Members Give Go-Ahead to Gateway G&CC’s $4M Improvement Plan

A new Grille Room, Fitness Center, short-game practice area and improvements to the Fort Myers, Fla. club’s Tom Fazio course will result from construction that is scheduled to begin next April.

Gateway Golf and Country Club, Fort Myers, Fla., reports that it has received overwhelming approval from its members to proceed with a $4 million facilities and golf course improvement project.  The planning and permitting stage has already begun, with the construction phase scheduled to begin in April 2013.

In March 2011, a survey of members identified three primary needs: a larger fitness and wellness area; improved casual dining with outdoor areas; and golf course improvements. Specific aspects of the improvement plan that has now been approved by the membership to address these needs will include:

• A new Grille Room with a “pub-like” atmosphere that will include a display kitchen, outdoor seating, brick patio, and a central fire bowl.  The new Grille Room will be designed to promote a casual and relaxed food and beverage experience while providing a gathering spot for both cocktails and impromptu casual dining, both during the day and in the evening.

• A new fully equipped Fitness Center that will include two floor-exercise rooms that can be opened up to provide one large room for classes.

• Improvements to the club’s Tom Fazio-designed golf course that will include new Celebration grass on all tee boxes and fairways and new Tifeagle greens expanded to their original size and shape.

• A new short-game practice area that will include the Ron Garl Scoring “V,” the Compass Rose, the Bermuda Triangle and the Practice Diamond.

The club was originally constructed by Westinghouse Communities in 1989 and on January 1, 2002, the ownership of Gateway Golf and Country Club transferred from the developer to the members.

Jimmy Lynn, CCM, was hired as Gateway’s new General Manager in December 2010, as the club adopted the CEO model of governance, with its committees transitioning to advisory roles for the club’s professional managers.

Lynn formed a new leadership team that now includes John Wade, Head Golf Professional; Aaron Ohloff, Golf Course Superintendent; Debbie Lohan, Director of Marketing and Sales; Daniel Siracusa, Executive Chef; Sara Cooper, Service and Banquet Manager; and Alex Hermeto, Tennis Director.

Over the last 12 months, the club has welcomed over 50 new members through its membership promotions, including the current program that requires no dues for the first six months of membership.

Tags: Aaron Ohloff Alex Hermeto Bermuda Triangle and Practice Diamond Celebration grass Daniel Siracusa Debbie Lohan Gateway Golf & Country Club Jimmy Lynn John Wade Ron Garl Scoring “V Sara Cooper Tifeagle greens Tom Fazio Westinghouse Communities ” Compass Rose