Sharp Park Golf Course Stays Alive

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday, Jan. 10, not to close the Sharp Park Golf Course, much to the dismay of environmentalists who claim the course endangers California garter snakes and red-legged frogs on the course.

According to a San Francisco Public Golf Alliance press release, the board’s vote upheld San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s December veto of an ordinance to make the course national parkland, thus barring golf on the land. To override the veto, ordinance author John Avalos needed eight votes favoring the course’s closing; he garnered only six.

Sharp Park Golf Course is owned by the City of San Francisco. It has been at the center of a feud between environmentalists and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, which is in talks to transfer ownership of the course to San Mateo County. The county would continue to use the land as a golf course. The course is significant because it was built by beloved golf course architect Alister MacKenzie and so long ago, in 1932.

Though Sharp Park Golf Course gets a reprieve for now, it’s not home free entirely; the case is headed for trial in federal district court this July. Until then, however, golfers know for certain they can tee off there all they want.