Overview
BallenIsles Country Club is a private, member-equity club set inside a gated community of close to 1,600 homes in Palm Beach Gardens. Membership is tied to home ownership in the community, with golf, sports, racquets and limited social categories offered.
The property began as PGA National Golf Club, developed by John D. MacArthur with the PGA of America, which kept its headquarters there from 1965. In 1971 the East Course hosted the PGA Championship and the World Cup. The club later became the JDM Country Club and took its current name in 1988.
There are three 18-hole courses. The East and North courses trace to Dick Wilson and Joe Lee; the East was renovated by Nicklaus Design in 2022–23, the North by Kipp Schulties in 2013, and the South was redesigned by Rees Jones and reopened in 2020. Other facilities include a racquets center, a sports and lifestyle complex with fitness and spa, pools and six dining venues.
Golf
| Course | Holes | Par | Yards | Architect | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East CourseYardage from PGA tees. Renovated 2008; renovated again by Nicklaus Design, reopening January 2023. Host of the 1971 PGA Championship. | 18 | 72 | 7,474 | Dick Wilson and Joe Lee | 1963 |
| North CourseOpened as nine holes in 1964; Joe Lee added the back nine in 1969. Renovated by Kipp Schulties in 2013. | 18 | 72 | 6,865 | Joe Lee | 1964 |
| South CourseRees Jones redesign reopened January 2020. | 18 | — | — | Rees Jones (redesign) | — |
Membership
Mandatory-membership equity club; homeownership in the BallenIsles community is required. Full Golf, Sports, Racquets and limited Social/Fitness categories.
The Community
Gated residential community of nearly 1,600 residences in 33 neighborhoods.
Highlights
- Originally PGA National Golf Club, headquarters of the PGA of America from 1965
- Hosted the 1971 PGA Championship, won by Jack Nicklaus, and the 1971 World Cup
- Renamed JDM Country Club in 1973 and BallenIsles Country Club in 1988
Sources
Photo Credits
- Sandhill cranes on the course at BallenIsles — swatjester, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Sandhill crane at BallenIsles — swatjester, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Morning sun over sculpted greenside bunkers (representative) — rawpixel.com, CC0 1.0, source
- Golf course pond framed by palm trees (representative) — PattayaPatrol, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lap pool framed by tropical palms (representative) — Carol M Highsmith, CC0 1.0, source
- Hard court tennis among palm trees (representative) — rawpixel.com, CC0 1.0, source
Information compiled from public sources and last checked October 2026. Details such as membership terms change often; please confirm directly with the club.