Welcome to the San Francisco Horseshoe Pitching Club website!

The San Francisco Horseshoe Pitching Club is a place for local horseshoe pitchers to find other horseshoe pitchers, where to play in the City, and how to participate in regional and national tournaments sponsored by the NCHPA and NHPA. If you are looking for other local players to play horseshoes with go to the SFHPC Members page and join this website or contact another player listed there. Visit the other pages of this website for information about organized horseshoe pitching throughout Northern California, instructional videos, places to find professional equipment, and other horseshoe related links.

CLUB NIGHT & DAYS: Golden Gate Park
Wednesdays: 1pm - 4pm Veteran horseshoe pitcher Lawrence Kelley will be available to give instruction on pitching the 1-1/4 turn shoe on Wednesday afternoons. Wednesday evenings will resume in the Spring after daylight savings time.
Fridays: 3 pm -5 pm There is a group of members that are regularly pitching on Friday afternoons
Saturdays: 10 am - 3 pm Pick-up match, round robin tournament with whoever shows up. No experience necessary and we'll bring extra horseshoes.

Join this website! Click on the SIGN UP! button at the top right of the page and follow the instructions! It's FREE. Meet other players and support horseshoe pitching in San Francisco! If you don't want to sign up on a club website but still want to meet other player just send me (pznkz) an email at peter@sfhorseshoepitching.com and I'll let you know when and where we'll be playing.

San Francisco has had a horseshoe pitching club since the 1920's with the last Northern California Horseshoe Pitching Association affiliated club closing in 1992. The new San Francisco Horseshoe Pitching Club is currently for social networking of local players and community involvement in restoring and maintaining the public courts. As membership and interest increases, we will apply for affiliated club status with the NCHPA and currently have their support in reaching this goal. Go to About SFHPC and SF Horseshoe History for more info.

We have a volunteer to restore the 1937 HORSE AND HORSESHOE PITCHER sculptures in Golden Gate Park!!!! On the morning of Aug. 28, 2009 we met with Thomas Sperow of Greco Granite www.grecogranite.com and several Park Officials as well as Rick Seabolt, the grandson in-law of the orignial artist and a phone call from the artists daughter!! Greco Granite is donating their professional restoration services to restore both sculptures! This will be a long process but it has already begun. The support we are receiving is truly amazing! See History Page on Vet Anderson. We are continuing with extensive renovations to the Horseshoe Courts in Golden Gate Park with the intention of starting an active league and supporting charity tournaments. Scroll down this page to see some of the amazing work that has already begun.
(left to rt: Seabolt, Zepponi, Sperow)

LATEST NEW:
SFHPC and the Guardsmen have been awarded a SF Community Challenge Grant for the continued restoration of the Golden Gate Horseshoe Courts!!! On January 12 we held a meeting with the top managers and directors for the Golden Gate Park, Natural Areas Programs, SF Parks Trust, Natural Trails program, SF Neighborhood Park Council, Oak Woodlands restoration, the Guardsmen, Tree Frog Treks, landscape architect Masato Kametani and architect Peter Zepponi. The horseshoe court restoration will be a key feature of the larger Oak Woodlands restoration and Natural Trails program. Several other community stewardship partners are being developed with organizations such as Tree Frog Treks who have come forward and committed to being ongoing stewardship partners. Several upcoming volunteer workdays are being planned to continue the ongoing Oak Woodland and Horseshoe Court restorations. Significant hillside stabilization and native plant restoration is well under way. Projects that we are currently planning for under the grant are the completion of the new iron backstops and railings, new concrete, artwork restoration, and utilizing the presently welded shut restrooms for an SFHPC maintenance clubhouse and functioning restroom on a limited hours or event basis. While it is fantastic to have an operating budget to continue the restoration progress, but we are still well short of necessary funding to complete the entire scope of work that we have identified to make this a top landmark destination within the Park and City. Donations of time or money to the cause are welcome. Also thank you to Supervisors Elsbernd, Mar, and Mirkarimi, the SF Park Commission, SF Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg, and Mayor Newsom for their continued support. Let SF Rec & Park know that you support what's going on.

