E A S T C O U R S E
P R O J E C T S
- The following projects are occurring or have been completed on the East Course -
P R O J E C T S
- The following projects are occurring or have been completed on the East Course -
Hole 9
Update - September 14, 2021
Pond work on hole 9 is completed.
Update - September 14, 2021
Pond work on hole 9 is completed.
Hole 9
Update - August 21, 2021
Work on hole 9 wrapped up on August 20th and now we clean-up that portion and grow-in the affected areas.
Update - August 21, 2021
Work on hole 9 wrapped up on August 20th and now we clean-up that portion and grow-in the affected areas.
Hole 9
Update - August 17, 2021
Bunker behind hole 9 green is shaped, graded and sodded.
Update - August 17, 2021
Bunker behind hole 9 green is shaped, graded and sodded.
Area to the right of hole 9 fairway is graded and preparing for sod on August 21.
Bunker to the left of hole 9 fairway is shaped, graded and sodded.
Bunker to the front left of hole 9 green is filled for this season, graded and sodded.
East Course & Practice Facility
Nicklaus Design is currently working on design plans to refresh the East Course and redesign the practice facilities. The current plan will be for the Club to begin member workshops in the fall of 2021 and then take those plans to the members to vote on for approval in February of 2022 and a goal to begin work in April of 2022.
Press Release: BallenIsles Country Club Agrees To Multi-Year Design Partnership With Nicklaus Design
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (June 1, 2021) – BallenIsles Country Club is proud to announce a strategic design partnership with Nicklaus Design to take the Club through a multi-year renovation of its famed East Course and golf practice facilities. BallenIsles and Jack Nicklaus recently commemorated the 50th anniversary of Nicklaus’ victory at the 1971 PGA Championship held on its famed East Course (then known as PGA National).
The Nicklaus Design team is currently engaged with Project Manager Ron Despain from Troon, in completing the master plan for the Club to consider a complete renovation to its Learning Center and updates to the championship tested East Course – which are currently slated to take place in 2022, pending member approval. At this time, the team is working on a series of projects on the East Course that will take place this summer, including tree replacements, renovations to the 9th hole as the Club constructs a new pickleball center and other projects that will prepare the course for the upcoming renovation.
“If any name should ever be permanently tied to the East Course, there is only one name that fits, Nicklaus,” said BallenIsles Country Club General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Walls. “We are very encouraged by what the future will bring to complete a multi-year golf improvement project bringing all three courses to modern-day standard and quality of design.”
Under the refreshed master plan, the BallenIsles practice facilities will see a total re-imagination of the teeing grounds, target areas and practice greens. The new design will incorporate modern-day practice areas and targets to enable members to routinely practice the wide variety of golf shots demanded on BallenIsles’ three championship courses. The Learning Center will include state-of-the-art technology, multiple target areas, short game practice areas, a pitch-and-putt course and a putting course. The Learning Center will serve as an entry into golf, welcoming first-time players and professionals alike.
At the same time, BallenIsles and Nicklaus Design will refresh the famed East Course, with a goal of seeing Championship golf return to the revered venue. The East Course renovation is expected to include a modernization of the irrigation system, a complete re-grassing of the course, improvement of tee locations and the return of original course design features from when the course hosted major championships. The Nicklaus Design team will add length and strategy that will test both members and tournament players alike.
Nicklaus Design’s senior design team of Chris Cochran and Chad Goetz will lead the mission of returning the East Course to its former glory – a tournament-tested layout that challenges the best players in the world, while providing a playable, enjoyable test of golf for members. Paul Stringer, President of Nicklaus Design said, “We are thrilled to be involved with a club of the stature of BallenIsles in restoring their East Golf Course and enhancing their practice facilities. With the history of Jack’s victory in the 1971 PGA, we are honored to carry out the legacy of the Nicklaus name and be a part of the long-standing history at BallenIsles.”
