The non-profit The Gate Golf Club is driven by a passionate team of Neapolitans dedicated to their love for golf and their commitment to creating a meaningful impact within the community. In a region like Southwest Florida, where private golf courses abound but public options are scarce, The Gate Golf Club aims to bridge the gap by making the sport more accessible and inclusive for families, children, and players of all skill levels.
Visitors will find a welcoming environment to learn and enjoy the game, while golfers of all abilities can hone their skills at state-of-the-art practice facilities featuring covered hitting bays—available day or night, rain or shine. Beyond the greens, The Gate Golf Club will serve as a vibrant community hub, offering a modern restaurant and a Pavilion designed as inviting spaces for gathering, dining, and connection.
The Gate Golf Club proudly supports the mission of First Tee – Naples/Collier, a non-profit organization that empowers juniors with essential life skills, character development, and values through golf. As the future headquarters of First Tee – Naples/Collier, The Gate Golf Club is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of golfers and fostering a lifelong love for the game.
Daniel Hall
Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer
Kristina Schmieding
Chair of the Board, President and Secretary
Ann Bain
Ann Bain, a native of Holyoke, Mass. graduated with a BA in international relations and economics from Colgate University in 1985. She moved to Boston where she had a ten year career in Commercial Banking with Shawmut Bank and State Street Bank. Ann married in 1998 and retired to focus on family and not-for-profit endeavors. In 1999, Ann and her husband Bill made Naples their second home and in 2003 they became Trustees of the Naples Children and Education Foundation, the charity of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Ann has served in several positions for NCEF, including Chairman of Meet the Kids Day, Chairman of the Grant Committee and Chairman of the Online Auction.
Ann is a passionate golfer who joined the Board of the First Tee – Naples/Collier in 2020. She has served as the Co-Chairman of the Capital Campaign for the First Tee Academy, which will be on the campus of The Gate Golf Club and she is currently Chairman of the Board for the First Tee – Naples/Collier.
Carl Santos-Ocampo
Carl is the Vice President of The High Net Worth Advisory Group, a Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm based in Naples, FL. Since 2015, he has been dedicated to delivering personalized financial guidance to families.
A Naples resident since 2002, Carl has had a lifelong passion for golf, starting at age six and competing at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida State Golf Association, contributing to the growth and governance of the game in Florida. Now raising a family of his own, Carl is particularly passionate about creating a space where children and families can learn the game of golf. He is confident that The Gate Golf Club will provide a welcoming place for the Naples golf community to grow and connect through the sport.
Michael Smith
Michael is the Director of Operations of the D’Amico Restaurant Group. Previously he was the General Manager at Campiello Ristorante & Bar in Naples. Originally a Chef, Michael graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He worked as a Chef of two hotels on Block Island, Rhode Island for ten years and started going back and forth working between Naples and Rhode Island. Michael and his wife opened and owned the restaurants Wylds Café and Crust Bistro in Bonita Springs for eight years. Michael has lived in Naples since 1994.
Michael is passionate about opening new restaurants. He has completed many restaurant build outs, construction projects and openings of new concepts over the years in Minnesota and Florida. There is nothing more exciting for him than creating an experience that many people will enjoy and nourish themselves at the same time. Michael and his wife live close to the site of the future The Gate Golf Club in Golden Gate. They have been dreaming of a day the golf course would be renovated and are both very excited that this amazing project is close to their home.
Peter Jacobsen
Peter Jacobsen is a professional golfer and NBC Sports and Golf Channel analyst. He is Principal at Jacobsen Hardy Golf Design and is leading the efforts to design The Gate Golf Club course in Naples, Florida. Peter is a 7 time PGA Tour winner, 2 time Senior Major champion, 2 time Ryder Cup player, and Payne Stewart Award winner.
Reinhold Schmieding
Reinhold is the President and Founder of Arthrex Inc., a global leader in sports medicine and less invasive orthopedic surgery devices and medical education, headquartered in Naples, FL. He is also a co-founding sponsor of the First Tee – Naples/Collier chapter.
Ryan Kellar
Ryan, a Senior Product Manager at Arthrex, a global medical device manufacturer headquartered in Naples, Florida, oversees a portfolio of Arthroscopic Surgical Cameras and Instrumentation. Since 2014, he has dedicated himself to the Arthrex Mission: “Helping Surgeons Treat Their Patients Better.”
Prior to his role at Arthrex, Ryan held Assistant Golf Professional Positions (PGA) at esteemed private golf and country clubs, including Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio; The Old Collier Golf Club in Naples, Florida; and Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His passion lay in instructing and educating young golfers, fostering their knowledge of the game, and imparting invaluable life lessons that transcend the sport. Ryan aims to leverage his extensive golf operation and instruction experience at The Gate Golf Club to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all ages to engage in the enjoyment of golf.