The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast · Cookie Jar Golf

349 - Course Diaries: Pasatiempo w/ Jim Urbina & Brett Hochstein

·55 min·5 clips

Pete Dye told Jim Urbina never to learn golf so he wouldn't design based on his own game.

Jim Urbina and Brett Hochstein join host Sam to discuss the restoration of Alister MacKenzie's Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California. Urbina is a veteran architect who began his career under Pete Dye, while Hochstein is a skilled shaper who has worked with Tom Doak and others. Urbina first visited Pasatiempo in the late 1980s and has been involved with its restoration for over 27 years, relying heavily on historical photographs and club historian Bob Beck's research. The project aimed to remove decades of alterations, including filled-in bunkers and flattened greens, to return the course to its original 1929 character. Key restoration work included the dramatic 12th hole, a short par-four where a barranca in front of the green had been completely filled in. The team excavated this feature and rebuilt bunkers on holes like the 10th and 16th, which had also been filled over time. Hochstein played a crucial role in refining these bunkers and restoring intricate green contours, such as the front-left section of the highly detailed 8th green. The restoration process was a collaborative effort involving superintendent Justin Mandon and the contractor Earth Sculptures, with decisions often debated on-site until consensus was reached. A surprising insight is that Pete Dye specifically advised Urbina not to learn golf, wanting him to design without personal playing bias. The 16th green, where MacKenzie's ashes were spread, had been so flattened that golf carts once drove on it. Historical photos revealed that every hole was originally labeled with two numbers, indicating debate between MacKenzie and developer Marion Hollins about which nine should be the front. The par-three 18th hole is a rare and challenging finishing hole, contributing to a set of par-threes that vary dramatically in length and shot requirement. The episode has a conversational and educational tone, blending technical architecture discussion with personal anecdotes and historical storytelling. Listeners passionate about golf course architecture, restoration, and the work of Alister MacKenzie will find this episode deeply engaging. Those seeking instruction or fast-paced drama might find the detailed, niche focus less appealing.

As heard by us

A detailed Pasatiempo conversation that treats contour, restoration, and shot value as the main story.

The piece keeps Pasatiempo at the center, but it is really about Jim Urbina's path into golf architecture. He traces that path through Pete Dye, Plum Creek in Castle Rock, and an early start that came before he had even played golf or cared much about it.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want Pasatiempo broken down by the people who shaped it.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast