Another Seabreeze Publication VOL. 22 NO. 5
www.seabreezecommunications.com
MAY 2024
The Club At Gateway Golf Course Renovation Is Underway By Matt Malloy, General Manager When Lifestyle Management Group of Florida purchased the club, the membership was presented with a Five-Year Vision Plan. This Vision Plan was unanimously accepted by the membership, with a 96 percent approval rating. The Summer 2024 Golf Course Renovation project is the remaining element of that Five-Year Plan. L a s t y e a r, t h e c l u b retained the services of Jan Bel Jan, who worked with Tom Fazio on the original design of our golf course and was the designer dedicated to overseeing the construction of the original course. We believe her vision and passion for retaining the Tom Fazio Signature were critical to our project’s success.
Please note that our intention is not to redesign the golf course but to make some much-needed improvements with some modest modifications. We also asked Bel Jan to design a par-3 course within the 18 holes. This will be known as “The 54,” with shots anywhere from 60 to 120 yards and a total yardage of 1,700 yards. The 54 will be great for golf events, youth golfers, beginners, seniors, and anyone who wishes to play the game. Some highlights of our golf course project are as follows: Renovation of all of our greens to USGA specifications. This includes: • Expanding the greens to the original size and shape • Strip existing turf • Demo greens
• Remove existing greens mix • Remove the existing gravel blanket • Remove existing drainage and piping • Shape floors of greens to original size and design • Install perforated drainage and outfalls • Install a 4-inch granite gravel blanket • Install greens mix, which is 90 percent sand and 10 percent organic dirt • Shape and tie in greens mix to collars to the original design • Sprig greens with Certified Tif Eagle grass We will be renovating all of our existing cart paths. This process will include removing the existing cart paths, root The Club At Gateway Golf Course Renovation on page 4
Gateway Women’s Club By Janice Eaton, Laurel Borgia, Marianne Kollasch and Donna Marchetti
Gateway Women’s Club Welcomed Melanie Musick From Pace Center For Girls Members of Gateway Women’s Club sat in silence as Melanie Musick, community engagement coordinator, shared fascinating success stories of Pace Center for Girls. Pace is a supportive community for girls to build healthy relationships, plan for the future and overcome trauma. Pace’s guiding principles include: *Honor the female spirit *Focus on strengths *Act with integrity and positive intent *Embrace growth *Exhibit courage *Seek excellence *Create partnership *Invest in the future. Pace first opened its doors in Jacksonville in 1989 and came to Lee County in 2007. Musick explained, “Pace is a day program (9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) designed for at-risk girls. Pace offers the girls opportunities for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy.” She went on to say, girls 11 to 18 years old (grades 6 to 12) voluntarily apply to attend. They are not court ordered. To qualify, girls must interview and meet three risk factors including abuse, Gateway Lifestyle
truancy, academic-failure, or family instability. While attending Pace, students earn credits in conjunction with Lee County schools. The girls must meet set goals showing growth and change. The day program’s proven records show students have a 93 percent increase in their academic performance. No student becomes involved in the criminal justice system, and 93 percent are enrolled in school, higher education or employed one year after leaving Pace. A transition program assists with college tours, financial aid and career readiness. Pace’s Reach Program Charlotte Stewart, GWC President; goes into communities Melanie Musick, Community w e e k l y p r o v i d i n g Engagement Coordinator, Pace individual and family Center for Girls; and Deb Stephano, GWC Program Coordinator therapy. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FT MYERS FL PERMIT 751
“The way girls learn and develop is unique. Pace gets them back on track and empowers them to take control of their own lives. Once a Pace Girl, always a Pace Girl,” Musick added. Anyone may refer a girl believed to need help. Pace serves a maximum of 62 girls and has a waitlist to enroll. Pace is located at 3800 Evans Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901.
Stephanie Mena
Book Club Thank you, book club members, for your generous donations for the April raffle basket. The next GWC Book Club will meet on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. The book selection to be discussed is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. “A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way” (BuzzFeed). Laurel Borgia will lead the discussion of this New York Times bestseller. Penny Messerknecht will be the hostess and Kathy Mullane the co-hostess. Please R.S.V.P. to Penny if you plan to attend. Her contact information is in the Gateway Women’s Club Directory. Barb Hamlin Gateway Women’s Club on page 8
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Please submit all articles for Gateway Lifestyle To Seabreeze Communications 5630 Halifax Ave. • Fort Myers, FL 33912 E-mail to lee@seabreezecommunications.com by the 4th of the month preceding the month of publication.