The Park Bond B funds for Trail Improvements in Natural Areas are being released for upcoming construction of a main nature trail upgrade thru the Oak Woodland and around the rim of the horseshoe arena. RPD Capital and Planning lead the co-operation with Natural Areas Program leadership and volunteers. Parks Trust has agreed to lead a co-operative effort with Oak Woodland volunteers to get a City Guide / Park guided tour up and scheduled by this summer!! Increased public awareness, foot traffic and visibility will greatly improve the safety and security of this problematic area of the park.

Next Tournament: We'll let you know... Contact us if your organization would like to have a tournament. We have enough horseshoes and equipement to facilitate a large group.

Last Tournament: Sat. Nov. 14th - Calvary Presbyterian Men's Club 9am -10:30am...
SFHPC members and drop-ins welcome. Let us know if you'll be joining us so we can get a head count so we have enough coffee and bagels. Tournament organized by SFHPC member "Jimsod" Send him an email if you know you'll be coming.

Volunteer Workday: Sat. Nov. 14th 8am until 2pm with the Guardsmen and Oakwoodlands Natural Areas Program volunteers. Come early, play in the 9-10:30am tournament and then stick around to help clear out some of the surrounding overgrowth in the Oak Woodlands to improve sight lines and safety. SFHPC & the Guardsmen are joining forces with the SFRPD Natural Areas Programs Oak Woodlands volunteers to restore this entire corner of Golden Gate Park to create premier nature trails within the old growth Oak Woodlands surrounding the Horseshoe Courts.



SF Mayor Gavin Newsom getting some last minute tips from 2x World Champion Brian Simmons, of Vermont before throwing the ceremonial first pitch of the inaugural Sept. 12, 2009:
San Francisco International Open Horseshoe Pitching Tournament
Click here to see PHOTOS of Tournament

More links to online photo galleries of the tournament:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carnesaurus/3918062255/in/photostream/

http://gallery.me.com/kevinwmurray#100501

A Fundraiser for The Guardsmen :
Since 1947 The Guardsmen have been helping at-risk youth with the resources they need to thrive. Each year The Guardsmen send 2,500 youth to outdoor education programs and provides scholarship support to 200 students at Bay Area private schools.The Guardsmen sponsors events throughout the year. Approximately 90 cents of every dollar raised at these events goes directly to scholarships, camperships, and other programs
for at-risk youth.





Schedule:
+/- 9:30am : Warm-ups and Horseshoe Pitching Clinic with the Champs.
11:30 am :Re-Dedication Ceremony
Noon: Tournament Play Starts ...until we finish.
Teams: $50/Team ($25 per person) which includes full Smoked BBQ pork shoulder and beer throughout the tournament
Spectator Participant: $20 per person and includes food and drink, music and horseshoe action!! What a deal!
Spectator Casual: Drop-ins are welcome to come check it out for free. Paid participants will receive a special bracelet that gets them into the beer garden and BBQ. But remember this is a charity fundraiser for a great cause!
Will Call: Tickets will be held at Will Call

September 12th 2009! Organized in conjunction with the Guardsmen of San Francisco as an annual fund-raising event for their charity organization. It's going to be huge! Don't miss it! We have confirmed that 2 x WORLD CHAMPION Brian Simmons of Vermont will be flying out to join 3 x California State Women's and Men's Champions, Kimmy Stockli and Rick Bermingham for our event that is gaining National attention!!! These CHAMPIONS will arrive early the morning of the tournament to assist in a "Horseshoe Pitching Clinic"!!!! Come early and get a few pointers from the pro's! Never before has this caliber of talent been available to the general public for instruction!!! Don't miss this rare opportunity to get some tips from one of the best player in the WORLD all for the price of a BBQ lunch! Bring your camera to witness a 90% accurate full distance horseshoe pitcher!

