From its inception, Mesa Verde Country Club has been known for its premier championship golf course. Course construction began in 1958 under the watchful eye of renowned designer Billy Bell. The official opening was held in January, 1959. When opened, there was a large, hangar-style, Quonset hut located near the first tee that served as a temporary shelter and cart barn when PGA Tour players competed for $15,000 in prize money at the first Orange County Open held ten months after opening. Pleased with his first place winnings of $2,000, Jay Hebert praised the young course and the crowds who came to watch the pros play. Hebert commented the greens were excellent and the galleries magnificent. Another participant, Joe Kirkwood, Jr., described the course more fully declaring just as today’s members that “every hole on this course plays different. No two holes are alike. You have to think yourself around this course.
Mesa Verde’s first permanent clubhouse was in place in 1960, when Billy Casper took top honors at the second of four consecutive Orange County Opens. Bob McCallister claimed the trophy in 1961 then in 1962, Tony Lema, after three grueling holes of a sudden death playoff with Bob Rosburg, claimed victory. Celebrating his first PGA Tour win, Lema provided free flowing bubbly to members of the press earning him the nickname “Champagne Tony.” To this day, Mesa Verde’s banquet facility which offers a stunning view of the Ninth and Eighteenth holes, continues to be known as the Tony Lema Room.
After his first PGA victory at Mesa Verde, Lema went on to rack up more impressive wins such as the 1964 British Open. Before his untimely death in a plane crash in 1966 at the age of 32, Lema was ranked with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus as one of the top three golfers in the world. Mesa. Champagne Tony might be gratified to know that he is well remembered at Mesa Verde, as his photograph and golf clubs are still proudly displayed for members and their guests to see.
Mesa Verde has continued to gain prominence through the years by hosting additional major golf events such as the PGA Haig and Haig National Open in 1968, Regional U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament in 1973; three consecutive LPGA Women’s Kemper Opens in 1979, 1980, and 1981; three back-to-back Uniden LPGA Invitationals in 1984, 1985, and 1986; the United States Senior Open a Sectional Qualifying Round in 1991; United States Junior Girls Championship in 1993; and the 24th Edition of the Girl’s Junior America’s Cup Matches in 2001.
When the inaugural Toshiba Senior Classic was held at the club in 1995, it was the first PGA event to be held in Orange County since MVCC hosted the Haig and Haig National Open in 1968, and the $800,000 purse was a far cry from the $15,000 prize money available at the that first Orange County Open.
Tiger Woods, who played a round at MVCC at the age of six, is just one of many who have played the course and later gone on to become a true legend in the world of golf, along with Arnold Palmer, Tony Lema, Johnny Miller, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino, Dave Stockton, George Archer, JoAnne Carner, Pat Bradley, and Nancy Lopez, to name a few. In fact, Tony Lema and Chi Chi Rodriquez share the competitive course record for men with matching scores of 64. Later, Tiger and the Tiger Woods Foundation have hosted a number of charity clinic’s and tournaments.
Another legend, Nancy Lopez claims that distinction for women finishing with rounds of 66 in both the 1980 Kemper Open and the 1986 Uniden Invitational.
It is not unusual to see many of today’s professionals such as Vijay Singh playing a round of golf at Mesa Verde. A few of Mesa Verde’s own also have distinguished themselves in the world of golf. Don Turner and David Ray at one time represented the club in the USGA Amateur and USGA Mid-Amateur Championships, and by virtue of his runner-up finish after a sudden death playoff in the 1985 United States Amateur, Brian Lindley was invited to play in the prestigious Masters at Augusta. Frank Crinella qualified for the United States Amateur Championship in 1991 and Duke Duclos competed in the 1991 British Senior Open Amateur Championship, finishing thirtieth in a field of 186. Finally, Pete Daley was a Quarter-Finalist in the U. S. Senior Amateur 1999 and 2000 along with Farrell Hinkle who competed in the Sr. British Amateur 2001. On the distaff side, Dora Donaldson once won the California State Amateur Championship. Natalie King and Susan Kanning, among others, have also made the club proud. Natalie took top honors in her flight of the WSCGA Annual Mid-Winter Invitational in 1986, and Susan won the WSCGA Southern California Championship Tournament in 1987.
Finally, many of the Club’s junior golfers have excelled, but two in particular have achieved exceptional victories. In 1983, Mesa Verde’s Kim Saiki, who is now on the LPGA Tour, was the first junior girl to win both the USGA and World Junior Girls Championships the same year earning her the honor of being ranked the number-one junior girl golfer in the United States by Golf Digest. Austin Maki was the runner-up in the USGA Boys Junior Championship in 1989. The PGA professionals an their staffs who have served at Mesa Verde have always been top quality as evidenced by current Head Golf Professional Craig Plumley. Having been a part of El Niguel Country Club for twenty six years and serving as the Director of Golf for last twenty of those, Craig's experience speaks for itself. He has managed extensive golf operations, from overseeing an annual budget with revenues exceeding $1.1 million to planning and executing over 60 tournaments annually. His innovative ideas, like the creation of a points-based participation system and the development of year-round junior programs, have continually enhanced the golfing experience for members.
Craig's commitment to excellence is also evident in his collaboration with golf course architects and management teams during renovations and his close relationships with major suppliers, which offer unique opportunities for members.
On the educational front, Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, where he was also a notable member of the UCI Baseball Team and was honored as a Big West Scholar Athlete.
Beyond his professional achievements, Craig is passionate about golf, travel, fishing, and other sports. He deeply values spending time with his family and has continually demonstrated a commitment to creating a club environment that fosters camaraderie, inclusivity, and enjoyment for all.
Under the leadership of these professionals, the golf program at MVCC has been and continues to be exceptional. Mesa Verde’s membership enjoys leisure and competitive play among club friends and acquaintances. There are a full variety of tournaments, team play for men and women, and couples events for all levels of golfers throughout the year. Mesa Verde is also well-known for having one of the finest Member-Guest tournaments among private clubs in all of Southern California. In 2010, Mesa Verde celebrated the 50th anniversary of this event.
Lastly, Mesa Verde has an extensive junior golf program where children and grandchildren to are introduced to and learn the game of golf, its honor and etiquette which they can enjoy for a lifetime. Family ties have been strengthened by Mesa Verde’s Junior Golf Program is open to member’s children and grandchildren. Many of Mesa Verde’s members junior golfers have led their high school and college golf teams to many titles and some, like Mark Taylor, Chris Beck, and Chris Hopkins have gone on to pursue golf-related careers on the links and in the golf industry.
In sum, golf at Mesa Verde is more than a leisurely stroll on a beautiful course. It is a lifestyle.
