LPN GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENTS UNDERWAY

This past April, the Lake Panorama National (LPN) Board of Managers approved a fundraising initiative focused on Priority 1 projects outlined in the LPN Golf Course Master Plan. By the end of October, fundraising reached $86,000, which made it possible to seek bids for some construction this fall.

The work involves renovations to the forward tee boxes on four holes. The project started with the Lake Panorama Association maintenance team removing old railroad tie retaining walls on holes five, six and seven. This reduced the cost of this project by $5,000.

BluGrade Earthworks was hired to expand and level these three tee boxes before installing sod. The tee boxes on five and seven doubled in size. The teeing area on the sixth hole remains about the same. Since the old retaining walls were removed, additional dirt was added so the ground slopes away from the teeing area.

In 2023, the railroad ties surrounding the forward tee on the eighth hole were removed, and dirt added around the edges to provide a sloped area. This fall, BluGrade finished the remaining work on this hole by leveling the tee surface and installing sod.

In addition to these construction projects funded by donations, the LPA maintenance staff spent many days removing dead and undesirable trees from no-mow areas between golf holes on the interior of the course.

Many of the trees being removed are ash trees that weren’t included in the first round of clearing Xtreme Tree service provided a couple of years ago. These trees either weren’t priority trees at that time, or have died since then. The LPA crew also removed small shrubs, invasive plants and brush to help the remaining and desirable hardwoods thrive.

The large trees were chipped and turned into mulch that will be repurposed around the golf course.

Fundraising continues for additional tee box improvements planned for 2025. Friends of Lake Panorama is partnering with the LPN Resort on this effort. All contributions are tax-deductible, and donors receive a letter of thanks that serves as a receipt. Donations can be made in memory or recognition of others.

$12,000 RAISED FOR LPN GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENTS

Two events held Sunday, Oct. 20 at Lake Panorama National combined to raise more than $12,000 to support the ongoing LPN Capital Fundraising Campaign.

Fourteen teams enjoyed perfect fall weather as they competed in the four-person, best-ball tournament. Team sponsorships raised $8,000, with mulligan sales bringing in another $280. There were two $1,000 hole-in-one sponsors—Lake Lumber and Tometich Engineering.

The 20 Men Who Can Cook event was in the LPN banquet room 3:30-6:30 p.m. It featured local chefs who prepared their favorite dishes for guests to sample. Tables for taste testing and socializing were available in the middle of the banquet room, with the chefs stationed at tables around the perimeter.

Those who played in the golf tournament had their entry fee to the 20 Men event covered. Another 105 people purchased tickets either in advance or at the door, to bring attendance to around 160. Ticket sales plus some additional donations made in connection with the Sunday fundraisers pushed the total for the day over $12,000.

Proceeds from these two events, combined with private donations and proceeds from the 2024 Beach Ball, puts the total raised to date at $86,000.

Organizers say they plan to hold both a golf tournament and a food sampling event again in 2025 to help fund additional LPN golf course improvements next fall.

BEACH BALL GIVES BOOST TO LPN CAPITAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

A fundraising campaign to pay for needed improvements at the Lake Panorama National golf course received a boost when $30,000 from the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball was earmarked for the campaign. At the end of June, direct donations to the campaign were at $11,250.

In the fall of 2023, the LPN board of managers began development of a comprehensive master plan for the golf course. This involved a thorough assessment of the course, with key personnel conducting a hole-by-hole golf course tour. The insights gained, combined with past planning documents, led to the identification and prioritization of key projects.

At its April meeting, the LPN board approved a fundraising effort that focuses on Priority 1 projects identified in the LPN Golf Course Master Plan. Projects included in Priority 1 include expanding forward tee boxes, leveling and resodding main tee boxes, removing all railroad ties and where needed, replacing with the ties with block retaining walls, updates to the driving range and new tee signs and ball washers.

A $500,000 target for the first round of fundraising was established. As funds become available, bids will be solicited for Priority 1 projects. No fundraising deadline has been set, as funds will continue to be raised until projects are completed.

Friends of Lake Panorama is partnering with LPN, which makes it possible for contributions to be tax deductible. All donors will receive a tax receipt.

One current promotion to encourage donations runs through Aug. 31. Those who donate $500 or more by Aug. 31 will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a 2025 LPN Single Golf Pass with trail fee or cart seat.

Every $500 earns the donor one entry, with no limit on the number of entries that can be earned. This promotion is exclusively for direct donations by individuals, couples or families, and cannot be combined with fundraising events.

Donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama and sent to PO Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) also are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions.

