Negotiations with nonprofit to redevelop, reopen Golden Gate golf course move ahead

Like a long putt to a hole, plans to redevelop and reopen the Golden Gate golf course are inching forward.

On Tuesday, Collier commissioners authorized county staff to begin contract negotiations with a newly formed charity that would design, build and operate the community project through a public-private partnership.

The nonprofit has been formed by the Schmieding family, behind the global medical device manufacturer Arthrex, based in North Naples.

The company pitched an unsolicited proposal to create a community golf course with a driving range and a restaurant at a commission meeting in mid-December, with involvement from First Tee. Afterward, commissioners directed county staff to issue what's known as an invitation to negotiate, to see if other development groups had similar interest.

Ed Finn, an assistant county manager, told commissioners that two "responsive and responsible" proposals were received, and a selection committee chose the newly formed nonprofit, known as The Gate Golf Club Inc., as the top-ranked firm after hearing formal presentations.

The unexpected offer by Arthrex came nearly six months after BigShots backed out of its plans to build a golf entertainment center on the county-owned property, after it failed to get financing, then got absorbed by its competitor TopGolf.

"This has been a longtime project and I know folks out there in Golden Gate city are really anxious to see what happens with that golf course. So, this is a good news item," said Commissioner Burt Saunders, who represents the area.

The golf course has been closed for more than four years.

Collier County purchased the property, located at the corner of Collier Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway, in July 2019, from its owners for $29.1 million, with the goal of preventing overdevelopment in the wrong hands, and with the intent of maintaining a public golf course on the site.

Other planned projects on the land include a veterans nursing home and workforce housing, supported by taxpayer dollars.

Earlier:Arthrex pitches proposal to redevelop, reopen Golden Gate golf course. Here's what to know

More:BigShots Golf entertainment center no longer coming to Naples

No one from the public, nor from Arthrex, spoke on the decision to move forward with negotiations, although an executive for the company attended the hearing, in case the board had any questions.

Saunders moved to proceed, with a second from Commissioner Bill McDaniel.

While the vote was unanimous, several commissioners raised questions about the public funding for the project, and the potential costs and benefits to county taxpayers.

In addressing some of those questions, Finn shared the park impact fees charged on the new development would help pay down the county's debt on the land, although it would remain off the tax rolls as public property. The county would also receive a percentage of the revenue generated by the new golf course, driving range and restaurant, he said.

All of the details are still to be hammered out in a final agreement that will come back to the board for approval in the near future.

"I have no reason to believe we can't reach a reasonable agreement with the Arthrex-led group," Finn said.

In the deal with Big Shots, the county would have received 3% of gross revenues from its operations, Saunders pointed out, but it's something that still needs to be worked out with the nonprofit, which isn't likely to make as much money.

Chairman Chris Hall stressed that the former deal should have nothing to do with the new one.

He stressed the need to ensure that the price to play golf is something that is "super realistic," meaning more affordable, so that residents can play it once or twice a month and not be "financially strapped."

Under the initial proposal floated by Arthrex, the development team would have tapped $6 million in county incentives that would have gone to BigShots. However, Hall questioned whether that amount could be reduced.

In agreement, McDaniel said he would support a reduction, too, and suggested other philanthropists may be out there willing to support the community effort.

When it was first proposed in December, Saunders said the public-private investment in the development could approach nearly $30 million. At the time, he raved about the preliminary designs for it.

Arthrex has long been a big supporter of First Tee, a nonprofit youth development program, in Collier County.

In partnership with First Tee Naples/Collier, Arthrex wants to create a golf learning center for kids, to introduce them to the sport, while using the sport to develop their character and core values. First Tee Academy would offer advanced, interactive technology and learning classes, as well as providing a practice area for young players at the site.

First Tee is a national program, with local chapters. It currently serves about 1,000 kids in Collier.

The proposal by BigShots also included a home for First Tee, so when the deal fell apart it came as a big disappointment to its leaders, supporters and participants.

When David Bumpous, Arthrex's vice president of operations, presented the preliminary plans to county commissioners a few months ago, he described golf as near and dear to his heart, with his own children having participated in First Tee.

While the county has many golf courses, most of them are private, so a project like this one is sorely needed, he argued, to make the game more accessible to everyone in the county at an affordable price.

The restaurant, which would have a minimum of 150 seats, would also benefit an underserved population in Golden Gate, Bumpous told commissioners.

"This will be first-class. This will be done right. It will be something that you will all be proud of," he pledged.

The development would include a special area for veterans to practice golf. It would offer discounted rates to all Collier County residents, as well as having special rates for children and veterans wanting to practice and play the game.

Discounts for county residents may be as high as 40%.

After a long-term lease expires, the project could eventually be turned back over to Collier County.