News

(NAPLES, Florida)

Exciting progress is underway as construction has officially begun on the Village! The team from DeAngelis Diamond—a recognized leader in construction—has initiated early-stage work, including site grading in preparation for the development of the driving range with covered hitting bays, restaurant, Pavilion bar, concessions area, cart barn, pro shop, maintenance building, and First Tee facility.

On the golf course, Glase Golf has begun pond excavation on holes 7 and 9. As shown in the routing plan, hole 9 will be enhanced by a pond located behind the green and along the right side of the fairway. This will not only create a picturesque backdrop for golfers approaching the final green but also provide an exciting view for guests dining on the outdoor terrace at Oakwood Grill. The ponds on the course will also serve several practical purposes including supporting water retention, reducing the risk of flooding, and acting as a reservoir for irrigation. 

This past month, Glase Golf also began shaping holes 2 and 7, adding golf course features including tees, sand bunkers, natural waste areas, and putting greens. 

Additionally, consistent with United States Golf Association (USGA) specifications, a gravel blanket has been installed on putting green 6. While Southwest Florida’s native soil is naturally sandy and encourages drainage, the gravel layer provides a stable foundation for the sand root zone which will go above the gravel layer, helping to preserve the green’s shape and structural integrity over time. It also enhances overall drainage efficiency by allowing water to move quickly from the sand layer into the underlying drainage pipes, keeping the green firm and playable during and after rainfall. 

We remain deeply grateful to the many talented and dedicated partners who are bringing this community project to life through their hard work, expertise, and goodwill.

For more information, contact info@thegategolf.org and follow The Gate Golf Club on Instagram and Facebook.

(NAPLES, Florida) 

In May, the crew from Glase Golf Construction, together with Jacobsen Hardy Golf Design, completed the rough shaping of tees, bunkers and putting greens on holes 5, 6 and 8. Next month, the focus of construction will be the shaping of holes 2, 7 and excavation of the ponds on holes 9 and 7.

Major drainage infrastructure continues to be installed on all 9 holes. Minor or smaller drainage pipe will connect to this larger drainage pipe as part of the overall engineered project drainage system. Proper subsurface and surface drainage is crucial to maintaining firm fairways and preventing wet playing conditions after rainfall. This is especially important in our Southwest Florida climate as we generally see increased rainfall during the summer months. 

In advance of the rainy season, the crews laid Bahia grass sod in the existing swales to create “bioswales” between holes 2 and 8, as well as on holes 3, 5, and 6.  As part of a larger drainage conveyance system, the bioswales will carry water away from the fairways and drain into channels that flow to the ponds on the golf course. The bioswales will help naturally filter and clean the water. The planned drainage conveyance system is a benefit to the course and surrounding community. Installation of the main line of the irrigation system is scheduled to start in June in preparation for grassing that begins in July. 

Construction of the Village is expected to begin in June as planned. 

For more information, contact info@thegategolf.org and follow The Gate Golf Club on Instagram and Facebook.

(NAPLES, Florida) 

In April, the crew from Glase Golf completed the removal of the existing cart path and invasive vegetation. The crew continues to move, level and till the soil. Drainage infrastructure is currently being installed and rough shaping of the golf course has begun. Following detailed plans developed by Jacobsen Hardy Golf Design, Glase Golf has started to build golf course features, including tees, bunkers, and putting greens. 

The crew is excavating bedrock in targeted areas and the material will be crushed and reused as base material for the parking lot and building foundations of the “Village” buildings. 

The construction crews are following dust suppression protocols, which include regular watering of areas under construction to keep dust participles damp and help prevent them from going airborne. 

The construction of the Village is expected to begin in June. The Gate Golf Club has contracted DeAngelis Diamond, a nationally-recognized construction management firm to build the Village, which will include the covered hitting bays, restaurant, pavilion, concessions area, golf shop, cart barn, maintenance building, and First Tee – Naples/Collier facility.

For more information, contact info@thegategolf.org and follow The Gate Golf Club on Instagram and Facebook.

(NAPLES, Florida)

The Gate Golf Club is excited to share that construction of the community golf course is underway, and we are currently on track for a spring 2026 opening of the course and campus.

The construction of the entire campus will be completed in three concurrent phases:

1. Construction started in January 2025 with general site preparation, installation of perimeter site fencing, removal of invasive vegetation, and demolition of the former golf maintenance buildings.
2. The second phase is the construction of the golf course, which began in March 2025.

The team from Jacobsen Hardy Golf Design has completed a routing plan, essentially a canvas for what will become a dynamic and beautiful 9-hole course and state-of-the-art practice range. The routing plan utilizes many of the golf hole corridors from the former Golden Gate Country Club, and the new golf course will be reshaped over the coming months.

