photo mosaic of Naples, Florida pier, Bayfront, Bayside, dolphin jumping, magenta orchid, water birds silhouetted against the sunset
‘The Gate’ brings public golf to a private club haven in SW Florida

‘The Gate’ brings public golf to a private club haven in SW Florida

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Golf courses dot the landscape in Collier County.

Most of them are strictly private, requiring an expensive membership or an invitation from a member to play.

The Naples metropolitan statistical area — representing the county — has more private golf holes per person than any other metro in the country, according to the National Golf Foundation.

“Collier County skews heavily private; 84% of its facilities are private clubs or communities,” said Erik Matuszewski, the foundation’s editorial director.

In neighboring Lee County, he said, it’s less so, at 56% private, “but still well above the 28% national average.”

“So, Naples is very much an outlier when it comes to golf supply,” he said, especially considering that 72% of the roughly 16,000 golf courses in the U.S. are public.

It suggests that there’s “unquestionably a gap” in Naples.

Collier is getting a new public golf course to fill the gap
Historically, Collier County hasn’t had a “muni,” or municipal course, owned by the government. Through a public-private partnership, a new community golf course and club is taking shape and set to open in December.

The club’s mission: To make golf more accessible for families and players of all skill levels.

Read more on naplesnews.com.

‘Coconut Coast Corridor’ emerges in SW Florida. What’s new and coming?

‘Coconut Coast Corridor’ emerges in SW Florida. What’s new and coming?

Phil Fernandez | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

  • The Estero-Bonita Springs region, now dubbed the Coconut Coast Corridor, has grown to 100,000 residents.
  • A local realtors’ group has rebranded to the Coconut Coast Organization of Realtors to reflect the area’s distinct market identity
  • Major new construction includes a mixed-use development in Estero and the second luxury tower of The Ritz-Carlton Residences.

Time to say hello to Southwest Florida’s new Coconut Coast Corridor, suddenly home to 100,000 residents.

From luxury high-rises along Estero Bay to mixed-use developments, national retailers and family-focused businesses, the Estero-Bonita Springs region continues to emerge as one of Southwest Florida’s most active development fronts.

And the Coconut Coast Corridor kept bubbling through the record heat of summer as we enter September, which is slated to bring milestones of its own and the start of yet more new construction.

The stretch surrounding Bonita Beach Road and north into Estero toward Coconut Point and Florida Gulf Coast University continues to attract new investment, new businesses and major development activity reshaping the landscape: From a former Fortune 500 executive’s latest venture to the August unveilings of new enterprises and a luxury tower milestone this month.

To think that last century it largely served as a pass-through between Naples and Fort Myers, and now has increasingly become a destination in its own right as the years pile on and the growth story unfolds with new chapters. Here’s what to know. Read more on naplesnews.com.

There’s so much to do here, are you looking for a home in beautiful Southwest Florida? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Open for nearly 80 years, Everglades National Park can be challenging

Open for nearly 80 years, Everglades National Park can be challenging

Chad Gillis | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

The Everglades is a massive wetland system of millions of acres at the southern tip of Florida.

And Everglades National Park has about 1.5 million acres of it. So, how do you find your special place in the mainland’s southern-most national park?

You can sleep under the stars, rise early to catch the incoming tide and make landfall on shell-laden sandy deserted beaches.

Silvery mullet will burst from the glassy waters and splash down just feet from the stern of your kayak. A dolphin might surface a football field away and send misty air bursting from its blowhole.

Turquoise skies. Tropical weather sends a gentle breeze rolling over your shoulders.

Welcome to Everglades National Park, one of the nation’s great ecological treasures.

This is where brown pelicans crash onto the surface of the water like Kamikaze pilots, shoving their heads beneath in hopes of securing a meal.

Kingfishers, ibises, wood storks, various herons, roseate spoonbills, alligators, American crocodiles, otters, biting insects of all types and even black bears roam these woods and waters. The Everglades is a massive, wild place.

These remote waters and wetlands wrap around the southern tip of the state, encasing extreme southern Florida in a subtropical wilderness of swampy and sandy beaches.

What exactly is the Everglades? Enjoy the photos and read more on naplesnews.com.

Beachgoers beware: That pretty shell could land you in jail

Beachgoers beware: That pretty shell could land you in jail

Amy Bennett Williams | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Uh-oh. You’re strolling the beach, looking down and there it is: a gorgeous shell. You stoop low, pluck it up, then see that horse conch (or lightning whelk or giant cockle – whatever) has a living critter still inside,

It may be tempting to pop it in your bag, before going the ol’ boil-and-bleach route, but is it worth jail time?

Collecting a still-occupied shell can carry environmental consequences and, in Lee County, legal penalties. Many visitors remain unaware that removing most live shells is prohibited and can result in fines or jail time.

Instead of pocketing the mollusk, the best case scenario is snapping a quick photo (a shell-fie?) then gently replacing the shell below the waterline, so it can live to delight another day.

Bonus: If you’re in Lee County, you’ve also dodged a potential $500 fine and 60-day jail term for breaking the county’s live shell rules.

In Southwest Florida, shells are foundational – sometimes literally – read the full article on naplesnews.com to find out more.

 

Mild weather helping Naples Pier project stay on schedule

Mild weather helping Naples Pier project stay on schedule

Liz Freeman | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

The contractor building a new Naples Pier is nearing the halfway mark of installing pilings, with mild weather helping the $26-million project stay on schedule.

As of June 24, contractor Shoreline Foundation has installed 84 pilings out of 193 going in for the new pier, according to Bruce Selfon, Naples assistant city manager who is overseeing the pier project.

The beloved pier at 12th Avenue South sustained extensive damage after Hurricane Ian hit on Sept. 28, 2022.

Video, photos and more information on naplesnews.com.