I just received this email from Gleneagles:
Dear Gleneagles Golfer,
Our lease officially expired eight months ago and we have been on "month-to-month" status while negotiating with Recreation and Parks Department to develop new lease language whereby the City increases support for Gleneagles similar to how they support Harding, Sharp, Lincoln and Golden Gate Park golf courses.
Under the current lease, the City offers no assistance whatsoever.
Unfortunately, two weeks ago we received a letter from the SFPUC stating that "due to the drought they are increasing our water rate by 50% effective July 1, 2014."
Accordingly, we have given a 30-day notice to the Recreation and Parks Department ending our lease at Gleneagles GC on July 31, 2014.
As you can imagine, a 50% increase in the water rate is the WORST news we could receive and seriously impacts our efforts to maintain our community golf course.
Independent golf courses like Gleneagles have been hit with a series of body blows including declining rounds of golf and competing with ultra-discounted internet green fees.
If you support Gleneagles and wish help us through this crisis, please contact the Recreation and Parks Department and Commissioners.
In the meantime come out and use the golf course. We recognize that you have many golf choices but we also know that there is nothing quite like Gleneagles GC.
For the past ten years we have replaced all the greens with country club preferred bentgrass. We have removed hazardous trees and limbs, restored Old Number One green, purchased new mowers, tractors and other vital equipment, maintained a declining irrigation system and endured as the price of water has more than doubled in the past nine years. We are also a designated satellite course of The First Tee of San Francisco, home to hundreds of young children and their families from our neighborhoods.
Finally and most importantly, our dedicated staff has provided a welcoming environment from the moment you walk through our doors until the time you leave the property.
As you all know, Gleneagles GC is a special place, unique in all the golf kingdom. Your loyalty and persistent support is appreciated in the next 30 days while we petition the City to keep this community golf course open with a fair lease that offers City support like other golf courses.
CONTACT:
Phil Ginsburg, General Manager -Recreation and Parks Department and cc: the Commissioners of the Recreation and Parks Department.
Mr. Ginsburg and the Commissioners can be emailed at:
phil.ginsburg@sfgov.org (RPD General Manager)
Margaret.mcarthur@sfgov.org (Commission Liason)
Cc: gleneaglesinsf@gmail.com
For golf at Gleneagles,
Tom
Tom A. Hsieh
Gleneagles GC at McLaren Park
415-587-2425