Pasatiempo

After two days at highly private clubs in San Francisco Golf Club, and Burlingame Country Club, and having no posts out of respect to the social media / photograph policies of these clubs, we make our may to the semi - private Pasatiempo golf club.

San Francisco and Burlingame were absolutely magnificent, having the benefit of brilliant weather, and the company of host club members.

Another crystal clear day greeted us at Pasatiempo, enabling a view all the way to the ocean from the first tee.

We played the course the day after it staged the qualifying for the US Open.  Needless to say, the greens were reasonably slick!!

Pasatiempo was Alister MacKenzie's favourite course, and he lived next to the 6th hole of his masterpiece from 1930 - 1934, in this house.

Above is one of the many magnificent bunker complexes around the course.  This one is on the par four 7th hole.

Looking back toward the clubhouse from the fairway of the par five 9th hole.

The back nine starts with a tough stretch.  This is the view from the tee of the par four 10th.  Your drive carries over a ravine that stretches across in front of the 18th green as well.

The view from behind the green on the hardest hole on the course, the par four 11th. Another ravine runs all the way down the left side of the driving area, and then requires to be carried as the remaining fairway, and green are situated to the left of it.  A solid 3 wood and five iron leaves a near impossible putt if you are above the hole.

Near impossible putts feature heavily on the back nine, the greens carry a lot of undulation, and if in the wrong position, you must putt sideways to get even relatively close.

What else can you say here.  Pretty much bunker porn. this is the view to the green of the par five 13th.

The three tiered green of the par four 16th hole.  The hole has a blind tee shot, and then your approach must land on the correct level, and not spin too much.  It is very easy to hit a great shot and finish off the front of the green.

The par three 18th has similar treachery on the green.  Anything remotely short comes all the way back off the front.  I like this course maore and more every time I play it.

We were fortunate to again have the company of home club members today, and the Pasatiempo members were brilliant hosts.  After the game we came up here to Hollins House, the original clubhouse built in 1929, for drinks and some food.  What a great way to end a great day.

Mike King was our winner today, following on from Rob Frost and Jenny Jones at San Francisco, and Wendy Pullar at Burlingame.

Tomorrow we play the Tom fazio designed Preserve Golf Club.