BY BARRY SALBERG The county north of San Francisco Bay is rich in golf and culture MARIN MARVELOUS
It’s simply one of the most eye-popping, exhilarating vistas on our planet. You drive south on 101, through the Waldo tunnel, and then suddenly it’s right there—San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco city skyline in all its splendor. It’s a visual treat that those who commute from Marin get to enjoy on a daily basis. But then again, living in Marin is some- thing special unto itself.
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nown for its liberal politics, affluence, iconic architecture and stunning scenic palette, Marin
is one of the oldest coun- ties in the state, consisting of 520,000 square miles, and a relatively few 258,000 residents. Often character- ized by a cultural mindset that’s a bit different from other places, it’s been cited
as having the fifth highest income per capital in the country, and has long been a haven for artists, entrepre- neurs, musicians, tradesmen, and various creative types. Mountain biking was said to have been invented in Marin on the slopes of Mt. Tamal- pais. George Lucas created Lucasfilm and Skywalker Ranch there, and used Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael for the cruising
scenes in American Grafifti. Nowadays, rockers like
the Grateful Dead, Grace Slick, Sammy Hagar and various others all reside in Marin County. Comedian Robin Williams grew up in Marin, so did singer, Huey Lewis—and so did I. Other than some occasional golf and a few high school reunions, my ties and trips to Marin over the years have been limited. So it was
NCGA Hall of Famers Sandy Tatum and Johnny Miller were involved in the creation of StoneTree GC.