Sharp Park Golf Course is located south of San Francisco and is known for its unique reputation. It is the only waterfront municipal course in the United States and was designed by Alister MacKenzie. It was also a sensational event. Golfers have long rallied around it.
Layout has not had an easy time. Completed in 1932, the course was connected by a highway and flooded by sea water. Time and deferred maintenance took their toll.
Although some of the original holes have been lost, much of McKenzie’s work remains. His imprint is clearly visible in the deceptive hazards, clever doglegs, humps and bumps in the greens and fairways. With the backdrop of lapping Pacific waves and windswept cypress trees framing the grounds, the property has a mystical feel. The rustic clubhouse complements the ambience and reflects the price point. Weekend green fees top out at $86.
Just as it has withstood the indignities of the years, Sharp Park has experienced its fair share of controversy. Environmental groups have pushed for its closure for years, viewing it as a disaster whose land could be better used for other uses. Advocates of the course, which has more moving parts than Jim Furyk’s golf swing, have vigorously defended it in legal proceedings.
Of the many defenders of Sharp Park, none was more active than Richard Harris, a founding member of the San Francisco Public Golf League. Born in Utah and raised in the Bay Area, Harris grew up in a middle-class family but grew up around golf royalty. As a kid, he caddyed at Stanford University golf courses for the likes of Sandy Tatum and Grant Speth, both of whom would go on to become leading figures in the United States Golf Association.
Harris later also played at Stanford University and became a Cardinal teammate of Tom Watson.
As a graduate of Stanford University, Harris had the privilege of playing on the school’s George Thomas-designed course. But he’s a municipal golfer at heart. His work with the San Francisco Public Golf League, a nonprofit whose mission aligns with its name, highlights that spirit. The San Francisco area has a thriving municipal golf scene and is rich in history. But threats to municipal golf — rising costs, political pressure — persist, keeping Harris busy.
One of Harris’ many responsibilities is to help organize the annual fundraising tournament at Sharp Park. This year’s edition took place last Friday. Following that incident, Harris appeared on the “Destination Golf” podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about his golf life, the value of municipal golf and why Sharp Park’s survival is about more than the fate of a single course. You can listen to the episode here or below. The auction supporting Sharp Park will be open to the public on November 30 and will include tee times at multiple GOLF Top 100 courses.