Originally built in 1964 and designed by Joe Lee and Dick Wilson, the East Course is a challenging 7,189-yard, par 72 layout. The course was last enhanced in 2008 under the direction of Keith Foster and Kevin Hargrave and included the planting of 2,600 additional trees as well as 20,000 new plants and shrubs. Greens were renovated to meet USGA standards and bunkers were reshaped to be more visible from the tee box areas. In 2008, Golf Inc. Magazine recognized the $9 million renovation of the East Course as a finalist for its national “Renovation of the Year” award.
The renovation of the East Course follows the 2019 $7.5 million dollar redesign of BallenIsles’ South Course by famed golf course architect Rees Jones, and a 2018 $35 million dollar clubhouse renovation and expansion project.
In February 1971, the PGA Championship was played at BallenIsles Country Club (then named PGA National). Jack Nicklaus was crowned the champion with a dominating wire-to-wire win. The victory was the ninth of his record 18 professional major championships and an important piece of history for the Club and Palm Beach County.
The Nicklaus Design team is currently engaged with Project Manager Ron Despain from Troon, in completing the master plan for the Club to consider a complete renovation to its Learning Center and updates to the championship tested East Course – which are currently slated to take place in 2022, pending member approval. At this time, the team is working on a series of projects on the East Course that will take place this summer, including tree replacements, renovations to the 9th hole as the Club constructs a new pickleball center and other projects that will prepare the course for the upcoming renovation.
“If any name should ever be permanently tied to the East Course, there is only one name that fits, Nicklaus,” said BallenIsles Country Club General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Walls. “We are very encouraged by what the future will bring to complete a multi-year golf improvement project bringing all three courses to modern-day standard and quality of design.”
Under the refreshed master plan, the BallenIsles practice facilities will see a total re-imagination of the teeing grounds, target areas and practice greens. The new design will incorporate modern-day practice areas and targets to enable members to routinely practice the wide variety of golf shots demanded on BallenIsles’ three championship courses. The Learning Center will include state-of-the-art technology, multiple target areas, short game practice areas, a pitch-and-putt course and a putting course. The Learning Center will serve as an entry into golf, welcoming first-time players and professionals alike.
At the same time, BallenIsles and Nicklaus Design will refresh the famed East Course, with a goal of seeing Championship golf return to the revered venue. The East Course renovation is expected to include a modernization of the irrigation system, a complete re-grassing of the course, improvement of tee locations and the return of original course design features from when the course hosted major championships. The Nicklaus Design team will add length and strategy that will test both members and tournament players alike.
Nicklaus Design’s senior design team of Chris Cochran and Chad Goetz will lead the mission of returning the East Course to its former glory – a tournament-tested layout that challenges the best players in the world, while providing a playable, enjoyable test of golf for members. Paul Stringer, President of Nicklaus Design said, “We are thrilled to be involved with a club of the stature of BallenIsles in restoring their East Golf Course and enhancing their practice facilities. With the history of Jack’s victory in the 1971 PGA, we are honored to carry out the legacy of the Nicklaus name and be a part of the long-standing history at BallenIsles.”
Originally built in 1964 and designed by Joe Lee and Dick Wilson, the East Course is a challenging 7,189-yard, par 72 layout. The course was last enhanced in 2008 under the direction of Keith Foster and Kevin Hargrave and included the planting of 2,600 additional trees as well as 20,000 new plants and shrubs. Greens were renovated to meet USGA standards and bunkers were reshaped to be more visible from the tee box areas. In 2008, Golf Inc. Magazine recognized the $9 million renovation of the East Course as a finalist for its national “Renovation of the Year” award.
The renovation of the East Course follows the 2019 $7.5 million dollar redesign of BallenIsles’ South Course by famed golf course architect Rees Jones, and a 2018 $35 million dollar clubhouse renovation and expansion project.
In February 1971, the PGA Championship was played at BallenIsles Country Club (then named PGA National). Jack Nicklaus was crowned the champion with a dominating wire-to-wire win. The victory was the ninth of his record 18 professional major championships and an important piece of history for the Club and Palm Beach County.
