A fundraising campaign that began in May allowed some planned updates to the Lake Panorama National golf course to be completed this fall.
A year ago, the LPN board of managers began development of a comprehensive master plan for the golf course. At its April 2024 meeting, the LPN board approved a fundraising effort that focuses on Priority 1 projects identified in the master plan.
The work done this fall involved renovations to four forward tee boxes. The project started with the Lake Panorama Association maintenance team removing railroad tie retaining walls on holes five, six and seven. BluGrade Earthworks was hired to do the rest.
A rainy fall slowed progress, but all dirt work was completed by the end of November. The forward tee boxes on holes five and seven doubled in size. The teeing area on the sixth hole remains about the same, with additional dirt added to the east side where the ground slopes away. The teeing area on the eighth hole was leveled.
Low-mow bluegrass sod was installed on the seventh hole, marking the completion of that tee box. Wet field conditions and freezing temperatures made it impossible to cut and install sod on the remaining three tees this year. Weather permitting, sod installation will be done mid-March to mid-April. The goal is to have those tees ready for play by Memorial Day weekend.
Friends of Lake Panorama is assisting with the LPN capital fundraising campaign. At the nonprofit’s annual Beach Ball fundraiser in June, $30,000 was raised for the Priority 1 projects. Another $12,000 was raised in October with a golf tournament and a food sampling event. More than $46,000 in direct donations has been received to date.
Fundraising for needed updates on the LPN golf course is expected to continue as a priority project for both LPN and Friends for several years. Based on funds raised between now and next September, additional construction will be done in fall 2025.
LPN Priority 1 projects include expanding forward tee boxes, leveling and resodding main tee boxes, removing all railroad ties and where needed, replacing with block retaining walls, updates to the driving range and new tee signs and ball washers.
Donors of $500 or more are recognized on both the Lake Panorama National Resort and Friends of Lake Panorama websites. Additional donor recognition inside the Spikes snack shop is planned for the future.