SFHPC, The Guardsmen, and SF Rec & Park have teamed up to restore the Golden Gate Park horseshoe pits to their original glory!!! Do not miss the historic Re-Dedication Ceremony for an historic San Francisco Treasure! We have lined up some of the worlds top players to attend this event for a fully sanctioned NHPA tournament along with a larger "Leaner League" community tournament!

The first Volunteer Work Party was on June 6th. Click here to see Photos. The second Volunteer Work Party was on July 11, 2009 with over 20 volunteers. See the July 11, 2009 Photo album! July 25th workday & August 8th workday photo album coming soon... The courts are looking great! I was there the morning of Aug. 11 with several of the top Rec & Park Supervisors and representatives from the City Manager's office, along with Ted Bartlett of the Guardsmen and SF Chronicle reporter Meredith May, MMay@sfchronicle.com . Click here to view the Aug. 18, 2009 article in the SF Chronicle! Rec & Park and the City are stepping up their efforts and putting their resource into action for this amazing restoration project! The courts are looking better than they have in decades!!! Rec & Park was out along with their plumbers, heavy equipment operators and structural improvement supervisors. We'll soon have club access to WATER! in order to maintain the pits. They are planning a few other safety improvements in anticipation of greater community use.

The Guardsmen are actively seeking donors to assist in the larger scale restoration projects. Zepponi Architects have designed a completely new galvanized steel railing system for the arena in the same style as the historic railings, but in a more durable and vandal resistant material. Bob Blanchard of Mr. Router Plumbing in San Francisco has made a $2,500 donation toward the first of our new railings!!! In addition to already donating time to cleaning out the central court drain. THANK YOU MR. ROUTER!!! S. Cudden Construction has volunteered the labor to install the railings.

As of Aug. 8th there is finally a SIGN at the bottom of the steps leading to the horseshoe courts! This is just a small temporary park sign, until a larger traditional park sign can be hung from a metal bracket off the lamp post! There are so many things in the works that Sept. 12th will be a great re-dedication of a truly beautiful and historic public recreational space!


See the article in the Sunday edition of the SF Examiner newspaper! Email or call Kamala Kelkar at the San Francisco Examiner and let her know what you think of all the work going on in GG Park! (415) 359-2738 , e-mail: kkelkar@sfexminer.com
See the announcement in the SF Neighborhood Parks Council!

Senior Guardsman James Sutton discussing project with San Francisco Rec & Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg

July 11, 2009 End of Workday

WHAT A DIFFERENCE FIVE MONTHS MAKES!!!

APRIL 4, 2009 SFHPC'S First Clean up - 2 pits dug out

SEPT. 9, 2009 All 16 pits functional, cleaned, stakes at proper angle and new asphalt!...

August 8, 2009, Volunteer Workday

WE'VE COM A LONG WAY BUT STILL A LONG WAY TO GO!!! Still to come: - Asphalt repair - done! - Restriping of 30' foul lines - Art sculpture restorations (Horse & Pitcher) - Water for club acces - Club maintenance lock box - New Galvanized metal railings and scoreboards - New Pit backstops - Oak Woodland restoration and New Rim Trail - New Signage at site done! and within the Park. - Stone wall repairs - and more....If you want to support Horseshoe Pitching in San Francisco and the restoration of the Golden Gate Park Horseshoe Pits please consider a donation to the club.

Some preliminary information: (Specific Details to follow so stay tuned!!!)
This tournament will begin with a Re-Dedication ceremony for the Historic Golden Gate Park Horseshoe Area. This ceremony will be attended by dignitaries from the SF Rec & Park, police, fire, SF Supervisors, local neighborhood organizations, California State Horseshoe Pitching Champions, and 2x World Horseshoe Pitching Champion Brian Simmons! ...and the list keeps growing.
This will be a closed bracket tournament, with a smaller fully NHPA sanctioned invitational tournament. We will set up two, 32 team double elimination brackets for a total of 64 teams. The "A" Bracket will be for players with some experience, and the "B" bracket will be for novice players. Your bracket placement will be strictly on the Honor System. We'll know if you don't belong in the novice bracket! This tournament is for fun, to bring back horseshoes to San Francisco and as a fundraiser for the charitable organization, The Guardsmen.