Land Reclamation Project and Pickleball Project
Pickleball - Phase 2
Update - June 15, 2021
The Club has submitted plans to the City of Palm Beach Gardens to construct three additional pickleball courts as part of the Pickleball Complex. This is being done as Phase 2, in lieu of the approved parking area and bocce court that is approved. The plan is to gain approval for Phase 2 in the time the pond is being filled and then construct all seven courts at the time construction for the Phase 1 (four courts) was to occur. If all is approved as submitted, the Club looks forward to having seven total courts as part of our new Pickleball Complex.
Hole 9
Update - June 15, 2021
All permits have been issued to begin work on the Pickleball Complex. The construction fence is installed and trees relocated. On June 21st we will place erosion control and await inspection. Following that, and depending upon arrival of infrastructure, we will begin dewatering. We expect the pond fill portion of the project to take about two mon
Update - June 15, 2021
The Club has submitted plans to the City of Palm Beach Gardens to construct three additional pickleball courts as part of the Pickleball Complex. This is being done as Phase 2, in lieu of the approved parking area and bocce court that is approved. The plan is to gain approval for Phase 2 in the time the pond is being filled and then construct all seven courts at the time construction for the Phase 1 (four courts) was to occur. If all is approved as submitted, the Club looks forward to having seven total courts as part of our new Pickleball Complex.
Hole 9
Update - June 15, 2021
All permits have been issued to begin work on the Pickleball Complex. The construction fence is installed and trees relocated. On June 21st we will place erosion control and await inspection. Following that, and depending upon arrival of infrastructure, we will begin dewatering. We expect the pond fill portion of the project to take about two mon
Update - February 3, 2021
The Club is reclaiming land adjacent to the tennis courts by filling a pond and relocating that surface water by expanding the pond on hole #9 of the East Course. Once the pond is reclaimed, the first project will be to construct four new pickleball courts as the start of a new pickle ball complex, shown on the plan below. The parking shown on the plan with four courts will not immediately be constructed. Future plans will consider additional courts, more parking or some combination thereof.
The new courts will include lighting and shaded rest areas similar to what we currently enjoy.
The change to hole 9 East will include expansion of the pond to the rear and front of the existing pond. In addition, modifications to the two greenside bunkers and the removal of the fairway bunker. Nicklaus Design has provided input and guidance to maintain the integrity of the golf hole.
The Club is reclaiming land adjacent to the tennis courts by filling a pond and relocating that surface water by expanding the pond on hole #9 of the East Course. Once the pond is reclaimed, the first project will be to construct four new pickleball courts as the start of a new pickle ball complex, shown on the plan below. The parking shown on the plan with four courts will not immediately be constructed. Future plans will consider additional courts, more parking or some combination thereof.
The new courts will include lighting and shaded rest areas similar to what we currently enjoy.
The change to hole 9 East will include expansion of the pond to the rear and front of the existing pond. In addition, modifications to the two greenside bunkers and the removal of the fairway bunker. Nicklaus Design has provided input and guidance to maintain the integrity of the golf hole.
Plan 1 (left) shows 4 pickleball courts with a plan to add additional parking, shown as phase 2.
Plan 2 (right) shows a long-term option to construct up to 9 pickleball courts. This would include needing to reshape a small portion of the road.
Plan 2 (right) shows a long-term option to construct up to 9 pickleball courts. This would include needing to reshape a small portion of the road.
Hole #7 - COMPLETED OCTOBER 2020
The Club removed the old wooden bulkhead the fronted the back tee box as it was failing, created safety concerns and was unsightly. The tee box has grass slope to the water’s edge and the back tee boxes have been realigned.
Summer 2020
Hole #18 - Retaining Wall - COMPLETED OCTOBER 2020
The Club realigned the rock wall projecting the 18th green to give it a “completed” look.
Summer 2020
BallenIsles Country Club
100 BallenIsles Circle
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Phone: 561.622.0220
ballenisles.org
100 BallenIsles Circle
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Phone: 561.622.0220
ballenisles.org