Costa Mesa Golf Course is a public 36 holes course, located at 1701 Golf Course Drive in Costa Mesa, CA. It is a city-owned golf course and open for everyone. Being referred to Costa Mesa Country Club misleads people who do not even want to visit it, and this is the first issue I need to clarify.
The two courses are Los Lagos (par 72, around 6,570 yd), and Mesa Linda (par 70, 5,400 to 5,550 yd). They were designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1967; Ron Fream did the redesigning job in 1992. The cost of walking 18 holes at Los Lagos is $45 from Monday till Thursday.
The name is misleading, on purpose or not
Not a single thing about the term “country club” fits here in the way that one expects it to. No membership is required, no application procedures, no gates. The City of Costa Mesa has included the facility on the list of its park facilities together with community center facilities and the tennis center.
All you have is a very active public facility, boasting of its historic brick clubhouse, two ballrooms, and 30-bay driving range.
If you have scrolled past this course for years assuming you could not play it, that is the single most useful sentence on this page. Book a tee time online like any other muni.
Los Lagos or Mesa Linda
The two courses are genuinely different animals, and picking the wrong one for your game is the most common mistake here.
| Course | Par | Length | Rating and slope | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Lagos | 72 | About 6,570 yards | 71.2 and 126 | The full-length course, with four lakes in play |
| Mesa Linda | 70 | About 5,400 to 5,550 | 66.7 and 118 | Shorter and tighter, built on doglegs and small greens |
Los Lagos is clearly the course most people come for. The fairways are wide, the greens are big, and there are four lakes that come into play. It is tee-friendly in a way that makes it good for a mixed group, and this is why it sells out.
Mesa Linda is the reverse bargain. It loses more than a thousand yards but gains it back through doglegs and tiny targets, thus making it a course where precision and wedge play are important rather than distance. It is also easier to walk and easier for newbies, kids, and anybody else who wants to complete their round within four hours.
Published yards vary from source to source for both courses. Los Lagos is listed at anywhere from 6,547 to 6,600, while Mesa Linda ranges from 5,400 to 5,700. The discrepancy is small enough not to affect the club choice.
What it costs, and the fee people forget
Green fees here are walking rates. The cart is billed separately, which catches out anyone comparing this course against places that bundle it in.
| What you are booking | Mon to Thu | Weekend | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Lagos, 18 holes | $45 | $65 | Friday sits in between at $49 |
| Mesa Linda, 18 holes | $38 | $55 | Friday is $44, and it is the cheaper course all week |
| Los Lagos twilight | $31 | $42 | Start times move with the season, so call the shop |
| Mesa Linda twilight | $29 | $35 | The cheapest full-course option on the property |
| Super twilight, Los Lagos | $23 | $28 | The lowest rate on the board if you can start late |
| Senior, Costa Mesa resident | $21 or $19 | Not offered | Ages 60 and over, weekdays only, by course |
| Cart, 18 holes | $36 | $36 | Added to every green fee above, not included |
Thus, taking into consideration the cost for playing on a weekend on Los Lagos, the amount will be $101 and not $65, which is an important factor to keep in mind while comparing this course to any other in Orange County.
There are several aspects of the pricing policy that may escape attention. The nine-hole price is applicable to mornings only; specifically before 7am and not during any other part of the day. Senior pricing policy entails Costa Mesa residents in addition to age limit. For Mesa Linda, there is a junior rate for students of Newport-Mesa Unified Schools after 2pm. Also, it is worth mentioning that there is a demand pricing system operating from Friday to Sunday.
Important note: there are no rain checks and refunds. It may be of little importance in Southern California.
Booking, and why the two courses differ
This is the detail that will actually get you a tee time, and it is unusual because the two courses on the same property do not share a booking window.
| Which course | How far ahead | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Los Lagos | 8 days | Online booking opens at 6am on the eighth day out |
| Mesa Linda | 7 days | Online or by phone, seven days a week |
| Either course | Same day | Call the golf shop on 714-540-7500 for what is left |
Eight days at six in the morning is a specific thing to set an alarm for, and on this property it is worth doing. Los Lagos weekend mornings are the most contested slots in the city.
The pace of play problem
With more than 2,500 customer reviews, the facility scores an average of 3.6 out of 5, with approximately seven out of ten golfers rating the establishment highly. The categories reveal only one major weakness in particular.
| What is being rated | Score | What golfers mean |
|---|---|---|
| Conditions | 4.0 | Turf quality gets praised more often than criticized |
| Layout | 4.0 | Both designs hold up for a municipal facility |
| Value | 3.8 | Fair, though the separate cart fee shapes this |
| Friendliness | 3.8 | Staff come through positively in reviews |
| Amenities | 3.7 | The range and clubhouse do their job |
| Pace of play | 2.8 | The clear weak point, with five-hour rounds common |
Five to six hours is mentioned often, and this is the most common complaint about this golf course facility. This is what can happen when an inexpensive 36-hole course finds itself in one of the busiest golfing communities in the United States.
There are simple solutions that aren’t difficult. Play during your earliest tee time, play from Monday to Thursday instead of weekends, and choose Mesa Linda if you want to get done with your game and not have your game challenged. Super twilight at Los Lagos is both the least expensive and fastest round possible.