Direct donations also can be sent via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Credit card donations can be made online at friendsoflakepanorama.org. To qualify for this promotion, credit card donations must include an extra $15 for every $500 donated to cover processing fees.

Upcoming fundraising events include a golf tournament Sept. 7, and 20 Men Who Can Cook Oct. 20, 4-7 p.m. Details on both events will be available soon.

Future projects included in the LPN golf course master plan include needed improvements to the maintenance shop and equipment storage, irrigation pumps and pump house, bunkers, the pond that impacts holes 12 and 13, the pond on the ninth hole, and cart paths.

Donors of $500 or more are recognized on the donor page of the Friends website and on the Lake Panorama National capital fundraising campaign page at lakepanoramanational.com.

2024 BEACH BALL RAISES $35,000

More than 180 people attended the Friends of Lake Panorama 2024 Beach Ball June 21 at the Lake Panorama National event center. After expenses, the event had a profit of $35,000.

For the fourth year in a row, individuals and businesses became Friends Beach Club members to support this event. Those who joined at one of these levels paid a little extra to get a little extra, while also making a direct donation to Friends of Lake Panorama. Friends Beach Club members were listed in the program.

There were 17 businesses and groups of individuals that spent $700 to join the Premier level of the Beach Club, which was five more than in 2023. Sixteen couples spent $250 to be in the Couples Beach Club, with six businesses or individuals donating $150 to sponsor a table.

There were 53 items donated for the silent auction, which brought in $7,540. The live auction of 13 items raised $14,750. Those totals add up to a $4,000 increase in auction revenue over 2023. Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle and a half-card-draw game netted $2,000.

At its April meeting, the Friends of Lake Panorama board voted to make the Lake Panorama National Golf Course Master Plan Priority 1 projects the focus of the 2024 Beach Ball. Those projects include tee box and driving range renovations and new tee signs and ball washers.

Advance publicity stated auction items could be donated specifically for LPN Priority 1 projects. Eighteen silent auction items and six live auction items were designated for the LPN fundraising effort, and resulted in proceeds of $8,450.

At a meeting June 24, the Friends board of directors voted to add $21,550 to those proceeds, earmarking $30,000 for the LPN Priority 1 projects. The remaining $5,000 raised at the Beach Ball will be held in the Friends general fund.

Donations to Friends of Lake Panorama are accepted at any time. Checks can be made payable to Friends of Lake Panorama and mailed to PO Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Direct donations also can be sent via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Credit cards are accepted on the Friends website.

All donations are tax-deductible. Donors of $500 or more are recognized on the donor page of the Friends website. More information is available at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.

2024 BEACH BALL JUNE 21

Some seats and open tables remain for the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser Friday, June 21. The Beach Ball will be at the Lake Panorama National Resort event center, with all seating in the banquet room. Advance reservations are required, as attendance will be capped at 225.

Registration will be 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the dining room. Personalized programs with names, table numbers and bidding numbers will be ready for pickup as guests arrive. A buffet dinner will be served beginning at 6 p.m. There will be a cash bar throughout the evening, which will open at 4:30 p.m.

Members of the Friends Beach Club provide additional financial support to Friends of Lake Panorama beyond the cost of the meal. Prices for 2024 Beach Club memberships remain the same as last year, and are:

Friends Beach Club - Premier: $700—includes table sponsorship, eight dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; Friends Beach Club - Couple: $250—includes two dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; and Friends Beach Club - Sponsor: $150—includes table sponsorship, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program.

Individual meal tickets are $50. To register, contact Susan Thompson at 515-240-6536 or staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Funds will be raised with both live and silent auctions, plus a 50-50 raffle and a drawing that will use four decks of cards. At its April meeting, the Friends of Lake Panorama board voted to make the LPN Priority 1 capital campaign its main project for this year’s Beach Ball. This means a percentage of pooled funds raised, plus direct donations, will be set aside by Friends for the LPN improvement projects.

Auction items can be donated specifically for the LPN Priority 1 project. For example, Chris and Brenda Duree and Mike and Kelly Faga are donating an authentic Iowa barbecue dinner for 50 people. The menu includes baby back pork loin ribs, smoked, barbecued and shaved pork loin, bacon mac and cheese, baked beans, cornbread and coleslaw. This event could be held at the home of the winning bidder, Boulder or Sunset Beach, or other suitable local venue.

Some other auction items designated for the LPN improvements include a Traeger wood pellet grill donated by Lake Panorama Realty; two Cleveland wedges and a Masters collectible print donated by Jim and Julie Tibbles; an Iowa State University basketball signed by men’s head coach T. J. Otzelberger, donated by Jay and Sue Merryman; St. Thomas beach framed prints, donated by Mare and Rick Langel; and a gift basket donated by Local Liquor.

