Civic Center Weekend 4: Miniature Golf Death Match

The lawns have been torn out on the Hayes Valley Green until the middle of June for resodding.



When I asked District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi why the Rec & Park Department didn't wait until the rainy season to do the replanting, he smiled somewhat incredulously and asked, "The Rec & Park Department?" as if that was all that needed to be said, and unfortunately he's right.



I'm sure there are many departments in San Francisco government that do a good job and are fully functional, but the San Francisco Rec & Park Department is famously not one of them. They can't even get their own name right on their signage.



Supervisor Mirkarimi was at the Hayes Green on Saturday at noon to give a short speech applauding the Official Opening of the Hayes Valley "historic" miniature golf course which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago (click here).



The artists from Wowhaus (click here) looked a little nervous about all the politicians but gave a gracious explanation of their art project.



Appearing in place of Gavin Newsom was one of his senior aides, Mike Farrah, who admitted he didn't know what to wear to a combination art opening, political speech, and miniature golf course outing.



Also appearing were leaders from the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association and the San Francisco Art Commission, including Jill Manton, the Program Director of the Public Art Program above.



The speeches were blessedly brief and for a photo-op, there was a brief contest between the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor's Office.



Now I don't want the following news to in any way have an impact on Mirkarimi's future political career, whether he wants to be mayor of San Francisco or president of the United States, but here at "Civic Center" we have to tell the truth as we see it. And though I can't be absolutely certain on the subject, since I didn't ask, it seemed fairly obvious that Ross Mirkarimi had never played miniature golf before in his entire life.



Mike Farrah also sucked at the first two holes but at least he seemed to know what he was doing. So here's an offer, Supervisor Mirkarimi. If you would like to learn the intricacies of miniature golf, give me a ring and we'll see about a practice session some Saturday at the Hayes Valley Green.