BallenIsles Country Club General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Walls and Director of Golf Jeff Fitzherbert played a combined 288 holes of golf on Friday, August 9th to raise funds for the First Tee of the Palm Beaches. Walls and Fitzherbert were participating in the 9th Annual 100 Hole Challenge Golf Marathon held at the Palm Beach Par 3 and raised more than $17,000 for the First Tee of the Palm Beaches through BallenIsles’ member donations and pledges.
2024 marks the fifth time the duo has participated in the Annual Golf Marathon, raising a total of over $95,000 for the First Tee over that time. Last year Walls and Fitzherbert played for nine straight hours to complete their combined 272 holes of golf to raise $21,725 for the First Tee of the Palm Beaches through member donations and pledges. In 2022, the duo raised more than $23,995, playing a combined 260 holes; in 2021, they raised more than $17,500 (rain shorted their playing time); and in 2020, they raised $15,000.
For this year’s 100 Hole Challenge Golf Marathon, Walls and Fitzherbert played 144 holes each, over 5 hours.
“Participating in the 9th Annual 100 Hole Challenge is not just about the game; it’s about making a meaningful impact in our community. Together with Jeff Fitzherbert, we are proud to have participated again this year, bringing our total contributions to over $95,000 since we began this journey. It’s inspiring to see our BallenIsles members rally behind this cause, demonstrating their commitment to nurturing the next generation of golfers. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to empower youth through golf,” said Walls.
While their 2024 100 Hole Challenge is complete, Walls and Fitzherbert hope to continue to collect donations for the First Tee of the Palm Beaches through the month of September as the fundraiser website is still accepting contributions. For more information on the First Tee of the Palm Beaches and their 100 Hole Challenge Golf Marathon, visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/childrens-golf-foundation-inc/first-tee-palm-beaches-100-hole-challenge-2024/team-ballenisles-country-club
For more information on BallenIsles Country Club, visit www.BallenIsles.org.
About BallenIsles Country Club
In 1963 legendary Florida developer John D. MacArthur and the PGA of America teamed up with golf course architects Dick Wilson and Joe Lee to design a championship-caliber golf facility. Over the next ten years, BallenIsles, then called PGA National Golf Club, hosted numerous major tournaments like the PGA Championship and PGA Seniors Championship and was home for the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. The Club was also the host site for the original PGA TOUR Qualifying School and held the inaugural PGA Merchandise Show. When the MacArthur/PGA of America agreement expired in 1973, the Club was renamed the JDM Country Club for John D. MacArthur. For the next 15 years, the prestigious local country club hosted many celebrities and professional golfers and staged many events on the three golf courses on the property. In 1988, the three golf courses and surrounding property were sold by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and renamed BallenIsles Country Club. A multi-year and multimillion dollar plan to develop a private country club community was unveiled. Since the early 2000’s, BallenIsles Country Club has been consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 Clubs in America.
A $35 million clubhouse renovation was completed in November 2018, featuring 115,000 square feet of luxurious space; three championship courses with 54 holes of golf; a world-class 21-court tennis and 9-court pickleball complex; and a state-of-the-art Sports Complex with a full-service Cosmo & Company salon and spa, fitness center, Pilates & spin studios and resort-style swimming pool.
The recent $9.3 million golf enhancements to the East Course by Nicklaus Design, practice grounds and ‘71 Golf Learning Center follow the construction of a $1.3 million pickleball complex in 2021; and the 2020 redesign of BallenIsles’ South Course by famed golf course architect Rees Jones. The Club is amid a $19 million renovation and expansion project of the Club’s existing Health + Wellness Complex. Construction began in 2023 with project completion slated by the end of 2024.
For more information visit www.BallenIsles.org