Of special interest will be two photographs taken by Michael Kleinwolterink, the LPN pro shop manager who has worked for the LPN since he was a teenager. One was taken with his drone on the second night of men’s league play this year. This aerial photo features the golf course with a double rainbow created by a passing rain showed. The other photo was taken during the 2023 Fire in the Sky display. Both photos are printed on metal and ready to hang.

New this year on the live auction will be a half-day adventure with Maureen Lubeck in her recently restored 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe four-door sedan. This package includes a cruise around Lake Panorama for up to four people. First stop will be Twin Vines for an exclusive wine tasting that includes appetizers and choice of two bottles of wine to take home. Another stop could be to show off your special “ride” to friends, or other destination of your choosing. Then to The Port where each couple will receive a $100 gift certificate to use for drinks and dinner.

Other live auction items that have been popular at past Beach Balls are offered again this year. These include a Cyclone football package for the Nov. 2 ISU vs. Texas Tech game, which includes four tickets in the ISU Athletic Director Suite with Jamie Pollard, food and soft drinks during the game, and a VIP parking pass; a piece of jewelry custom-made by Gary Youngberg, owner of Ames Silversmithing; a set of four passenger car tires for any vehicle, donated by Scott Politte, president of Stivers Ford Lincoln of Waukee; wine tasting for 20 at WineStyles in Johnston; two large inflatable Paradise Pads, donated by Mike and Austin Hayden; and a six-course gourmet meal for six with wine pairings, prepared, served and donated by Bill and Karen Fitzgerald.

Guests will find plenty of silent auction items to consider. These will include choice of two apple trees, delivered, planted and donated by Isom Tree Farms; ISU and Iowa birdhouses handmade by Steve Brannan; WeatherTech floormats from Stivers; handmade cutting boards; large potted plants; and a wide selection of gift baskets and gift cards.

Donated auction items will be accepted through June 19. Those interested in donating an auction item for the 2024 Beach Ball are asked to email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of Friends of Lake Panorama. A video loop available for viewing throughout the evening will feature photos of past projects. Details on all past and current projects are available on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org. Friends of Lake Panorama also has a Facebook page.

FUNDRAISING BEGINS FOR LPN GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENTS

The stage is set for a fundraising campaign to pay for needed improvements at the Lake Panorama National golf course. The course first opened in 1971.

In the fall of 2023, the LPN board of managers began development of a comprehensive master plan for the golf course. This involved a thorough assessment of the course, with key personnel conducting a hole-by-hole golf course tour. The insights gained, combined with past planning documents, led to the identification and prioritization of key projects.

At its April 22 meeting, the LPN board approved a fundraising effort that focuses on Priority 1 projects identified in the LPN Golf Course Master Plan. Projects included in Priority 1 of the master plan include:

• Forward Tee Boxes: Expand square footage, level, and sod with short variety Kentucky Bluegrass to accommodate increased play and allow for better turf recovery.

• Main Tee Boxes: Level main Bentgrass tees and re-sod with Bentgrass. Final square footage will be based on construction bids and fundraising.

• Railroad Ties and Landscaping: Remove of all railroad ties surrounding tee boxes. Where necessary, replace with a block retaining wall. Remove landscaping surrounding tee boxes to simplify maintenance and mowing.

• Driving Range: Replace railroad ties with a block retaining wall. Add a synthetic grass tee line to the back of the tee box, to use when the natural turf needs time to recover.

• Tee Signs: Install 18 cast metal tee signs with Granite Club sponsor signs and ball washers. Also, pour concrete pads on six holes for current and future memorial benches.

On April 8, Royce Shaffer, LPN director of operations, and Shanell Wagler, chair of the LPN board of managers, presented details of the LPN golf course master plan to the Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors. They asked if donations to the Priority 1 projects could be funneled through Friends, which would allow donors who itemize at tax time the opportunity to deduct their donation.

After discussion, the Friends board approved a motion to partner with LPN to raise funds for Priority 1 projects. The Friends board also voted to make this effort the priority project for the 2024 Beach Ball fundraiser June 21.

The LPN board of managers set a $500,000 target for the first round of fundraising. As funds become available, bids will be solicited for Priority 1 projects. No fundraising deadline has been set, as funds will continue to be raised until projects are completed.

Future projects included in the LPN golf course master plan include needed improvements to the maintenance shop and equipment storage, irrigation pumps and pump house, bunkers, the pond that impacts holes 12 and 13, the pond on the ninth hole, and cart paths.

