S.F. Archers are “feverishly” working towards getting our Range re-opened. That reference may or may not be appropriate. But seriously, we are waiting for a response from S.F. Recreation & Parks Department to see if our “Re-Opening Protocols” plan document will be accepted as submitted.

Simultaneously, there is a core group of Board and general members spearheading the Range modifications necessary for re-opening. We are working everyday towards compliance with all the new COVID-19 guidelines for outdoor public recreation areas. We have eliminated target bales and shooting positions on the Practice Range to achieve proper Social Distancing requirements. 

This Club needs to thank and acknowledge the efforts of 3 Board members that have tirelessly maintained the Archery Range property throughout the closure. Former Range Captains, Jim Long, and Mike Lew and longtime Board member and Outreach director Jack Rauch. These individuals have repeatedly mowed, weed whacked, maintained equipment and made improvements to the grounds on a daily basis. There are also ½ dozen others that have assisted when they have been available to meet at the Range and assist our core work group. In the near future we will be developing an alternate plan to our regular work party schedule. The new work party concept will be small scheduled groups with specific tasks. We also need members to take on individual work assignments based on their skill sets and availability.

The Range will be a different place upon our return. Maintaining Social Distancing will be of the utmost importance to ALL members and guests. Common areas like the Clubhouse and Arrow Shack will be closed and locked. The picnic tables and benches have been removed and secured. The garbage and recycle cans have been removed and secured. Everyone must raise their awareness of the new cautious environment we live in now and modify their behavior accordingly.

Despite that doom and gloomy report, the silver lining will be that you can again shoot your bows and arrows. We are adding 3 short range target bales to the upper Range at the NW corner. When you return to the Range, please read and comply with the new signage that will be placed at all the various Ranges. 

There will be examples of these signs posted in this newsletter, on the Facebook page and on the website. We have received assistance from S.F. Rec & Parks and other clubs with the sign format and content. Please familiarize yourselves with the new guidelines for Range use.  

The other big announcement is that the SFA Board has officially cancelled this year’s 1 Million Year BC shoot. That decision should be no surprise to anyone and there was no other option but to cancel. We look forward to hosting next year’s 2021 BC shoot. 

There is still much to be done to re-open and get back to what will be the “new normal” at the Range. My personal goal to re-open is no later than June 1^st. With that said, there are some things that are beyond our control. We are doing all we can to achieve that, so please continue to be patient and look forward to the re-opening.  

Stay Safe & Healthy,

Charley Sturtevant SFA President

May 4, 2020

Despite the anticipated re-opening of Sharp Park Golf Course and the opening of Golden Gate Park’s Archery “field”, the San Francisco Archery Range is still closed. 

The San Francisco Archery Range will not reopen until San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department approves SFA’s “Re-opening Protocols” and, there are changes to the Range that will bring it into compliance with the new COVID-19 protocol requirements. 

SFA received official notice from representatives of S.F. Parks & Rec today (5/4/20), of the requirement to submit a “Re-opening Protocol” proposal document.

A sub-committee of the SFA Board is drafting the “Re-opening Protocols” at this time and the document will be submitted to the full SFA Board for approval this week and forwarded to the appropriate representatives of S.F. Rec & Parks. Simultaneously, there is a small team assessing necessary Range modifications and will be working to make these changes. The workforce is very limited due to current assembly restrictions.  

I strongly urge all members and non-members to continue to comply with the closure signs on the entry gate and refrain from going back to the Range. If ignored, you will be jeopardizing the future of the Archery Range.

As previously stated, the health and safety of our members and guests is our first priority. We ALL want to get back to shooting our bows & arrows but there are some very important and necessary hoops we have to jump through first.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support, 

Charley Sturtevant, 2020 SFA President

The San Francisco Archers Range is closed until further notice due to COVID-19. Please read the SFA President’s message here.

SFA operates under the authority of San Francisco Recreation & Parks as well as the City of San Francisco. We are closed until we receive permission to resume operations.

PLEASE DO NOT ignore the closures signs on the entry gate.
PLEASE DO NOT go to the range to shoot your bows & arrows.

We want you to stay safe & healthy, AND we want to be able to continue operating the range long into the future. We will see you when we re-open the range.

Hello All SFA Members,

I sincerely hope you and your families are reading this message in good health. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life changing event for everyone and will alter the future of our social activities, customs and human interactions. On the grand scale of what has occurred in the past two months, the ability to participate in the recreational sport of archery pales in comparison to the worldwide loss of human life, especially the elders which this virus has had such a devastating effect on.

The San Francisco Archer’s Board of Directors conducted an emergency meeting on March 17^th, 2020 (St. Patrick’s Day) and made a unanimous decision to cease all organized activities and completely close the Archery Range. At that time, just three weeks ago, it seemed like a difficult and monumental decision. Up until a day before that meeting, I personally thought it was possible to keep the trails of the Range open for casual and individual shooting. I was quickly convinced that a complete closure was the only course of action that could be taken. The paramount decision was made in order to prevent any possible spread of the COVID-19 virus, protect the health and safety of our members and guests and preserve the existence of the Range for the future when the virus subsides and passes.

Just days after the Board decision, and with the locks changed on the front entry gate, San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department checked on us to ensure we were all shut down. They were pleased with our initiative and the action that we took. SFA was notified just last week by SF Rec & Park that the closure shall continue until the end of April and then re-evaluated.

I strongly urge all members and non-members who read this, DO NOT ignore the closures signs on the entry gate and refrain from going back to the Range to shoot your bows & arrows. You would not only be jeopardizing your own personal health and safety, you will be jeopardizing the future of the Archery Range. 

As the guy who raised his hand and volunteered to be President of the Club this year, frankly, I am growing weary of the questions: “when are we going to re-open the Range?, What about the BC shoot?. I know it goes with the territory but public health and safety as it relates to the COVID-19 virus pandemic is a much higher priority than the events of San Francisco Archers and re-opening the Archery Range. SFA operates under the authority of SF Rec and Parks and the City of San Francisco. We are in standby status until we receive permission to resume operations. There will be zero activity, (except essential maintenance and security patrols) at the Range until it is deemed safe to return to normal activity. SFA will NOT risk the health and safety of its members or guests with possible exposure or the spread of the Coronavirus.

Looking forward to the beginning of May when we get updated reports from SF Rec & Parks and San Mateo County Health departments regarding assembly restrictions and limitations, the SFA Board will evaluate whether or not to hold the 1 million year BC shoot at the end of July. If a decision to cancel BC is made, there has been informal discussion of developing an alternative shoot later in the year when we can confidently assemble without worry of spreading or contracting the virus. Any future archery shoots will be planned and organized under the strict guidelines and directives of assembly limits established at that time. 

Making the sacrifice of shooting archery is very small compared to what so many fellow humans have sacrificed to this virus thus far. Put your bows and arrows on ice for a while and hope and pray that, that is all you have to put on ice. I’m sorry for the cryptic tone but now is the time to GET REAL and put things in perspective. After this global pandemic passes, the Range will open again and archery will once again return to be a regular regiment in our lives. 

Strive to take extraordinary measures to prevent the spread of this extremely contagious virus and STAY HEALTHY.

2020 SFA President, Charley Sturtevant