The Gate Golf Club, anticipated to open to the public in late spring 2026, is taking shape on part of the former Golden Gate Golf Course at Golden Gate Parkway and Collier Boulevard in Golden Gate.

Housing projects are under construction on the perimeter of the 167-acre property that Collier County government purchased in 2019, but today’s column answers questions about The Gate — a nine-hole public golf course with many other public amenities, including the Oakwood Grill restaurant and the First Tee Academy.

What can locals expect?

One of  The Gate’s goals is to be a golf recreation amenity for the community, said Kristina Schmieding, president and board chair of  The Gate Golf Club Inc.

“Collier County residents will receive special discounts on greens fees,” Schmieding said. “As a public course, residents from across Southwest Florida and tourists are welcome to enjoy The Gate as one of the many draws to visiting Collier County.”

The Gate will operate as a daily fee course. Collier County residents will receive 40% off posted green fees during the winter, Nov. 1 to April 30, and 20% off during the summer, May 1 to Oct. 31, when rates will be lower anyway, she said.

“The intention of The Gate is to create a vibrant community gathering hub and golf recreation complex where everyone feels welcome. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, The Gate Golf Club Inc. is led by a dedicated group of Neapolitans who share a passion for the game of golf and a desire to make a positive impact on the community, with the mission of making the game of golf more accessible by providing a public nine-hole golf course and practice complex for families, children and players of all skill levels in Southwest Florida.”

The Gate is particularly appealing in that it will feature a covered and illuminated driving range, offering a state-of-the-art and comfortable practice area with daytime protection from the Florida sun and the opportunity to practice at night, she said.

Local residents can expect to golf on The Gate course from dawn until sunset and practice late into the evening on its illuminated driving range and an expansive Himalayas-style putting green with an 18-hole putting course. The practice areas will be open daily at 7 a.m. and stay open until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until midnight Friday through Sunday.

“Locals can expect a vibrant community gathering hub and golf recreation complex where everyone is welcome,” said Doug Hellman, chief development officer of Bobby Jones Links, the golf management company that will hire The Gate’s staff and manage daily operations.

“The Gate Golf Club will feature a nine-hole golf course designed to challenge the best players, yet playable by high-handicap golfers and those new to the game. A state-of-the-art, 30-bay practice range will feature the latest game improvement technology and golf entertainment with automatic ball machines and comfortable seating for small and large groups.”

The Gate will feature a PGA-certified golf staff, providing personalized instruction for players of all skill levels, said Ryan Kellar, a board member of The Gate Golf Club Inc.

“Whether you’re refining your technique or just beginning your golf journey, expert coaching will be available to help elevate your game,” Kellar said.

What about the course design?

The Gate par-35 golf course is designed to blend challenge, playability and player development to create an engaging and memorable experience for golfers of all skill levels, said Peter Jacobsen, a club board member and longtime professional golfer. And Jacobsen should know: He and Jim Hardy designed the course.

“Generous fairway landing areas offer strategic routes to the hole while accommodating slightly off-line shots, and receptive greens ensure well-placed shots are rewarded, with ample pin placements to maintain variety,” Jacobsen said. “Strategic bunkering adds both challenge and visual appeal, with carefully positioned bunkers serving as directional guides, challenges or saving features.”

Balance is at the heart of The Gate’s design, with a mix of holes that vary in difficulty, Jacobsen said. Players will encounter both “standard of par” holes and exciting “redemption” opportunities, such as the drivable par-4 8th hole, where birdies are within reach, he said.

The course is designed around its natural surroundings, featuring holes that wind around existing swales, expansive bunkers and tranquil ponds on holes 1, 7 and 9, totaling 4.5 acres of water features.

“The opportunities we found within the natural landscape at The Gate Golf Club give the holes a simple elegance with a traditional feel,” he said. “This simplicity provides a sense of place where one can feel at home and have fun playing golf. I love this about The Gate.”

With its complete cart path system and a walkable layout, The Gate will invite players to enjoy the game at their own pace. The course is designed to challenge without being overwhelming, Jacobsen said.

What else will be at The Gate?

Amenities at The Gate will be open to the public, including hitting bays, the putting green, a golf shop, Pavilion Bar and The Gimme quick-service concessions venue.

Expect some casual seating and family-friendly games on the activity lawn directly behind the hitting bays. The activity lawn, hitting bays and Pavilion Bar will be available to book for private events.

The Gate’s public amenities will include Oakwood Grill, an American-style restaurant that will be an affordable local dining option with an elevated atmosphere and great views of the course and property, said Michael Smith, a board member of The Gate and director of operations for D’Amico and Partners restaurant group.

“The restaurant is the perfect amenity to this amazing project, conveying the feeling that this venue is part of the guests’ own private club,” Smith said. “We feel we have an obligation to the community and our First Tee athletes to provide healthy choices for a better well-being and grow the love for golf. Our scratch kitchen will focus on real ingredients, local provisions and sustainability.”

Smith notes that there are few dining options within 5 miles of The Gate that have great wines by the glass and crafted cocktails. “Oakwood Grill will fill that void and will welcome all its neighbors to come and enjoy this revitalization of an iconic property,” he said.

The Gate also will be home to First Tee — Naples/Collier’s state-of-the-art youth development campus. The First Tee Academy will be exclusively accessible to the organization’s participants and programs.

The Tim Aten Knows weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.