Team Spaces are filling up fast, and we fully expect this tournament to sell out early. But if you don't make it in the tournament be sure to come down for a great BBQ, and to meet some of the best horseshoe pitchers in the world. We intend to keep one pit open for spectators, first timers and show-offs! Online Registration is OPEN at www.sfhorseshoetournament.com. This is a first come first served sign up until each bracket is filled.

Sponsors:
Pabst Blue Ribbon beer!
Firehouse Brewing Company
Kimmy's Horseshoe Shop
Northern California Horseshoe Pitching Association
National Horseshoe Pitching Foundation
Mr. Router Plumbing
Zepponi Architects
Seamus Cudden Construction
Stanyan Park Hotel: has offered to house the World Champion!
Zola Brazialian Superfruits
Sweet Deal
Rockstar Energy Drinks
DJ Languis


Entry fee will be $50 per team ($25/person) and include tournament entry, pit BBQ 'd pork shoulder and delicious PBR and Firehouse brew!

Preliminary Rules: (subject to change)
Double Elimination
Follow your shoes (IE.) no points, the team who pitched last goes first next.
Good sportsmanship, and having a good time mandatory!
Cheering, ribbing, talking, and socializing encouraged
Uptight, bad tempered, poor sports, overly serious players need not sign up! Come to have a good time.
Horseshoes are fun! Come out bring your friends, family or own private cheering section.
Official Rulings to be by SFHPC members
Women & Players over 70 years old may elect to pitch from the 30 ft line.
We are waiting for confirmation from a radio sponsor and to provide music...so, dancing will be allowed.

"A" Bracket: (with experience)
15 point games; Final Four games to 21
Leaners worth 2 pts! 'cuz it's fun.
No Slop - short or wide shots to be pulled from the pit.

"B" Bracket: (Novice)
15 point games; Final Four games to 21
Leaners worth 2 pts
Slop Allowed - short or wide shots to be left in play and count.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO!!!

OTHER NEWS:
Round #2 : SUMMER SERIES in Livermore, Aug.1, 2009
The SFHPC showed up ready to play at Round 2 of Ken Baker's Summer Series in Livermore on Saturday August 1, 2009! Rico Castro, aka Clownbaby, came to play once he finally found the horseshoe pits! He picked up a local partner and took home 2nd Place!!! Nice job Rico!...Rico's team edged out Lord of the Ringer 2nd place finishers Peter Zepponi and Jon Bastian in two very tight matches. Peter & Jon took 4th place, with Peter winning the overall title of "Ringer King", with a tournament high of 37 ringers, with 5 doubles. The tournament was a lot of fun, with the "whiskey shot challenge' called frequently against the San Franciscans to knock us off our game. But we held our liquor and held on to finish in the #2 & #4 spots! Besides all the great prizes, tournament sponsor Prime Smoked Meats, Inc, donated 3 lbs of thick cut smoked bacon to each of the participants! We literally brought home the bacon. Who says there's no money in horseshoes? Ken Baker puts on one fun tournament! Highly recommended if you like cold beer, good music and spending a sunny Saturday tossing some shoes. I especially liked the themed music for the finals! Nice touch. Don't miss Round No. 3. Rumor has it, that Ken is going to include a BBQ and beverages in the registration fee for the next one! We're looking forward to seeing several of these guys in Golden Gate Park for the September 12th SF International Horseshoe Pitching Tournament! Beware! the winner of this tournament has already registerd for Sept 12th. Alemeda fire fighter and dead eye horseshoe tosser Eric Frego has teamed up with one of the famed Livermore Gibson brothers to create a tough team to beat. Let's see if SFFD can send a team to match them!


