By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
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.
Repeats of two successful fundraising events held Oct. 20 this year are on the 2025 LPN calendar. A fundraising golf outing is planned for Saturday, May 3, beginning at 11 a.m. The second 20 Men Who Can Cook will be held Sunday, Oct. 19, beginning at 4 p.m. More details on both of these events will be shared in the coming months.
Tentative plans for a 2025 Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball in June are being made, with a final date to be announced in the spring. At a meeting in November, Friends board members agreed a portion of the funds raised at the 2025 Beach Ball will be committed to the LPN golf course renovation effort.
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.
Since donations are managed by Friends of Lake Panorama, donors who itemize at tax time have the opportunity to deduct their donation. All donations postmarked or made directly by Dec. 31, 2024, will be deductible for the 2024 tax year. All donors receive a tax receipt shortly after donations are received.
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.
Direct donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends, P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216.
Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions. Donations also can be made through Venmo @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card at friendsoflakepanorama.org.
More details on the LPN Capital Fundraising Campaign are available here: www.lakepanoramanational.com/capital-fundraising-campaign.