Mesa Verde Classic sold out

Editor’s note: This adds the location of the tournament.

COSTA MESA — The sixth annual Mesa Verde Classic, which will honor the Segerstrom family’s philanthropy, takes place Monday at the Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa.

The event, which is sponsored by Costa Mesa United, has raised more than $300,000 for the nonprofit since it started in 2005. Fundraising efforts go toward grants that Costa Mesa United donates to youth sports.

The night will also be special because Costa Mesa United plans to honor the Segerstroms, a family that has supported the organization through generous donations.

“They have been supporters of youth sports for 15 or 20 years,” said Costa Mesa United President and founder Gordon Bowley. “They gave the initial funds — $250,000 — to Newport-Mesa Unified School District to do the drawing concepts, engineering and things for the pool and stadium.”

Bowley said the Segerstroms, who founded South Coast Plaza, have also created foundations of $1 million each for Costa Mesa High, Costa Mesa Middle, Estancia High and TeWinkle Middle schools to go toward expenses the state cannot pay. It’s been a big month for the family; the Orange County Performing Arts Center was just renamed for the Segerstroms.

“They’ve been a real benefit to the community,” Bowley said.

The family also sponsors the tournament every year.

This is the first year that the tournament has sold out a month early, Bowley said.

Bowley said he anticipates that the event will raise anywhere from $60,000 to $70,000 but they won’t know until the day is over.

The theme of the golf tournament is “Every Hole Is an Event.” Ferraris, skate ramps, camels and live music are some of the things people can see when walking the course.

“It’s the one event in Costa Mesa that everybody comes to,” said Costa Mesa Councilman Steve Mensinger, the event director.

Costa Mesa United will recognize three people from Costa Mesa who are valuable to the city, education and the community with the first Gordon Bowley Award.

Gearing up for the event, Mensinger said the organization has already raised more than $100,000.

For more information, visit web.me.com/jameshuffman/Costa_Mesa_United/Home.html.