John Upton/Bay Citizen

A golfer looks for a lost ball in the rough at Sharp Park Golf Course

Talks that could save Sharp Park Golf Course from closure are set to begin after a decision Tuesday by San Mateo County supervisors.

The lawmakers voted unanimously to authorize the county manager to begin formal negotiations to take over management from San Francisco, which owns and operates the money-losing golf course in Pacifica.

San Francisco supervisors had voted last month to begin talks to hand over the land to the National Park Service, which wanted to replace the links with restored wildlife habitats and trails. But San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee vetoed the legislation, saying it would have prevented the city from negotiating with San Mateo County to continue golf operations.

Golfers consider the waterfront course a historic treasure that offers rounds that are affordable for the working and middle classes.

The course is also home to San Francisco garter snakes and California red-legged frogs, both protected species that environmentalists say face threats from lawnmowers and water pumps.

San Mateo board President Adrienne Tissier said during Tuesday's hearing that the focus of talks should be on "how we can save the golf course” and “make sure the endangered species can be taken care of,” Half Moon Bay Patch reported.

“There's still a lot to look at, there's still a lot to resolve," Tissier said, according to KTVU. "If it does pencil out, it really would be a win-win for all of us.”