Played here today as “day 2” of a three day visit to the Monterey area, getting to play alongside GK member Kassper7 and two Pasatiempo members. Heard a lot of amazing things about this course and it ... Continue »

Played here today as “day 2” of a three day visit to the Monterey area, getting to play alongside GK member Kassper7 and two Pasatiempo members. Heard a lot of amazing things about this course and it exceeded them in just about every way. Pasatiempo recently held a statewide amateur championship and conditions were essentially perfect. The greens here are wicked; be warned they will humble even the best player. Tee boxes: Only three real tee options (did see a “juniors” tee option mostly about 100 yards forward of the whites in most fairways) and we played the middle tees. They were in good shape considering most members seem to play here and most normal golfers should too. Don’t let the yardage fool you, it still plays long so don’t just head to the tips to feel like a stud. Conditions on 90% of tee boxes were near perfect. Fairways: Another case of lush, forest green carpet on every single hole. Members do a great job of replacing/filling divots. Roll was more than fair. Lies were everything you could ask for. Another 9.5 rating. Rough: Apt name because it was rough! Torrey-like and it was everywhere, under trees, next to the greens, miss a fairway and ye shall be punished. Bunkers: Other courses take note, this is how bunkers are done. There’s enough sand on this course to make a man made island, but every bunker allowed you to try for a sand save. Amazingly saw a member bring his own rake! Greens: The single greatest, most frustrating, deceptive, insane, mesmerizing, baffling, and pure greens I have ever seen. At times downhill putts were slow, other times you’d tap the ball and it would run forever. Held shots well, that is until you chipped from just off the green and it would end up under the hole 15 feet past. Big shout out to the greens on the back 9, specifically 16 and 18. ETC: Course offered everything you could need; ample pro shop open for your needs, small but good range, great chipping area, food to go at the turn, good power carts with color GPS. Staff was friendly and helpful. At least one if not two marshals out and about. Course layout is fantastic, though holes often flank each other so accuracy is at a premium. This course really should get more love than it does, it’s comparable to every Monterey-area course and is only 45 minutes north. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a challenge.