Left to right: Estero Chamber of Commerce Administrative Assistant Nancy Brodbeck, Vice-Mayor Jon McLain, Mayor Katy Errington, Estero Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Sharon Van Rite, Estero Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Pamela Mueller, Estero Forever Foundation Chair George Zaluki, Chamber Board member Bill Ribble, Councilmember Joanne Ribble, Chamber Board members Joe Pavich Sr. and Joni Pavich

More than 50 residents turned out as the Village councilmembers, Estero Forever Foundation board members and Estero Chamber of Commerce board members joined together to conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Golf Coast Driving Range on a rainy Friday morning.

The ceremony was in recognition of the new partnership between the Village and the Estero Forever Foundation whose volunteers will operate the driving range.

Free raffle tickets were distributed to attendees with three lucky winners receiving free lessons from local golf pros.  There was also a putting contest to see who would win a free bucket of balls.

The current operating hours for the driving range are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  These hours are expected to be expanded in the future.  Buckets of balls range from $9 for small, $11 medium and $13 for a large bucket, all to be paid with credit cards.

The 10-acre Golf Coast Driving Range at 9000 Williams Road was recently purchased by the Village for $4.25 million to ultimately be re-developed for the benefit of the community.  This, along with the adjacent Village-owned property to the west, has the potential to be used for public sports uses in the future.

In the meantime, the Village and the Estero Forever Foundation (EFF) have formed a partnership to use the driving range to help raise some funds for the EFF.

The Village has agreed to have EFF volunteers operate the driving range until the property is re-developed.  The revenue will go directly to the Village, with a portion to be directed back to the EFF on a monthly basis to be used to fulfill their vision statement.

Anyone looking to volunteer may contact EFF at  info@esteroforeverfoundation.org.