Mira Mesa

Par 29 - Level 3 - 82 Slope Rating

Plays from 1,130 – 1,675 yards

 

Mira Mesa is one of the oldest courses in The Villages. It’s also one of the newest, having gone through a major renovation in early 2023. It used to be a classy vintage course with tight fairways and small greens. Now it’s a spectacular track with impeccable putting surfaces and beautifully landscaped fairways that still punish wayward shooters. Tall palms now stand guard behind many greens, creating striking backdrops that feel both welcoming and watchful.

It was on my Top Five list before. It’s cemented its position there now.

 

My first time playing Mira Mesa, I was paired with three older gentlemen - the youngest was 84. When I asked where the fourth was, they told me he had passed away the year prior. After offering my condolences and sharing a few moments about their fallen friend, I asked if they planned to replace him in their foursome.

They all shook their heads no.

At first, I thought it was purely out of respect. But these guys were more pragmatic. They explained that if they stayed a threesome, a random fourth - usually much younger - would be added, someone who could still see exactly where all their balls went. 

I laughed.

Then they teed off.

Within minutes, I realized I had been quietly assigned a duty. I wasn’t just playing - I was spotting. Every drive, every iron, every soft fade into the trees. “Right side.” “Just short.” “Back edge.”

Mira Mesa, I learned quickly, is about seeing the ball.

 

Those three men were all military veterans. And watching them play, it struck me that nothing about this arrangement was accidental. Veterans understand roles. They understand teamwork. They understand keeping watch - not for glory, but because someone has to do it. And so Mira Mesa became more than a golf course that day. It became a place of respect. For the lost balls, yes - but also for lost friends.

It is with great honor that I play this wonderful course with those three vets in mind.

 

The opening hole is one of my favorites anywhere. You simply can’t stand on this tee box and be unhappy - especially now, with the green and white sand popping perfectly against the palms lining the back of the green. It’s a simple 130-yard shot to a wide, flat putting surface. A calm beginning. A confidence builder. Exactly how a round should start.

 

The 2nd hole is the first of two tight tunnel tests.  There’s no room for error on either side. It’s so close I’ve heard conversations drifting in from nearby lanais. At just 138 yards, it’s manageable, but the 3rd hole ups the ante: a 260-yard par four that forces a decision. Lay up with an iron to the 100-yard stake - or take out the driver and risk spraying one into trees or homes.

Should you play it smart… or play it fun?

My head says smart.
My heart says fun.

The driver came out. I said, “bombs away” and the three didn't blink. 

 

Holes four and five turn you east and offer a brief chance to score. Both are short. The designers mercifully placed sand behind the 4^th green - thank you - and none behind the 5th, for which I’m equally grateful. Take your pars here. The course stiffens quickly from this point forward, with four of the five hardest holes still ahead - and another return to the tree tunnel.

 

But first: postcards. Two in a row.  

Mira Mesa 6 is one of the 18 most picturesque holes in The Villages, and the renovation only elevated it. The palms framing the green feel deliberate, almost ceremonial. #7 follows with equal beauty. Lush trees, layered greens, and a sense that you’ve stepped into a perfectly composed photograph. It looks just like shots I’ve seen on TV. 

Only two other courses feature consecutive holes on my Postcard List. Can you name them? (Quiz Question 16.)

 

But don’t let the beauty distract - #7 is no pushover. The par four doglegs left, and your drive must be placed precisely in the 170–200 yard range to earn a clear approach. Trees are everywhere. Fantastic for photos. Less fantastic for my slice.

 

On #8, you finally emerge from the tunnel, catch your first glimpse of water, and turn west—often straight into the sun. For reasons I can’t explain, my shot never quite reaches the green. Club up.

 

The closing 9th hole is the only place you might actually need a water ball. It also plays longer than it looks – isn’t that always so when traveling over water?  Again, club up to finish strong as you complete your lap around the Mira Mesa square.

 

Thinking back to that first round with the three Village vets, I spent a lot of time searching - into brush, under trees, eyes scanning constantly. That’s second nature to them. Veterans don’t just look… they see.

The renovation has made Mira Mesa cleaner and easier to read, but it hasn’t softened the challenge. This course is still about awareness - about staying alert, paying attention, and knowing where things land.

Mira Mesa rewards those who pay attention — and honors those who always did.

 

Toughest to Easiest:

7, 3, 9, 8, 6, 2, 5, 4 – toughest green 6