(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.