A New Era for First Tee Naples/Collier

by Jozef Maston

In this week’s Weekly Pulse, I want to share with you some incredibly exciting news about the future of First Tee – Naples/Collier and the thousands of young lives we hope to impact.

As you may know, First Tee is more than just golf. It’s a youth development organization that teaches kids values like integrity, respect, and perseverance—on the course, in schools, and even on military bases. The confidence and life skills they build here go far beyond the game.

Over the past year, our team faced a major setback when the original plan for our learning center fell through. But thanks to some amazing community partners, a new opportunity has come to life—and it’s even more inspiring than we imagined.

We’re proud to announce the future First Tee Academy at The Gate, part of a brand-new public golf venue at The Gate Golf Club, made possible through the generosity and leadership of Reinhold Schmieding (Arthrex), Peter Jacobsen, and Matthew Kragh (MHK Architecture).

Here’s what’s coming:

• A 9-hole public golf course

• A state-of-the-art driving range

• A 150-seat restaurant

• A permanent home for First Tee with our own practice facilities and course access

The Collier County Commissioners recently gave unanimous approval, and construction is expected to begin this summer.

To bring this dream to life, our $10 million Capital Campaign is back in motion. With $5 million already raised, we’re focused on closing the gap—and we have a powerful head start: Glenn and Kay Hasse have generously offered a $250,000 matching gift for all donations received by May 22.

This is where we need your help.

Every donation—big or small—brings us closer to giving even more young people a place to grow, learn, and thrive.