Not the same as Mesa Verde
Costa Mesa has two golf clubs with similar-sounding names and completely different access, and search results mix them constantly.
| Which club | Costa Mesa Country Club | Mesa Verde Country Club |
|---|---|---|
| Can you book it | Yes, it is city-owned and public | No, it is a private club |
| How many holes | 36, across Los Lagos and Mesa Linda | 18 |
| Tour history | Hosts the long-running city championship | Hosted the PGA Tour Orange County Open |
| What it costs | From $38 walking | Membership only |
The history of PGA Tour lies with Mesa Verde Golf Club, where the Orange County Open Invitational was held from 1959 to 1962. Billy Casper won in 1960, while Tony Lema won the last one in a sudden death playoff. This never happened on the public course, and pages where it claims that it happened at the Costa Mesa Country Club are mistaken.
The architect, and why that matters
William F. Bell designed both courses. He is one of the most prolific architects for municipal golf in California. Courses designed by him can be found all over California where any city has decided that its citizens should have a place to play an affordable round of golf. He was also one of the founders of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
Both the courses were redone in 1992 by Ron Fream. This leads to a set of courses that remind one of the California municipal golf courses of the mid-century. By that, I mean wide corridors, kikuyu fairways and greens that make one think much more than the tee shot.
Kikuyu deserves a mention if you have not played on it before. It is thick and sticky grass that holds the ball off the fairway and takes the club away from your hand from the rough. Golfers from bentgrass or Bermuda grass regions need some time to get used to it.
Practice facility, clubs and events
The range is the strongest amenity on the property and one of the better public practice facilities in Orange County.
| What is on site | The detail |
|---|---|
| Driving range | 30 bays, lit for night practice, with 10 of them on grass |
| Short game | Two putting greens plus a dedicated chipping green and bunker |
| Instruction | Professional and PGA instructors, with junior golf programs |
| Clubs | Affiliated men’s, women’s and senior clubs run regular competitions |
| Banquet space | Two rooms seating about 350 and 185 for weddings and outings |
| Food and drink | A restaurant and grill plus the 19th Hole |
The Costa Mesa City Championship has been contested here for more than fifty years, which for a municipal facility is a real piece of local sporting history. Both courses also host outings and tournaments throughout the year.
Where to follow the course
Checking before you travel is sensible here mainly for aeration schedules and tournament closures.
| Channel | Where to find it | What it is useful for |
|---|---|---|
| The page linked from costamesacountryclub.com | Closures, events and course news | |
| Official website | costamesacountryclub.com | Rates, tee times and the two scorecards |
| By phone | 714-540-7500 | Twilight start times, which change with the season |
| City of Costa Mesa | The parks and community services pages | Confirmation of the facility’s municipal status |
Social media caution. There are several Facebook groups named after the course, but you should join the one that is officially linked to the course through its website, and not any other one found through a quick web search. Secondly, there is no verified Instagram, X or YouTube account for the golf club, so please treat any such claim with suspicion and cross-check via the phone.
Final take
Costa Mesa Golf Course is an easy sell after getting over the name. 36 holes of mid-century public golf, owned by the city, smack dab in the middle of Orange County, with a great practice facility and greens fees starting at less than $40.
Play Los Lagos for the full challenge and Mesa Linda for the end. Schedule Los Lagos as soon as you can during the eight-day booking period, play early or mid-week to avoid the pace issue, don’t forget the cart fee ($36), and allow some holes for your feet to warm up on the kikuyu.
Frequently asked questions
Is Costa Mesa Country Club public or private?
Public. It is a municipal facility owned by the City of Costa Mesa and listed among the city’s parks and community services sites. Despite the country club name, there is no membership requirement and anyone can book a tee time online or by phone.
Where is Costa Mesa Golf Course?
At 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa, California 92626, in Orange County. The golf shop number is 714-540-7500.
How many golf courses are at Costa Mesa Country Club?
Two, giving 36 holes in total. Los Lagos plays par 72 at roughly 6,570 yards with four lakes in play, and Mesa Linda plays par 70 at around 5,400 to 5,550 yards with doglegs and small greens.
How much does it cost to play Costa Mesa Golf Course?
Walking 18 on Los Lagos is $45 Monday through Thursday, $49 Friday and $65 at weekends. Mesa Linda is $38, $44 and $55. A cart adds $36 for 18 holes and is not included, so a weekend round riding Los Lagos comes to about $101.
How far in advance can you book a tee time?
It depends which course. Los Lagos opens online booking eight days ahead, starting at 6am. Mesa Linda takes bookings seven days ahead, online or by phone. For same-day play, call the golf shop and ask what is left.
Who designed the Costa Mesa golf courses?
William F. Bell designed both and they opened in 1967. He was one of California’s most prolific public-course architects and a founding member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. Ron Fream carried out revision work on both layouts in 1992.
Which Costa Mesa course is better for beginners?
Mesa Linda. At par 70 and roughly a thousand yards shorter, it is easier to get around, better to walk and quicker to finish. The trade is that its doglegs and small greens reward accuracy, so it is not simply an easy version of Los Lagos.
Also read about: Soldier Hollow Golf Course: 36 Holes on an Olympic Venue in Midway, Utah