By Susan Ives
“Save the Golf Course” signs have appeared along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard since the County announced its intention to acquire the 157-acre San Geronimo Golf Course in June.
The 18-hole course, which straddles Sir Francis Drake Blvd and Nicasio Valley Road, has operated since the 1960s and is one of a half-dozen golf courses scattered throughout Marin, including in Fairfax, Novato, Mill Valley, and San Rafael.
As golf's popularity has waned, the San Geronimo Course has changed hands. The current owners bought the property in 2009, but have not been able to make it work financially since acquiring it from American Golf Corporation of Santa Monica, which had managed the course for Goldman Sachs and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The property, zoned for commercial recreation development, went back on the market last summer. That’s when County Supervisors took an interest in acquiring the land for Marin County Parks and Open Space. The Trust for Public Land optioned the property to allow the County time to figure out how to buy the land, appraised at $8.8 million.
As County Open Space, the land will offer hiking trails, a wildlife corridor linked to nearby preserves and open spaces, and, importantly, the chance to restore sections of San Geronimo Creek and Larsen Creek, vital spawning streams for endangered coho salmon. The golf course impounds Larsen Creek for irrigation. The natural flood plain has been modified for fairways and greens. These ecosystems would be restored under County ownership.
Most of the funds for the acquisition would come from the State of California for salmon restoration. The County would tap Measure A monies from an existing County sales tax to cover the balance. Supporters see restoring the creek as an opportunity for hands-on environmental education for school children throughout the county.
But the acquisition is no slam dunk. Outspoken opponents — golfers and some of the residents of the surrounding San Geronimo Valley towns — say the price is too high. Their concerns include the risk of fire if the golf course grass is replaced native vegetation and that Marin already has enough open space and too few golf courses. The County Board of Supervisors postponed its decision on the purchase until November 14th to allow for more public input in the coming weeks.
There is broad support for the County’s acquisition from valley residents who fear that development could change the rural character of the community, and who wish to see the land restored for wildlife and public use. The Lagunitas Creek Technical Advisory Committee — a coalition of 18 organizations including California State Parks, Marin Audubon, Marin Municipal Water District, the San Geronimo Planning Group, Trout Unlimited, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have joined Congressman Jared Huffman and other community leaders in support of the acquisition.
What You Can Do:
All Marin residents have a voice in whether the property is will become public land—or not. Please add yours.
Sign the petition online here:
http://tinyurl.com/AcquireSanGeronimo
A number of local groups, including affordable housing advocates and teachers, are mobilizing supporters to attend the Supervisors meeting to speak in favor of the County's acquisition. Join us:
Tuesday, November 14
9:30 AM
Board of Supervisors Chambers, Room 330
3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903
RSVP Here
Photo courtesy Jeff Archer via Flickr Creative Commons.