Ace Group Classic at Quail West Naples, Florida! February 11-17

Since 1988, the excitement of the Champions Tour has been witnessed first hand by millions of spectators, corporate clients and guests. In addition to the thrill of playing in the Pro-Am, hosting customers in hospitality suites and watching championship golf, The ACE Group Classic has raised more than $2 million for charity. The official charities of the tournament are The Education Foundation of Collier County, Northside Naples Kiwanis Foundation and The First Tee Naples/Collier. We look forward to positive results once again this year.

The ACE Group Classic is a world class golf tournament televised nationally on The Golf Channel. The tournament will be contested February 11 - 17, 2008 at Quail West, a Ginn Club Community.

The Tournament annually attracts the strongest field of competitors from the Official Money List. Additionally, golf legends like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Ray Floyd, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite and Tom Watson have competed in this prestigious event.

The biggest winner of all, however, is charity. Our Host Organization is the Northside Naples Kiwanis Foundation. Other charities we support are the First Tee Naples/Collier, Education Foundation of Collier County, YMCA of the Palms, American Red Cross, Alzheimer's Support Network and Big Brothers/Big Sisters Southwest Florida.The biggest winner of all, however, is charity.

David Auston specializes in luxury golf real estate in Naples, Florida. Contact him at David@DavidNaples.com or (239) 273-1376

Tuscany Reserve deal appears off the table

It appears that a mega deal to sell the luxury, Italian-inspired Tuscany Reserve community off Livingston Road near the Lee-Collier line is off.On Monday, a prospective buyer received an e-mail from a community sales agent saying the developer, Bonita Springs-based WCI Communities Inc., “is no longer looking to sell it” and that marketing is gearing up again.The sales agent gave two reasons why cash-strapped WCI has taken the community off the market: The tax advantage that it would have gotten in 2007 doesn’t exist anymore and the company had more closings than expected last month at several other projects, which has improved its cash flow.Jerry Starkey, WCI’s CEO, wouldn’t comment, saying the company doesn’t discuss transactions.

“I haven’t heard anything. I think we would all know if it went through,” said David Auston, a Realtor with Amerivest Realty in Naples and a member of the Tuscany Reserve golf club.

WCI, headquartered in Bonita Springs, put the golf course community on a list of assets for sale earlier this year, as it looked for ways to stay afloat in a market where sales are sluggish and would-be buyers are walking away from contracts in droves. Realtors, brokers and others who were familiar with the deal said they knew the courting buyer to be Anthony Salce, with Gulf Coast Development Group LLC in Naples. Salce couldn’t be reached for comment.The deal was expected to close by the end of last year.On WCI’s online message board, one observer on Dec. 24 said, “This puppy is going sideways. The deal for $63 million is now offered at $51 million and it may very well not close.”

Auston said 2007 was one of the best years for home sales in the community. Earlier this year, WCI announced a repositioning to offer more homes at a lower price.In the fourth quarter of last year, WCI had an $84.9 million write-down for the community, reflecting a market loss in value.WCI designed Tuscany Reserve as its most exclusive golf course haven and expected to sell a limited number of homes for $2 million to $5 million, with golf membership in the range of $200,000. But it never really took off.Now, homebuyers can get into the community for less than $1 million.It appears that the immediate priorities for WCI are to finish the clubhouse and to sell off the remaining inventory.

WCI invested hundreds of millions in the community to create an authentic Tuscan village with arched stone bridges, towering fountains, pavers and lush landscaping, including an impressive barrier berm of bushes and trees facing Interstate 75.Greg Norman and Pete Dye co-designed its 18-hole golf course.

“The people in there, they love the golf course,” Auston said. “They love the neighbors. They love the place.”(Naples Daily Newspaper, 1-9-2008)

Visit www.DavidNaples.com for Luxury Golf Real Estate in Naples, Fl or call at (239) 273-1376

In Season/Off Season for Naples, Florida Golf

"In Season" in Naples, Florida may mean slightly different things to different people, but overall January - March is considered the peak time for 2nd homeowners, vacationers, & snowbirds to come down. April and November/December are also a growing vacation time for many because of the fantastic weather. This will of course lead to the "Off Season" time being May-October and the months where we get most of our rain(see previous article below for Naples weather statistics).

What does this mean for golf fees? Well.. it means that the price for a round of golf is typically twice as much In Season as during the Off Season, but then again the weather is unbelievable during the winter, so it's probably worth it! As a full time resident and an avid golfer, I love the "Off Season" time just as much. You just have to play early in the morning during the summer and the golf fees are amazing for some of the nicest courses in Florida!

For example: Old Corkscrew listed in the previous article is $100/round in June-Oct. 15th and $225/round Dec. 15th-Apr. 15th.

David Auston specializes in luxury golf real estate in Naples, Florida. David@DavidNaples.com or 239.273.1376