Nicklaus Design introduces more run-off areas at BallenIsles East course

BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has reopened its East course following a renovation by Nicklaus Design. 

The $6.3 million project began in April 2022 and was led by architects Chris Cochran and Chad Goetz. Their aim has been to modernise the course and practice areas whilst paying homage to the original Dick Wilson design features. 

Cochran and Goetz have updated bunkers and greens as well as regrassing the entire course. The East has also been lengthened from 7,189 to 7,474 yards. 

Cochran and Goetz also aimed to make the course more accessible for players of different abilities so some of the deeper bunkers were shallowed and run-off areas were added around fairways and greens, with natural humps and hollows providing more recovery options. 

“We first spoke about a possible East course renovation in 2020,” said Paul Stringer, president of Nicklaus Design. “To see it completed already with a very nice, expanded practice facility is just terrific!” 

The renovated practice area now includes a 65-bay two-sided range with Toptracer technology and targets, a putting green, practice bunkers and a wedge range with targets from 30 to 105 yards. The four-acre short-game area features a Snead Green putting course, plus five pitching and chipping greens. A learning centre is scheduled to be complete in April. 

The work on the East course follows a renovation of the South course by Rees Jones, which was featured in the July 2020 issue of Golf Course Architecture.  

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