Revenue Producing
Environmentally Correct see GCSAA
Golf Courses
see proposed courses at(Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve & Edgewood Park)
see also Dave Collins letter
Crystal Springs Golf Course
Situated to the West of I-280, above the Crystal Springs reservoir, this magnificent golf course is a "revenue-producing", "environmentally-correct", use of "open space" land.
The San Francisco Water Department(SFWD) derives revenue from the lease on this watershed land.
Hard core environmentalists argue that fertilizers and pesticides used for golf courses are bad for the environment. These political activists, sometimes referred to as "Enviro-Gestapo" and "Enviro-Mafia", are the same ones who killed the "revenue producing" golf course projects in the Southern Watershed and at Edgewood Park. Their tactic? Find an endangered species(or create a new one), no matter how insignificant, and the land is theirs for the "taking". Some may remember them for their "leading role" in killing the fireworks in Redwood City.(My apologies to "rank and file" environmentalists who may be offended by these references. - jjh)
Question: Would the SFWD allow a use of watershed land which would poison the drinking water of its customers?
Answer: Possibly, if political corruption is involved! But in the case of a properly designed and operated golf course, such as Crystal Springs, it's a non-issue.
Crystal Springs is a championship 18-hole course of 6,683 yards, situated along Interstate 280 in Burlingame (Black Mountain Road exit) above the Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir. The spectacular setting is part of a scenic easement and State Fish and Game Refuge and commands sweeping views of the unspoiled peninsula watershed and Crystal Springs Reservoir. Originally designed by noted British architect Herbert Fowler in 1924, a planned redesign is underway by Robert Trent Jones II.
Crystal Springs is managed by CourseCo, Inc., a full service golf management company based in Petaluma, California. A comprehensive $3 million renovation and improvement program for the course and facilities is underway. The first project was the complete rebuilding of the driving range which reopened in July of 1997.
In 1997 Crystal Springs received two environmental awards: the prestigious Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation award for Land Use Planning / Management for golf course maintenance practices, the first golf course to be honored, and the California Environmental Protection Agency (Integrated Waste Management Board) WRAP award for improving the environment by reducing waste.
Deer grazing in the meadow/fairway undisturbed by golfers passing by.
The Crystal Springs reservoir is in the canyon below.
This view from the 6th tee shows the reservoir below.