The Pellucid Perspective - May 2011 - (Page 14)

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Environmentalists seeking closure of revered SF muni Potential landmark case pits Endangered Species Act against MacKenzie-designed Sharp Park Golf Course By Jim Dunlap he Alister MacKenzie-designed Sharp Park Golf Course was killed by a golf course mower, and in the wake of the frein the San Francisco suburb of Pacifica will turn 80 years quent rainy season flooding of low-lying parts of the golf course, old next year. The Tucson, Ariz.-based Center for Bio- red-legged frog egg sacs are left to bake and die in the sun when logical Diversity and its supporters would like to see it turned the water from flooding is pumped off the golf course. Golf into a wetland playground for endangered frog and snake spe- course officials counter that extensive efforts are being made cies instead. The case, currently under review in federal court, to collect endangered frog egg sacs at those times and relocate could conceivably set a precedent regarding use of the Endan- them to the wetlands, and that maintenance crews are on the gered Species Act against an existing golf course. lookout for snakes in their path. The salient point may be, how“It’s the first attempt that we are aware of to use the En- ever, that neither would be there if the golf course hadn’t been dangered Species Act to close an existing golf course, or a park created in the first place, and the frogs and snakes obviously find for that matter,” said Richard Harris, an attheir current habitat more welcoming than torney and spokesman for the San Francisco wherever they came from. Perhaps adding to Public Golf Alliance, which is strenuously Prior to the filing of the current lawsuit, objecting to the course closure attempts. The the appeal and public in 2009, the city of San Francisco had comAct, and other legal or political objections, support of the course missioned a study and presented a plan for have obviously been used on numerous ocnot only doing everything possible to preis its stature as one vent damage to the frog and snake populacasions to fight or alter golf course development, but one of the key points of the Sharp of the relatively few tion, but to preserve the brackish but livable Park debate is that the golf course has existwetlands environment by bolstering the truly affordable and seawall to prevent salt water incursion. This ed since its opening in 1932, although five of the oceanfront holes were removed and reaccessible courses despite the fact that only two such major built further inland due to a couple of major breaches have occurred in the last 70 years breaches of the seawall protecting the course in the San Francisco or so, most recently in 1983. The Center for from ocean surge. area, definitely not Biological Diversity and its backers say that The endangered species in question are is not satisfactory, and the only viable solua playground for the Red-Legged Frog and the San Francisco tion is to plow under the golf course and Garter Snake. Although representatives of create a larger wetlands sanctuary for the the elite at public the Center for Biological Diversity and its endangered species. expense. affiliated Wild Equity Institute contend that There is considerable local support for those species “may” have existed prior to the leaving the golf course, and the surrounding golf course construction, accredited wildlife park, as it is, for its inherent overall value to biologists consulted by the San Francisco Parks and Recreation the community, not to mention the preservation of a rare seaDepartment and other agencies say there is no evidence of that, side links course crafted by MacKenzie, which is one of only two and that prior to the construction of the seawall, the wetlands municipal courses crafted by the Golf Hall of Fame architect of areas that are part of the golf course today would have been far Augusta National, Cypress Point and many other acclaimed detoo salty to provide habitat for either the frogs or the garter signs. Local supporters include Ken Venturi and former USGA snakes which prey on them. In fact, ironically, eminent wild- head Sandy Tatum, who both played Sharp Park frequently in life biologist Karen Swaim concluded that not only do the golf their youth. Perhaps adding to the appeal and public support of course and its less saline wetlands create habitat for the frogs the course is its stature as one of the relatively few truly affordand snakes, but those species would not be there at all if the golf able and accessible courses in the San Francisco area, definitely course and its wetlands had not been created. not a playground for the elite at public expense. All segments of Environmentalist proponents of the course’s closure cite the the Bay Area’s diverse population are represented, and the vast fact that on at least one occasion, a San Francisco garter snake majority seem grateful for the venue. T 14 The Pellucid PersPecTive May 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Pellucid Perspective - May 2011

The Pellucid Perspective - May 2011
Contents
Golf 20/11: A House With No Information Foundation?
Sharp Tools for Cutting Maintenance Costs
When Is a Survey Not a Survey?
Short Courses Disappearing, but Some Find Success
Apr 2011 YtD Weather Impact, Mar 2011 YtD Utilization
A Weather Word to the Wise
New York, NY Core Business Statistical Area (CBSA)
Environmentalists Seeking Closure of Revered SF Muni
Comings & Goings
The Bad, the Good and the Ugly

The Pellucid Perspective - May 2011