There is precedence for raising funds for LPN golf course improvements. To build Spikes in 2008, approximately $128,000 in cash was donated, plus an estimated $64,500 in the form of materials and labor, for a total value of $197,500. In 2010, two on-course bathrooms were built with $28,000 raised from 125 donors, and $25,000 was donated by an individual to renovate the pond on the seventh hole. Fountains in ponds all were donated. These projects all were done before Friends of Lake Panorama was formed in 2013.

Fundraising for the LPN Priority 1 projects is underway. While Friends of Lake Panorama has committed a percentage of funds raised at the 2024 Beach Ball to Priority 1, LPN staff and board are developing additional fundraising strategies. Efforts will target Lake Panorama Association property owners, LPN seasonal passholders, LPN daily fee and stay and play golfers, and businesses.

A fundraising golf tournament is being considered, along with other special events. Because much of the cost of the Priority 1 projects involves construction, in-kind contributions from contractors willing to provide services at no cost or reduced rates will be sought.

Donors contributing $500 or more will be recognized on both the Lake Panorama National Resort and Friends of Lake Panorama websites. All donors receive a tax receipt.

Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions—for donors who are required to take forced IRA distributions. There are potential tax-saving benefits when considering either of these direct donation strategies. Check with your financial advisor for details.

Direct donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends, PO Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations also can be made through Venmo @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card at friendsoflakepanorama.org.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR 2024 BEACH BALL JUNE 21

Registration now is open for the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser Friday, June 21. The Beach Ball will be held at the Lake Panorama National Resort event center, with all seating in the banquet room.

Registration will be 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., with a buffet dinner served beginning at 6 p.m. The menu includes pork loin, chicken, baked potato, garden salad, dinner rolls and dessert. Beverage service offering lemonade, tea and water is included with the meal. There will be a cash bar, which opens at 4:30 p.m.

There are several options for those interested in attending the event. Members of the Friends Beach Club provide additional financial support to Friends of Lake Panorama beyond the cost of the meal. Prices for 2024 Beach Club memberships remain the same as last year, and are:

Friends Beach Club - Premier: $700—includes table sponsorship, eight dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; Friends Beach Club - Couple: $250—includes two dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; and Friends Beach Club - Sponsor: $150—includes table sponsorship, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program.

A limited number of individual meal tickets will be available at $50 each. Attendance will be capped at 225, so those interested are encouraged to finalize their plans as soon as possible. To register, contact Susan Thompson at 515-240-6536 or staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.

At its April meeting, the Friends of Lake Panorama board voted to make the Lake Panorama National Golf Course Master Plan Priority 1 projects the focus of the 2024 Beach Ball. This means the LPN Priority 1 projects will receive a percentage of pooled funds raised, plus all direct donations designated specifically for the LPN project.

Funds will be raised with both live and silent auctions, plus other activities throughout the evening. Those who want to donate auction items specifically for the LPN Priority 1 projects can do so.

For instance, two couples are donating an authentic Iowa barbecue dinner for 50 people. Chris and Brenda Duree and Mike and Kelly Faga are the donors, and have asked the proceeds from this live auction item go to the LPN project. Their dinner menu includes baby back pork loin ribs, smoked, barbecued and shaved pork loin, bacon mac and cheese, baked beans, cornbread and coleslaw. Also provided will be iced tea and lemonade, plasticware and napkins. This event could be held at the home of the winning bidder, Boulder or Sunset Beach, or other suitable local venue.

Several other auction items are committed that have been popular at past Beach Balls. These include a set of four passenger car tires for any vehicle, donated by Scott Politte, president of Stivers Ford Lincoln of Waukee; a Cyclone football package for the Nov. 2 ISU vs. Texas Tech game, which includes four tickets in the ISU Athletic Director Suite with Jamie Pollard, food and soft drinks during the game, and a VIP parking pass; a piece of jewelry custom-made by Gary Youngberg, owner of Ames Silversmithing; Paradise Pad items, donated by Mike and Austin Hayden; and a six-course gourmet meal for six with wine pairings, prepared, served and donated by Bill and Karen Fitzgerald.

A new auction item this year is two apple trees, delivered, planted and donated by Isom Tree Farms, owned by Larry and Heather Isom. The winning bidder will be able to choose from several different apple varieties for their two trees.

Those interested in donating auction items for the 2024 Beach Ball are asked to email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of Friends of Lake Panorama. A video loop available for viewing throughout the evening will feature photos of past projects.

These include improvements to playgrounds at all three beaches, sports courts at both Boulder and Sunset beaches, dog park, recreational area on the south shore, enhancements to the Panorama West Nature Trail, more than 20 new benches at beaches and golf courses, and several smaller projects.

Details on all past and current projects are available on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org. Friends of Lake Panorama also has a Facebook page.