Three championship golf courses, one legendary location
Welcome to BallenIsles Country Club: initially developed as the home of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, the site of the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School, host to the PGA Championship and World Cup, and the place where $22.5 million worth of renovations — collectively over the past 12 years — has gone to the green.
The private club community is in the heart of Florida’s Palm Beaches. It the heart of Florida’s Palm Beaches. It offers a superior member experience, year honor by the Distinguished Club Award.
Now, its South Course has reopened following an eight-month, $7.5 million golf course renovation project led by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones.
Crews from Total Golf began on-course renovation work a year ago, focused on revitalizing the 56-year-old course. Lead by Ron Despain of Troon, the renovations included a complete tee-to-green make-over, including new bunkers, design modifications that improve strategy and shot options, an all-new irrigation system, drainage and concrete cart paths. As part of the renovation, a 4,000-yard set of tees provides a shorter course playing option, allowing for seven various tee settings and angles to challenge different levels of golfers.
“Embarking on our latest renovation on the heels of opening our clubhouse says a lot about our membership and quality we can expect,” said Ryan Walls, BallenIsles Country Club general manager and COO. “We have a vision for our community, and Rees certainly helped form a key piece of the experience we provide.”
Jones is an industry leader in modernizing older courses while still keeping their authentic attributes that golfers enjoy; his portfolio includes La Jolla Country Club, the Breakers and Waldorf Astoria Golf Club.
“Few country clubs offer their members such a historic connection to golf, and we wanted to remain true to the rich legacy of Ballenlsles,” said Jones. “The original layout provided ample playing corridors to build a thought-provoking course. My remodel will have an ebb and flow throughout the round, and I believe the members are going to enjoy the changes.”
The South Course was built in 1964 and designed by Joe Lee and Dick Wilson. Throughout its 56-year history, the course has been modified twice; first in 1967, to accommodate the construction of BallenIsles’ North Course and again in 1999, which included re-grassing and numerous bunker additions.
The 2020 version will maintain the historically popular routing while bringing a strategic approach by Jones and modernizing the playability — keeping conditions on par with today’s expectancy of a private club environment.
