzlick said:

Are they letting folks play 9 at 1xx$? Selfish me was pondering sneaking on for 9 if they were before spanish bay…already been to pebble.

I’m getting emails showing $225 to play it 2x. With different flags for different challenges. 

[jjr]

Back 9 all day 2x! Don't get me started on Spanish Bay!

[mlwenzlick]

9 hours ago, jjr said:

Back 9 all day 2x! Don't get me started on Spanish Bay!

Just my luck there must be a tournament or something on 9/13, no tee times 🙃

[doc52]

13 hours ago, mlwenzlick said:

Just my luck there must be a tournament or something on 9/13, no tee times 🙃

I'd call, sometimes their online software is funky.

[callawayjay]

Scheduled to be on the peninsula the week of thanksgiving so ::::fingers crossed::::: that MAYBE they open the new front early. Will still play it whatever is available 

[callawayjay]

Will definitely be there the first week of January now. Will report back 

[Mullenboy]

The full 18 opened to the public yesterday (December 4).  Price is $385.  Enjoy.  I will never pay that.  But... I live close and have played Pasa 50+ times.

[callawayjay]

You know there’s only 2 times when $$$ don’t matter

 

vacation golf and new golf equipment!!

[Mullenboy]

15 hours ago, callawayjay said:

You know there’s only 2 times when $$$ don’t matter

 

vacation golf and new golf equipment!!

Right on!  Sadly I just can't treat it as vacation golf.  

[callawayjay]

1 hour ago, Mullenboy said:

Right on!  Sadly I just can't treat it as vacation golf.  

The new pga headquarters Are here in DFW, with a new pair of golf courses one of which will host a pga championship and a Ryder cup. Green fees north of $500. I know several people here who have played it already. I’m not and won’t be one unless something miraculously changes 

[Mullenboy]

On 12/7/2023 at 6:50 AM, callawayjay said:

The new pga headquarters Are here in DFW, with a new pair of golf courses one of which will host a pga championship and a Ryder cup. Green fees north of $500. I know several people here who have played it already. I’m not and won’t be one unless something miraculously changes 

Bummer.  But yep, you get it.  

[callawayjay]

The new front 9 is absolutely amazing. The greens are bent. The fairways too are bent. They created a couple of little flat areas on greens to create new hole locations like the one here on 8. It misted and rained the entire round right up until we finished and got this shot back on 18. 

[Mullenboy]

Thanks!  First report I've seen from a paying customer (which I assume you were).

 

8 green looks pretty cool - that has always been problematic - though I have to say that tiny flat area way left screams out gimmick to me.

 

Were the green speeds appropriate for the severe contour?  They have fought that battle for years.  Their new battle will be trying to keep things bent.  POA is so pervasive in our area.

 

I assume it's worth paying the $385 for you but.... would you pay that again?

 

 

Edited January 10 by Mullenboy

[callawayjay]

1 hour ago, Mullenboy said:

Thanks!  First report I've seen from a paying customer (which I assume you were).

 

8 green looks pretty cool - that has always been problematic - though I have to say that tiny flat area way left screams out gimmick to me.

 

Were the green speeds appropriate for the severe contour?  They have fought that battle for years.  Their new battle will be trying to keep things bent.  POA is so pervasive in our area.

 

I assume it's worth paying the $385 for you but.... would you pay that again?

 

 

I did pay that and will again when I visit the area…they definitely were putting truer than the back and I do wonder how they will be able to keep the poa out. The contours on the front have been softened a bit but there is still enough of the “raised bumpers” on the sides of the green to use to direct shots. 
 

there also was a nice shelf front right on 5 that I should have photographed because the member pointed out (like #8 )that this is a new pin position not possible before. The new bent was receptive and probably running 10ish. 
 

I would bet they soften some of it on the back (like 16) but I hope not too much. 
 

for reference the green on 2 still broke towards the ocean no matter the incline and I love that. I just missed my shot on 8 as I’m a lefty and tried to cut a FW wood (7) into the angled fringe and ping the ball to the back but I missed the mowed part and it hung in the rough. I played the next shot past and it rolled back down towards the pin. 
 

with the mist you could tell how much better the front greens drained compared to the back. 

Edited January 10 by callawayjay

[Mullenboy]

Thanks for all of that.  Interesting that you are mentioning how the greens are softened...  the stated purpose was to bring back the original MacKenzie sizes and contours and those made for really wild greens!  If they truly did that the greens would be wilder (ie more contour) than they were before.  That had me quite worried because those wild contours at speeds above 8 would make things absurd...

 

Bent... better draining... good things but maintainable over time?

 

As you can tell I am a doubting Thomas about it all.  And as a local, I am sure not happy about $385 fee.  But I get it for visitors.  No matter what it is a great golf course.

 

 

Edited January 10 by Mullenboy

[callawayjay]

There is plenty of undulations but it’s a bit more pin positions. 
 

they did a great job and the edges are a bit more rounded 

[Mullenboy]

4 hours ago, callawayjay said:

There is plenty of undulations but it’s a bit more pin positions. 
 

they did a great job and the edges are a bit more rounded 

 

Sounds like an improvement on the overall.  But also clearly they did NOT restore greens to early MacKenzie versions.  To me that's fine and in the end great!  The old MacKenzie versions wouldn't work today.  People don't pay $385 for slow greens.  They seem to have created modern facsimiles of MacKenzie that do work today... more available pin positions is awesome.. there were so few relatively before.  Hopefully I get to play it some day.  🙂

 

It is kinda odd how they are portraying it, however.  Tell me a great golf course.  Don't try to tell me it's some recreation.

 

 

[callawayjay]

It’s the edges that I really like. Using the angles to direct shots. 
 

on the first hole I hit a weak fade left into the rough and hit a FW wood to about 100 yards. Front left pin, hit my wedge right on purpose to use the angle on the edge and it kicked it right down to the pin. 2 feet. Par. Welcome back!!

[callawayjay]

I do feel ultimately that the architect of the redo will put his fingerprints on the finished product. It still oozes Alister but I do like the greens better. Hope they can keep out the poa. It’s difficult in a hot area like DFW because every spring poa takes over and ruins the greens for about 2-3 months unless they treat for it. 
 

I shudder to think how hard it will be for a place where poa thrives. 

[Mullenboy]

15 hours ago, callawayjay said:

I do feel ultimately that the architect of the redo will put his fingerprints on the finished product. It still oozes Alister but I do like the greens better. Hope they can keep out the poa. It’s difficult in a hot area like DFW because every spring poa takes over and ruins the greens for about 2-3 months unless they treat for it. 
 

I shudder to think how hard it will be for a place where poa thrives. 

Most places don't bother trying to be 100% bent here.... good luck Pasatiempo!  🙂