News & Events

CANCELLED - 9th Annual Alister MacKenzie Heritage Tournament to Preserve Sharp Park

Mar 23, 2020by - San Francisco Public Golf Alliance

The San Francisco Public Golf Alliance is postponing the 9th annual Alister MacKenzie Heritage Tournament to Preserve Sharp Park. This benefit tournament is our primary event to raise awareness and fund our mission to nurture and defend eco-friendly public golf in San Francisco and, in particular, our historic municipal gem - Alister MacKenzie's Sharp Park.

The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department issued an alert closing all the city municipal golf courses when Mayor London Breed directed residents to Shelter in Place from March 17 through April 7.

The LPGA Mediheal Tournament at Lake Merced scheduled in April has also been postponed as has the PGA Championship at Harding Park scheduled for May.

Traditionally we've held the "Save Sharp Park" event at the end of May or beginning of June. With an abundance of caution during the COVID-19 "Shelter in Place Order", we are postponing and tentatively planning to reschedule the event later this summer, hopefully around the 150th Anniversary of Alister MacKenzie's birth on August 30, 1870.

Obviously, this is subject to change pending how events unfold.

Some other relevant links that may be of interest to Bay Area golfers during this difficult time:

SF Rec & Park 3/21 - "COVID-19 Update- Getting Outside in our Parks":

"Healthy people under age 60 can continue to spend time outdoors while complying with the social distancing recommendations of staying at least 6 feet apart from one another. It is OK to go outside to walk your dog, go for a walk, run, ride a bike, and hike alone or with someone in your household. If you'd like to take your children outside, please take them to trails and open parks, not to playgrounds, to help maintain social distance."

Golfworld - "Can you play golf amid coronavirus concerns? With proper precautions, yes":

"According to Dr. Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, golf as it’s normally played—outdoors, with natural social-distancing built in—“would be fairly safe.” Let’s take you through some of the guidelines that golfers should remember, and take comfort in, as they think about the game as a possible escape from the current headlines."

USGA - "COVID-19 Rules and Handicapping FAQs":

"The guidance below supplements a memo released by the USGA as to how the Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping apply in response to questions received from golf course owners, administrators, tournament organizers and golfers... As was noted in that memo, it is not the intended purpose of the below guidance to either encourage or discourage anyone from playing the game, but rather, in our governance role, to help golf course operators, committees and golfers better understand how the Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping apply to the various questions we have received."

Marin Independent Journal - "San Rafael golfers booted from course in virus crackdown":

"About 100 golfers at Peacock Gap Golf Course in San Rafael were told by police to pack up their clubs and go home on Thursday. The golf course was shut down for violating the “shelter in place” order that was issued throughout the region to control the spread of the coronavirus, San Rafael police Lt. Dan Fink said. The order mandates that non-essential businesses close until April 7, but the golf course had been operating all week — giving people a place to escape seclusion and enjoy the outdoors."

Some private courses are open for member play with appropriate safety procedures and precautions. This offers hope that public golf in San Francisco will also resume with appropriate safety considerations as the pandemic abates. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, the San Francisco Public Golf Alliance encourages everyone to be safe and follow all local, state, and federal guidelines.

If you wish to support our efforts between now and the next tournament, donations are alway appreciated.

Also consider supporting our small business friends and patrons like State Apparel. Their store is closed during the shut down, but their fine products and #SaveSharpPark swag is available on-line.