A Three Part Regional Tourament: The Summer Series in Livermore

Round No.1: Summer Series in Livermore May 23rd, 2009

Round No.2: Summer Series in Livermore August 1, 2009

Round No.3: Summer Series in Livermore Date: TBD

Contact: Ken Baker, (925) 980-0083,
email: kenbaker@budweiser.com
Check out Ken's new Summer Series website!!
www.eastbaysummerseries.com


click link below for:
LORD OF THE RINGER TOURNAMENT RESULTS & PHOTOS!!!
Presented by Blood Wizard Skateboard Co.
MAY 16, 2009 at the Golden Gate Park Horseshoe Pits!


If you weren't there YOU MISSED IT!....What an awesome day! Don't miss the next one!

See the Event & Calendar page for more info.
Come see the current California State Horseshoe Pitching Champion Rick Bermingham show how it's done!
See Golden Gate Park map below or go to the Where To Play page
The 1st Annual "Lord of the Ringer" Tournament!
This tournament is organized by the Bloodwizard Skateboard Company in conjunction with the San Francisco Skateboarder Association and several other sponsors will feature San Francisco resident, BloodWizard partner and SFHPC member Antonius Dintcho who in April 2009 Ranked 13th in the World at the Ultimate Boarder surf/snow/skate triathlon!!!
Sign Up Fee: $10 per team (Singles welcome, we will find you a partner)
Registration Deadline: 11:30 AM!
Tournament Start Time: 12 Noon
Cash Prize for winner!
Prizes and Trophies!
Skate Jam - dedicated boarding area to be set up for between your matches.
Horseshoes will be provided or bring your own favorite lucky pair of regulation size horseshoes.
SFHPC Home Pits: The most accessible and well maintained horseshoe pits are in Stern Grove on Sloat Blvd between 22nd and 23rd Avenue to the left of the tennis courts. This facility has 8 pits, two clay and the rest sand, and all of them have carpet covers to protect them when not in use. There is ample street parking, benches for sitting and a drinking fountain at the entrance which comes in handy for washing your hands afterwards. On Wednesday mornings Sloat Blvd has street sweeping between 8AM to 10AM and no parking. See the "Where to Play" page for more information and photos.








Golden Gate Park: Another good location is in Golden Gate Park near the Pan Handle. These pits are hidden in the North East corner of the park near the intersection of Fulton and Stanyan Streets. The pits are accessible off of Conservatory Drive E., where you can see a street lamp and some stone steps which lead to the pits which are built into a beautiful grotto. This facility has 16 sand pits, some of which are missing the pins. These pits are a bit run down and it's a shame because it is a beautiful location. There has even been recent proposals to tear out the pits and make them into a skateboard park! Thankfully, this proposal has been abandoned and the SFSA has identified another location within the park for skateboarders. SFHPC is now working with them on the restoration of the horseshoe pits. So please support their efforts to get a dedicated skate park built in GGPark. The restroom facilities next to these pits appear to be locked up and also in disrepair. I wish I'd seen these pits in their heyday. The court was built in 1926 as one of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Projects and was tended to by the Golden Gate Horseshoe Club. On the stone hillsides there are large (approx. 8ft x 10ft) concrete bas-reliefs of a horse and another of a horseshoe pitcher. "The Horseshoe Pitcher" is by "Vet" Anderson, a member of the Horseshoe Club. Both are now decaying and getting overgrown by bushes. We hope this website generates enough interest and awareness to get this site cleaned up and restored. It's a great place to spend a few hours pitching horseshoes and a big part of San Francisco's history.

Note:
This is a growing website. Check back often for more information! Until then I hope to see you in the pits! Special thanks to Casey Sluys of the NCHPC for his valuable support and willingness to support the SFHPC.
Peter
peter@sfhorseshoepitching.com

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