Golf at Sharp Park Tentative After Supes Pass Avalos Ordinance

An the start to negotiations with National Parks Association or select other entities about a takeover of passed the San Francisco Board of Supervisors this afternoon. 

Two amendments were made to the ordinance that, in its original form, directed the City of San Francisco, which owns and manages the golf course, to essentially offer Sharp Park to the National Parks Association (NPA) for use as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and end golf on the land.

Supervisor John Avalos, who originated the ordinance, said today when presenting the first amendment that the intent of the legislation was not to stop golf on the land, merely to consider it an option. His amendment hedged some of the original language in the ordinance to reflect that.

Supervisor Avalos indicated that even if the GGNRA were to absorb Sharp Park, it would not mean they wouldn’t consider keeping golf there. It would depend on what was negotiated between the city and the NPS, he said. 

Representatives of the GGNRA, although stating they would be interested in Sharp Park after the ordinance was presented in November, have not indicated they would maintain a golf course there.

The NPS regional office has not yet responded to Patch's voice message left this afternoon about the issue. 

Controversy over whether golf should remain at Sharp Park and what the future purpose of the land ought to be stems from environmentalists' concerns that a threatened species and endangered species are from daily golf course operations and government and community concern that keeping the golf course running is not . 

Supervisor David Chiu proposed the second amendment that made it so San Francisco could still negotiate a deal with San Mateo County for a takeover of Sharp Park as an operating golf course.

Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, the most vocal opponent of the ordinance on the board, said that Chiu and Avalos’s amendments did not change the thrust of the legislation, which he said was to turn the golf course into a park.

“An option of closing the golf course is implicit in this,” he said. “The concept that the GGNRA might make an agreement with us to keep the golf course open is news to me. I’d like to ask the members of this board if they’ve ever once heard that the GGNRA will take this and keep the golf course. Please show us.” 

The board’s vote, with six ayes and 5 nays, is not veto-proof, however. San Francisco Ed Lee could step in negate the legislation. 

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