BallenIsles
BallenIsles is a residential community and equity club located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.[1] Its country club contains some of the most famous golf courses in Florida.[1][2]
Geographical Area
The subdivision is bordered on the north by PGA Boulevard, on the east by Military Trail, the south by Northlake Boulevard, and the west by Florida's Ronald Reagan Turnpike.
Golf Courses
BallenIsles was originally the PGA National Golf Club (1964–1973), commissioned by Palm Beach Gardens patron John D. MacArthur as the home of the Professional Golfers Association. There are three courses, and the East Course, originally the Champions Course, hosted the World Cup Championship, 1971 PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship (1966–1973), and the first qualifying tournaments for the PGA Tour. The North and East courses were designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, and the South course, recently redesigned by Gene Bates Golf Design, are reserved strictly for members and their guests. The current PGA National Golf Club is adjacent to the west. The East course, recently redesigned (2009) and rebuilt under the guidance of nationally recognized and award winning course golf architect Keith Foster, has received many awards. It is now being used as US Open qualifier as well as the home to the South Florida Junior Ryder Cup featuring the areas best junior golfers.
Golf Associations
There are four busy associations, MGA (Men's Golf Assoc). MSGA (Men's Seniors), WNGA (Women's Nine Hole) and the WGA (Women's Golf). All are inclusive and considered the Welcome Wagon to new residents of the community. All are philanthropic organizations. The MGA has been committed to fund raising activities working with Arnie's Army and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. In 2011 the BallenIsles MGA set a national one day money earnings record on behalf of Arnie's Army. In 2012, yet another new one day record was set. Both events were noted on Reuters big screen overlooking Times Square.
The WNGA is committed to Play for Pink setting new fund raising records the last 3 years. The WGA also holds an annual event on behalf of Play for Pink and the MSGA raises money for the USGA 1st Tee program.
Golf
Home to the BallenIsles Golf Academy under the guidance of Director of Golf, Brian Kelley and head golf professional, Jeff Fitzherbert. Kelley was named as the 2011 Troon Golf PGA Professional of the Year.
Teaching professionals include Chris Kaufman, voted by his peers as Florida Teacher of the Year in South East Florida, Shawn Hall, Scott Dietrich and Joe Chalmers.
The staff also includes, Annette Thompson, named as one of Top 50 Teachers by Golf for Women Magazine and in 2012 named as one of top 25 U.S. women's teacher in Golf Digest.
Notable residents
Serena Williams, professional tennis player[3] Winner of 21 Grand Slam events and Gold Medal winner in the 2000, 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Venus Williams, professional tennis player[3] Winner of 7 Grand Slam events and Gold Medal Winner in 2000 and 2012 Olympics
Bruce Fleisher, professional Champions Tour golfer Winner of 18 Champions Tour events including the 2001 U.S. Senior Open, the U.S. Amateur in 1968 and Gold medal winner at the 1969 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Adele Siegel, co-founder of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University[4]
Entrances and main roads
The main road of BallenIsles is BallenIsles Drive. The road stretches between the north entrance on PGA Boulevard, and the south entrance on Northlake Boulevard. The east entrance on Military Trail connects to BallenIsles Drive via Holly Drive.
Neighborhoods and communities
The original development of BallenIsles contained only the neighborhoods of Coral Cay, Crystal Bay, St. George Estates, and St. James. The next round of development and expansion saw the neighborhoods of Windward Cove and Emerald Key. The subdivision is now fully developed.
BallenIsles Neighborhoods: Coral Cay, St. George Estates, Crystal Bay, St. James Estates, Windward Cove, Emerald Key, Grand Isle, Estates of St. Thomas, Cocquina Club, Cayman Isle, Vintage Isle, Sunset Bay, Sunset Cove, Coconut Key, San Marita, Bermuda Bay, Sunesta Cove, Laguna, Palm Bay Club, Arbor Chase, Sabal Pointe, Island Cove, Victoria Bay, Banyan Isle, Windsor Pointe, Orchid Cay, The Palms, Estates of St. Edward, Grand Key Estates, Grand Pointe Estates, Grand Palm, San Marco, and The Estates of St. Martin.
Country club and tennis center
The country club at BallenIsles is considered to be world class,.[5] A $25 million sports center and clubhouse renovation program began in early 2008.[6]
The club spans 72,000 square feet (6,700 m2) in the Grand Clubhouse complex, including a bar and grill room, private dining room, men's and women's locker rooms, card rooms, golf pro shop, and meeting rooms.[7]
The nearby Tennis and Fitness Center, separate from the clubhouse, has a 23-court tennis complex with viewing promenade, tennis pro shop, large swimming pool with sun/lounge deck, restaurant service, indoor fitness center with aerobics room, private massage rooms, saunas, and men's and women's locker rooms.
Both complexes are restricted to members and their guests, however both are commonly used by professional athletes in their fields for both practice and competition. The country club is ranked 5th out of over 6,000 clubs nationwide on the 2007 Platinum Club Top 100 list (up from 17th in 2006, and 67th in 2000).[5][7] Resident golf professional Annette Thompson was inducted into the Ladies Professional Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2006.[5]
The tennis center was ranked the #1 in the world by the USPTA in 2004, and resident tennis pro Judi Stiff was voted Tennis Professional of the Year in 2006 by the USPTA.[5]
Other recreation
The tennis center at BallenIsles features a full service gym, as well as spa and wellness facilities. The subdivision has several small playgrounds located in the southern half of development, as well as an outdoor exercise facility near the south gate with several circuit stretch stations and a running track. The tennis center has a swimming pool and hot tubs, while the clubhouse has a pool table in the men's locker room, and card room for women's bridge. Outside the development, the PGA park is near the south gate, and has soccer and track fields for public use. The Palm Beach Gardens Municipal Building park is located near the east gate and has baseball fields for public use as well as playground facilities, outdoor stretch stations, swimming pool, and a running track.
BallenIsles is located within walking distance of the PGA Commons shopping and dining area and within a five-minute drive from Downtown at the Gardens, the Gardens Mall shopping areas, and newly developed Legacy Place. To the north, the Abacoa shopping district is within a ten-minute drive.
Average home prices
Home prices vary by neighborhood, but range from $300,000 to over $4 million at official sale.[5] In resale, homes have sold for over $5 million.
Local schools
The subdivision is served by schools in the Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter area.
High schools
- Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
- William T. Dwyer High School
- Suncoast High School
- Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Middle schools
- Duncan Middle School
- Howell Watkins Middle School
- Bak Middle School of the Arts
Elementary schools
Notes
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.oneput.com/golf.html
- ^ a b Time Magazine. Slam, Glam, Serena; Palm Beach Post 26 January 2008
- ^ BallenIsles Resident Directory 2007-2008
- ^ a b c d e BallenIsles Homes
- ^ Palm Beach Post 26 January 2008
- ^ a b BallenIsles Golf Community Palm Beach Gardens, Florida