COSTA MESA UNPLUGGED:

When a cause for kids is taken up, grown-ups who disagree will drop their swords. They’ll unclench their fists and shake hands with their opponent.

And when that cause involves golf, there are no rogues. Just friends and acquaintances who putt really badly.

And so it was this past Monday at Mesa Verde Country Club, where political combatants, media types, business heavyweights and otherwise nondescript Newport-Mesans assembled to defame the good game of golf and raise coin in support of the Youth Sports Council of Costa Mesa United.

It was the third installment of the Mesa Verde Classic, a cash-gathering event that’s pulled a heavy oar in its young history to help bankroll really critical athletic facility projects such as the nearly completed Jim Scott Stadium (not the official name yet, but the moniker it should have) at Estancia High School.

And, also, the pending construction of a new aquatic center at Costa Mesa High School.

Going forward, the Youth Sports Council and the event will have much to say, fund and do to make sure Costa Mesa’s youth are served by the finest recreation facilities in Orange County.

That stuff aside, the event yielded a trove of observations.

First, Improvers where chatting and sharing yucks with Return to Reason folks. See what golf can do for diplomacy?

There was the symbolism of Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoor — no longer at the helm of the Costa Mesa City Council — riding shotgun in a golf cart with Assistant City Manager Tom Hatch at the wheel.

That second seat has its appeal in government and on the course.

I then found Daily Pilot Publisher Tom Johnson and Director of News and Online Tony Dodero prepping to hit the rock around a bit.

And so I wondered if I’d see a Tuesday edition of the Pilot, or if Sam Zell (the new owner of the Tribune Company) had already sacked these guys.

Riding with Costa Mesa Recreation Manager Jana Ransom was former Planning Commissioner Bruce Garlich.

Here’s a guy just back from a knock-down-drag-out scuffle with a formidable illness, and he seemed fit as a fiddle and happy to be digging up the course with the rest of us.

Faint whiffs of what may surface this next municipal election cycle wafted about with the presence of a gimpy Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner Jim Fisler making the rounds in a golf cart even though the bad wheel kept him from playing.

Jim Righeimer, a planning commissioner and potential council candidate, was chumming a bit with Steve Mensinger, a not-insignificant campaign contributor to Mansoor and City Councilwoman Wendy Leece.

Costa Mesa Television’s Brad Long was carting about with camera crew in tow, grabbing footage of topped fairway shots, chilly dipped pitches and drives that landed in the fairway ... one hole over.

My golf? It could have been better. But when you have former Angel second baseman Bobby Grich playing in the group behind you, there’s an intimidation factor there, you know.

The guy stripes a golf ball like it was a 3-0 pitch down the middle.

Folks I didn’t see were Mayor Eric Bever. Too bad, really. Would have loved to see how that Ace Ventura hairdo holds up in an occasional rain.

Most sad was the absence of Old Jim Scott. Costa Mesa United and the Youth Sports Council are alive and well because of him and his vision to make athletics a central part of the lives of the kids who live in Costa Mesa.

A top-shelf stadium now stands because of his drive and determination.

And not too far off an Olympic-quality pool will shimmer at Costa Mesa High School.

That’s Jim Scott, too.

BYRON DE ARAKAL is a former Costa Mesa parks and recreation commissioner. Readers can reach him at [email protected].