Tim Aten Knows: The Gate Golf Club taking shape

Q: What is being built on the west side of Collier Boulevard north of I-75 toward Golden Gate; not all the apartments, but a structure being constructed with very high poles? I was thinking a Topgolf, but really no idea. Thanks. — Ed Donnelly, Naples 

A: Structural poles as high as 200 feet will support the protective netting on the 320-yard practice range at The Gate Golf Club, which will include a 30-bay driving range along Collier Boulevard just south of Golden Gate Parkway in Golden Gate. 

The nine-hole, par-35 public golf course continues to “green up” as milestones continue to be reached in the construction of the practice facilities at The Gate Golf Club, now targeted to open in early December, the club reports in its latest monthly update on thegategolf.org. 

“Progress continues across our amenity village, including Oakwood Grill, The Gimme concessions, The Pavilion outdoor bar, Golf Shop, Cart Barn and First Tee Academy,” The Gate reports. “Exterior finishes are moving along as stucco is applied to the buildings. We’re grateful to MHK Architecture for its thoughtful design, and to DeAngelis Diamond and the many contractors for their craftsmanship in bringing it to life.” 

The 48,500-square-foot putting green has also been shaped with its subsurface drainage and specialized growing medium fully installed. Players can anticipate a fun and challenging 18-hole putting course with regularly changing layouts designed in collaboration with Peter Jacobsen, a professional golfer and board member of The Gate who also is co-architect of the club’s golf course.  

“Being a PGA tour player, I’ve played great golf courses all over the world, and I think we’re going to be busy right from the get-go,” Jacobsen said. “It’s going to be a place for every level of golfer to go — from the range to the putting course to the golf course. We want people to walk off this course and say, ‘That was the best round of golf I’ve ever had. That was the most fun I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to come back.’”  

Jeffrey Raimer, The Gate’s director of golf, is a South Florida PGA Hall of Fame member with more than 35 years of experience. Mike Shafer, the club’s superintendent, has been working for more than a year to create the high-quality course on part of the former Golden Gate Golf Course, which closed in 2019. The Gate will name its general manager this month, the club reports. 

Vanderbilt clearing 

Q: Do you know what will be going on Vanderbilt Beach Road diagonally across from Island Walk and before the new Mason Academy? They’re clearing land again. Thank you. — Monica Hunter, Naples 

A: Two single-family homes are being demolished and a lake is being excavated to prepare for the construction of Saltgrass Reserve, a new multifamily community with 208 apartments planned on 17.5 acres immediately west of Palm Royale Funeral Home & Cemetery on the south side of Vanderbilt Beach Road between Logan and Collier boulevards. 

In October 2023, when a Collier County Board of Commissioners supermajority vote amended the county growth management plan to create a residential planned unit development on land previously zoned Estates, the luxury apartment project was named Ascend Naples. Cincinnati-based developer CIG Communities recently changed the name of its local project because, it says, other Florida properties had a name and branding similar to Ascend. An internal street that already had been named Ascend Way is proposed to be renamed Saltgrass Way, plans show. 

Turns out that Ascend is the name of a series of luxury apartment communities developed by D.R. Horton in the Orlando, Pensacola and Tampa areas. Also, the name change avoids confusion with Ascent, the apartment tower that recently launched in Metropolitan Naples at Davis Boulevard and U.S. 41 East in East Naples.  

Clearing is expected to begin in May for Saltgrass Reserve. After about 21 months of construction, its first units are targeted for delivery in fall 2027. 

Saltgrass Reserve will offer a mix of market-rate and workforce housing. The apartment complex will have 71 units set aside for essential service personnel. Of those, about 50% will be set aside for 80% of the area median income and below; and the remainder for between 80% and 120% AMI, CIG reports. 

“For decades, access to attainable housing has been a persistent challenge in Collier County, particularly for members of the workforce that directly support our area’s economy. We are excited that Saltgrass Reserve will offer many new AMI-restricted units for both essential service personnel and future residents who income qualify,” said David Bastos, president of CIG Communities. 

CIG also recently built Aspire Naples, a 233-unit apartment complex on Immokalee Road just east of Livingston Road. The average monthly rent for those apartments is $2,994, while the company projects the average rent for Saltgrass Reserve to be $2,457. Since opening last summer, Aspire nears 50% occupancy, CIG reports. 

Saltgrass Reserve will be built on five contiguous residential properties between Vanderbilt Beach Road and Cherry Wood Drive. Two of the five lots had single-family homes built on them about 30 years ago, while the other three parcels are vacant and heavily wooded. 

CIG, operating as Vanderbilt Living LLC, originally acquired the assembled properties in May 2022 for $5.2 million, county property records show. In February 2026, the property was transferred in a $4.79 million transaction to Saltgrass Living LLC, a limited liability company in which Vanderbilt Living LLC owns an 18.29% interest, the warranty deed shows. 

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