The Gate Golf Club has hired Glase Golf, Inc., a leading golf course builder based in Bonita Springs, Florida, to build the course, and their crew is already working on-site at 4150 Golden Gate Parkway.

The crew from Glase Golf is making swift progress, including removing old cart paths at a rate of about 800 linear feet per day. All of that material is being ground on-site and will be reused as base material and foundations for future buildings and new cart paths. Some trees are being transplanted, and new trees will be added. For a closer look, follow The Gate Golf Club on Instagram to see videos from the construction site.

3. The third phase is the construction of the “Village.” The Village comprises both the First Tee Academy and training centers, as well as their offices. It also includes community gathering spaces such as the restaurant Oakwood Grill, the full-service bar “The Pavilion,” and a covered driving range with 30 hitting bays. We are very grateful to the talented team at MHK Architecture in Naples, who donated their time and skills at no cost to design the incredible Village.

We are thankful to the many partners involved in the project, including Collier County staff, architects, engineers, consultants, suppliers, and contractors. It has been a tremendous team effort. We have 15 permits progressing through the approval process, with some approved and others still pending. We appreciate the dedicated efforts of the State of Florida and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

For more information, contact info@thegategolf.org and follow The Gate Golf Club on Instagram and Facebook.

(NAPLES, Florida – February 10, 2025)

The Gate Golf Club is proud to announce it has officially broken ground on its county-owned site in the Golden Gate community of Collier County. This state-of-the-art facility will provide the Southwest Florida community with an affordable, accessible public golf course for families to enjoy golf, dining and recreation for years to come.

The community golf course, set to open in 2026, is being constructed on the site of the former Golden Gate Country Club located at 4150 Golden Gate Parkway. Plans for the property include:

• A dynamic 9-hole, par-35 course, designed by legendary professional golfer Peter Jacobsen and Jacobsen-Hardy Golf Course Design
• Expansive, illuminated high-tech driving range with 30 covered hitting bays outfitted with comfortable lounge seating
• An illuminated 18-hole Himalayas-style putting course, available for day and nighttime practice
• Oakwood Grill: a 175-seat casual restaurant offering an upscale menu in an open-air, scenic environment
• An events Pavilion with spaces for community gathering and dining
• The First Tee Academy for golf and life-skill instruction

The First Tee Academy will serve as the headquarters of First Tee – Naples/Collier, a non-profit organization that teaches Nine Core Values and character development through the game of golf. In partnership with First Tee – Naples/Collier, The Gate is committed to fostering a love for the game while inspiring the next generation. First Tee Academy will feature advanced, interactive technology, educational programs and skill-building classes to help participants grow in a safe, inclusive environment.

“Our mission is to impact the lives of young people by integrating the game of golf with a life-skills curriculum,” said Cindy Darland, Executive Director of First Tee – Naples/Collier. “The Academy will allow us to finally have a home for our programming and gives us the ability to expand our outreach to more children throughout Collier County.”

“We currently have an exciting grant challenge to share with you” said Ann Bain, Board Chair of the First Tee – Naples/Collier. “A generous donor has pledged to name our administrative building for $1,000,000 if we can raise a matching $1,000,000 by May 1st!  We are spreading the word throughout Collier County and beyond. Anyone interested in helping us match this challenge can go to our website at firstteenaplescollier.org and click “DONATE” in the top right hand corner. Thanking you in advance – our First Tee  children appreciate your support!”

Another highlight of the community golf course, which will operate as a non-profit entity, is discounted rates for Collier County residents and juniors.

“This public golf course, made possible through the partnership of the Schmieding Family, the Board of Directors of The Gate Golf Club, and Collier County, will be a tremendous asset for both young players and adults,” said District 3 Commissioner Burt Saunders. “We saw a need for our community members to have more access to the game of golf without joining a private golf club, allowing them to spend time with their families and friends in a beautiful new environment. This collaboration has turned the vision of a community golf course into a reality.”

Several companies have donated their time and skills at no cost or discounted costs to make a positive impact on this project for the community’s benefit, including MHK Architecture, Jacobsen-Hardy Golf Design, Smith Media & Design, Arthrex, DeAngelis Diamond and Freestyle Interiors. In addition, The Gate is partnering with Bobby Jones Links, a professional golf management company, to hire staff and manage daily operations of the course. Interested job applicants can search for career opportunities online.

Project updates will be provided as construction continues, with plans to open the doors to the public in 2026.

For more information, contact info@thegategolf.org and follow The Gate Golf Club on Instagram and Facebook.