Alta Mesa at Alta Mesa Country Club

Alta Mesa Country Club sits in the eastern Phoenix metropolitan area, designed by Dick Phelps and opened in the early 1970s. Phelps, a regional architect active primarily in Arizona and the Southwest during that era, created a layout that reflects the desert transition zone where the Sonoran landscape meets the developing suburbs of Mesa. The course occupies relatively flat terrain typical of the Salt River Valley, with mature landscaping that has grown in over the decades to frame fairways and define playing corridors.

The routing follows a traditional out-and-back pattern common to courses of its vintage, with holes playing through established residential neighborhoods. Water features appear on several holes, a design element frequently incorporated into Arizona courses of this period both for irrigation management and strategic interest. Bunkering tends toward conventional placement around greens and at landing zones, and the putting surfaces are generally moderate in size and contour, reflecting the design sensibilities of the early 1970s rather than more contemporary aggressive shaping.

Alta Mesa functions primarily as a private club serving its membership and the surrounding community. The course provides a straightforward test of golf without severe elevation change, relying instead on accuracy and course management. Its mature trees and established character distinguish it from newer desert-style layouts in the region, offering a more parkland experience within the broader Phoenix golf landscape.