Golf Courses in Santa Cruz

Best Time to Golf in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz sits at the northern edge of Monterey Bay and enjoys a notably milder climate than San Francisco. April through October offers reliably excellent conditions — warm afternoons, minimal fog and Pasatiempo's course in peak condition.

Fall is many regulars' favorite season — September and October bring warm, clear days (Santa Cruz's famous "second summer"), and Pasatiempo's MacKenzie greens run at their truest on firm fall turf. The morning light through the Monterey pines in October is extraordinary.

Seascape in Aptos, being slightly further from the bay, tends to be sunnier and warmer than central Santa Cruz. A good option if morning coastal fog is a concern. Both courses play year-round — Santa Cruz rarely sees temperatures below 45°F even in winter.

Everything You Need to Know About Pasatiempo

• Pasatiempo allows public play as a semi-private club — but tee times are genuinely competitive. The club's members have priority and the most desirable slots go quickly. Book online as early as possible and check midweek availability for better options.
• Caddies are available and highly recommended at Pasatiempo — the MacKenzie greens are exceptionally subtle and a caddie's green-reading knowledge can save 4–5 strokes for a first-time visitor.
• The par-3 16th hole is considered Pasatiempo's signature — a downhill one-shotter to a green surrounded by MacKenzie's deepest bunkers, with the Pacific visible in the distance. It regularly appears on lists of the best par-3 holes in California.
• MacKenzie lived on the property — Alister MacKenzie actually built his home on the Pasatiempo property and lived there until his death in 1934. The course reflects his most personal vision. The 10th hole in particular is considered one of his finest individual hole designs.
• Pace of play is taken seriously — Pasatiempo maintains strict pace standards. Be ready to play when it's your turn. Don't attempt the course if you regularly shoot over 100 without playing frequently — it will hold up the field.

Getting to Santa Cruz Golf

• Pasatiempo Golf Club — Take Highway 17 over the Santa Cruz Mountains from San Jose (the most direct route from the Bay Area). Pasatiempo is right off Highway 17 at the Pasatiempo Drive exit — you can literally see the course from the freeway. Free parking in the club lot.
• Seascape Golf Club (Aptos) — Continue south on Highway 1 from Santa Cruz about 10 minutes to Aptos. The course is set in the hills above the coastal village. About 90 minutes from San Francisco via Highway 1 through Half Moon Bay (scenic but slow) or 75 minutes via Highway 17.
• Highway 17 caution — the Santa Cruz Mountains section of Highway 17 is steep, winding and notorious for accidents. Drive cautiously, especially in wet weather. Allow extra time on weekends when traffic backs up over the summit.

Santa Cruz Golf + the Best of the Town

Santa Cruz is one of California's most genuinely enjoyable coastal towns — with a personality completely distinct from the rest of the Bay Area. A Pasatiempo morning round followed by lunch at Bantam restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz, an afternoon on the beach at Cowell's or Natural Bridges, and dinner at Gabriella Café is a perfect Santa Cruz day.

For golfers combining Santa Cruz with the broader Monterey Peninsula: play Pasatiempo, drive 45 minutes south on Highway 1 (one of California's most beautiful coastal roads) to Carmel for dinner, and play Pebble Beach or Spyglass the next morning. This two-day itinerary covers arguably the two best courses in Northern California — an unforgettable Bay Area golf trip.