Neighborhood Spotlight: Pasatiempo

Located off of Graham Hill Road, in the beautiful hills north of Santa Cruz, Pasatiempo is a desirable luxury community with a lot to offer. 

Primarily known for its highly-rated golf course, Pasatiempo (Spanish: “Pastime") is classified as a census-designated place with a population of around 1,300 people—a number which has remained quite steady in the past decade. For those seeking a peaceful alternative to the upbeat city of Santa Cruz, Pasatiemo offers that luxury and more.

Private Lifestyle

Three miles north of the Santa Cruz downtown (about a 10-minute drive, traffic depending) is the private community of Pasatiempo. Offering unrivaled privacy, most of the homes in this area are found behind a gated entrance with surveillance. The main gate to access Pasatiempo is found at the intersection of Graham Hill Road and Westwood Road.

Beyond the gate, homes in Pasatiempo are situated on winding streets, with some of the most sought-after properties in the neighborhood backing onto or facing the golf course. This community is almost entirely residential, but amenities such as shopping and dining are found just a short drive away in northern Santa Cruz. 

The closest school is Brook Knoll Elementary, and the closest EV charging station is located on Plymouth Street.

Custom Homes & Designs

One of the most defining features of Pasatiempo living is the gorgeous, luxury homes on the market. Architecturally, these properties range a little bit, from the more common West Coast styles to the rare Mediterranean or Contemporary—listed in both single story and multi-story variations.

As Pasatiempo is quite a hilly area, homes are perched on smaller, twisting roads, which can make for some unconventional lot shapes. In general, however, properties in this community feature large front and back yards, with mature trees and expert landscaping. Back decks for entertaining and outdoor pools are also common features, matching the refined interior spaced with luxurious finishes.

Outside of the gated area, such as in the residential streets off of Sims Road, buyers will find many split-level homes and ranchers—still desirable, but not as private as the properties located within the neighborhood.

The Pasatiempo Golf Course

In the center of the community is the Pasatiempo Golf Course. Accessed from Pasatiempo Road, on the opposite side of the community's main gated entrance, this semi-private, top-rated course is a favorite of golf enthusiasts from all over the Bay Area. In fact, the course ranks in the top one hundred golf courses in the country, as listed by Golf Digest.

The course itself has 18 holes, with well-kept greens and a challenging layout designed by Alistair McKenzie. As well, it has a restaurant (the MacKenzie Bar & Grill) and a historic home (the Hollins House) which is used as an event/wedding venue and fine dining restaurant.

Membership is a bit different to other golf courses, as it requires those interested to become a shareholder. In short, those who own a property in Pasatiempo are not automatically members of the golf club. Benefits include priority tee times, discounts, swimming pool and tennis courts access, the ability to participate in events and tournaments, and more. More information about membership can be found on their Pasatiempo Golf Course website here.

Experience what Pasatiempo has to offer.Contact Lauren Spencer to find your dream home in the Pasatiempo area today!