"The report was guided by a small set of Pacifica and San Francisco golfers including Mayor Lancelle who want to continue to play the cheapest golf in California without having to drive more than a mile or two to do so".
Ms. Jana, I would not call 54,073 rounds of golf played at Sharp Park in the last fiscal year a "small set of golfers". Golf is on the rise at Sharp Park and that is a fact that cannot be denied. This amount is up for FY 2008 when 51,151 rounds were played. No one can continue to say rounds are down at Sharp Park. Of the 54,073 rounds played in FY 2009, 36% were by residents of SF and Pacifica and 31% were played by seniors. These numbers are not deniable.
This deal has changed so many times it's hard to keep up on what Plater and his followers are really after. First it was soccer fields, than it was to protect the snakes, then it was to return the area to it's natural state, now it is to donate the land to the federal government. First Plater was with the CBD, now he is not. Now he is trotting out some new group. I can't keep up anymore with this guy. I believe he is just trying to build his resume for a run at public office some day.
We golfers just want to play golf at a course that is affordable and close to home. Ms. Jana, if I drove to a course some 40 miles away from my house every weekend you would probably complain that my carbon footprint was too big, play golf closer to home!!! Well, I do play my golf close to home, because Sharp Park is a wonderful golf course, that is close to nature.
As for the argument that Sharp does not resemble a Makenzie course any longer, many golf courses are re-designed from their original design. Over the years Pebble Beach, Harding Park, Augusta National, even the Olympic Club have been changed a little here and there. This not mean that the courses are too different,and the same is true at Sharp Park. 14 of the 18 original holes are still here.
Plater has continued to trot out the same stale points now for the last 4 years. Sharp Park is the only course within the SF Park & Rec courses that is showing an increase in play. Of course he does not want anyone to know that. He is trotting out numbers from 4-5 years ago. Numbers that are a bit skewed because of back to back course closures due to flooding in the winters of 04-05 & 05-06. Flooding that will be worse in the future if Plater gets his way and tears the seawall down to turn the area into a "natural area". West Fairway Park residents should be very concerned about this issue.
Let's get real here people and improve a climate where golf and nature can co-exist. Because the report did not justify Mirkarimi and Plater's vision they are denouncing it. Sharp Park Golf Course can be a natioinal model for enviromentalism and golf. Let's make it happen.
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4 comments:
I would suggest a walkabout or a mailout to the homeowners around West Fairway Park to let them know what the possible effects of closing Sharp Park Golf course would have on their home values.
Well stated, Butch. I think Plater and his league of cronies are continually hitting out of the rough because they know they have an untenable position that relies on falsehoods and misrepresentations. Plater claims there are "thousands" of people in Pacifica who support the Restore Sharp Park vision (which I'm sure made Jim Vreeland instantaneously change his position), so I hope the community takes note of the people who are supporting and promoting these fantasies, and give them the respect they deserve (which is none).
Lois, good point. I think most of the homeowners around West Fairway Park do know about the golf course being threatened, and understand the issue. There were several people at the Save Sharp Park meeting several weeks back who live in that area.
We know about it, we had a meeting this past Saturday in the City Council Chambers to which we hand delivered 1000 inviations to all Fairway Park and West Sharp Park Residents and a notice was placed in the Tribune. 35 ppl showed up including some of Plater's moles. Very disappointing turnout. Unfortunately a combination of apathy and folks thinking the Rec and Park Dept Report was the be all to end all. We are trying very hard to get the neighborhood organized. If you know anyone in the area interested in being a part of our organinzing effort to save the course please have them contact the Pacifica Community Coalition to Save Sharp Park Golf Course thru barietta@2006@yahoo.com
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