Fundraising Begins for LPN Golf Course Improvements

May 7

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, 2024, meeting, the LPN board approved a fundraising effort that focuses on Priority 1 projects identified in the LPN Golf Course Master Plan.

The Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors agreed to partner with LPN on this effort, which will allow donors who itemize at tax time to deduct their donation. The Friends board also agreed the LPN fundraising effort will be the priority project for the 2024 Beach Ball on June 21. 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.

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 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.

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.

Fundraising for the LPN Priority 1 projects has begun. While Friends of Lake Panorama will commit a percentage of funds raised at the 2024 Beach Ball to Priority 1, LPN staff and board are developing additional fundraising strategies.

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.

For more information, visit www.lakepanoramanational.com or www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.