Plan swaps golf holes for fields

Nine of the 36 holes at the city-owned Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club would be turned into athletic fields for youth sports under a proposal being pitched by Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor and city parks commission chairwoman Wendy Leece.

The plan could provide much-needed fields for youth sports, such as soccer, but the fields may come at the expense of golf for the community and area high school students.

The plan suggests turning the nine holes of the Mesa Linda golf course along Harbor Boulevard ? between the Fairview Developmental Center and Joann Street ? into a sports complex with eight to 10 fields. The remainder of the golf course would be redesigned as an 18-hole executive course.

“We clearly have a need for more lighted fields, and they really need to be Costa Mesa-owned,” Mansoor said Saturday. “This [plan] is preliminary, but it has the potential to really solve some of our field-use issues and respect the quality of life of the residents at the same time.”

Mansoor estimated it could take at least three years to prepare the new fields, though the cost of the proposal is unknown. In the meantime, he suggested adding temporary lights fields at the Farm Sports Complex, where two of the six fields have permanent lighting for nighttime use.

According to Mansoor, the city makes about $800,000 a year in green fees from the course he’s proposing to change. He expects the redesigned executive course to bring in the same amount, and he suggests the new sports complex could be paid for by park fees charged to developers and private fundraising.

Closing part of the golf course could raise complaints from local golfers. John Ortega, an assistant golf pro at the club, said more than 200,000 rounds per year are played there.

Among those who use the course are Newport-Mesa high school teams. Bob Knapp, whose two sons play school golf, said Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar, Estancia and Newport Harbor high schools all use the Mesa Linda course, so reducing the facilities would be a bad idea.

“Literally it would kill high school golf because there just aren’t enough facilities,” he said.

Mansoor plans to discuss the proposal at an upcoming council study session, he said.

It’s unclear whether his colleagues on the dais will support the proposal ? council members Linda Dixon, Katrina Foley and Gary Monahan said they need to see more details to evaluate it though Monahan’s initial reaction is that it “sounds somewhat far-fetched.” Councilman Eric Bever did not return a call for comment.

Mansoor said the plan is simply an attempt to be creative in solving the city’s athletic field shortage, and he wants input from the community ? including golfers.

He’s up for reelection this year though he has not officially announced that he is running. Asked whether the golf course plan could be construed as a campaign proposal, he said, “I’m trying to find fields regardless?. This is just another option that’s come up. The public is asking for solutions and we’re trying to respond.”