By JIM RIGHEIMER

Updated: Friday, May 30, 2008 10:08 PM PDT

Every community has hidden gems. Whether it’s a locals-only restaurant, a small park or community event, they are what make every community special.

Usually they are small and out-of-the-way places. In this case, the hidden gem may be out-of-the-way, but at more than 100 acres it is not small. What I am talking about is the Mesa Verde Country Club, which turns 50 this January.

Many of the non-golfers in the community confuse it with Costa Mesa Country Club, which is off of Mesa Verde East but just south of Adams Avenue. Mesa Verde Country Club is north of Adams just off Mesa Verde West. You can understand the confusion.

The land where the golf course sits was sold in 1956 to investor Adolph Sleceta, who planned to work with the developers Ray Watt and Walter Gaynor to build more housing in Mesa Verde.

Due to terrain and utility issues, however, they could not build homes. They instead decided to fund construction of a golf course and clubhouse. Not so good for them, but lucky for us.

Over the years, the club passed though several corporate owners until 1975 when the members bought it from Japan Golf Promotion for a whopping $2.1 million. Today, even in a down market, many of the homes on the course sell for more than that.

The golf course has a very rich history. It has been home to many PGA and LPGA tournaments. It hosted the first Orange County Open, a PGA Tour event in 1959 and continued that event until 1962. Starting in 1979 it hosted LPGA tour events for six consecutive years.

This club rates high among golfers. Steve Rhorer, club vice president, avid golfer and Mesa Verde resident, joined in 2000. Prior to that, he had been a longtime member of the Virginia Country Club in Long Beach.

“I have played every private course in the county and from a pure golfing standpoint; this course is second to none,” he told me. “You will use every club in your bag, and with the tree-lined fairways, you better be accurate.”

More than 600 local families are associated with the club as golf, tennis or social members. Seventy percent of the families used to be from Costa Mesa. Now it is composed of almost equal parts Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach residents.

I talked with past board member Pete Daley, who joined in 1977. Daley, now residing in Aliso Viejo, lived on the bird streets for more than 20 years. He told me it is a very family-friendly club.

“Our three kids went through all the swimming and tennis programs,” he said. “The club played a big role throughout their youth.”

For the past 50 years, Mesa Verde Country Club has been one of those hidden gems that make up Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. It has not just been a place to play golf and tennis, but a place that makes you part of a community. It is where your kids learn how to swim and where you make friendships that last a lifetime.