BallenIsles Country Club Leaders Play 470 Holes Of Golf, Raise $20,000 For The First Tee - Palm Beaches

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (October 8, 2026) - Members of the svg]:relative [&>svg]:top-1 text-link hover:text-link-hover active:text-link-hover " target="_blank">BallenIsles Country Club leadership team played a combined 470 holes of golf over nine hours on Monday, October 5 to raise $20,000 for the First Tee - Palm Beaches. Director of Golf Jeff Fitzherbert, Director of Instruction Brian Mackey, Head Professional Chris Hayes, and U.S. Army Veteran Matt Kampff participated in the 11th Annual 100 Hole Challenge Golf Marathon held at Palm Beach Par 3 to raise funds for the First Tee - Palm Beaches through BallenIsles' member donations and pledges.

First Tee - Palm Beaches is a major youth development program at golf courses throughout Palm Beach County and is one of 15 First Tee chapters in the state of Florida. Founded in 1988, the Palm Beaches chapter encompasses over 80,000 elementary school students, providing opportunities for students to learn the Nine Core Values of the First Tee Life Skills Experience. Additionally, the program serves children with special needs and disabilities, veterans disabilities and people with paralysis. The First Tee also provides life skills and life enhancement opportunities to all young people through the game of golf.

2026 marked the seventh time the BallenIsles team has participated in the Annual Golf Marathon. Collectively, BallenIsles Country Club has raised over $135,000 for the First Tee through the Golf Marathon. Last year, the BallenIsles team completed 454 holes of golf at Jupiter Country Club and raised $20,387 for the First Tee of the Palm Beaches through member donations and pledges. Previous donations include $17,000 in 2024, $21,500 in 2023, $23,995 in 2022, $17,500 in a rain-shortened 2021 event, and $15,000 in 2020.

While the 2026 100 Hole Challenge is complete, the BallenIsles team hopes to continue to collect donations for the First Tee - Palm Beaches through the end of the year as the fundraiser website is still accepting contributions. For more information on the First Tee - Palm Beaches and their 100 Hole Challenge Golf Marathon, visit svg]:relative [&>svg]:top-1 text-link hover:text-link-hover active:text-link-hover " target="_blank">Children's Golf Foundation.For more information on BallenIsles Country Club, visit svg]:relative [&>svg]:top-1 text-link hover:text-link-hover active:text-link-hover " target="_blank">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.

BallenIsles features a 115,000 square foot Grand Clubhouse; a world-class 34-court racquets complex with 21 tennis courts (including an exhibition stadium court) and 13 pickleball courts; a brand new four-court bocce complex; and a recently completed $19 million renovation and expansion of the 71,000-square-foot Sports & Lifestyle Complex. Enhancements include a renovated Aquatics Center with a resort-style swimming pool, outdoor Cabana Bar, new dining venue Artisan with Sweet Shop, Member Lounge, Health & Wellness Fitness Center, Salon & Spa, Pilates Studio, Racquets & Lifestyle Shop, Member Lounge, Cultural Center, and Family Fun Center.

The Club also features premier Practice Grounds and '71 Golf Learning Center, along with three championship golf courses designed by Nicklaus Design and Rees Jones totaling 54 holes. Known for its superior member service and golf excellence, BallenIsles continues to invest in world-class amenities that support an active, resort-style lifestyle.

For more information visit svg]:relative [&>svg]:top-1 text-link hover:text-link-hover active:text-link-hover " target="_blank">www.BallenIsles.org

Media Contact:

Laren Fender
BallenIsles Country Club
Marketing Manager
561.625.5760
svg]:relative [&>svg]:top-1 text-link hover:text-link-hover active:text-link-hover " target="_blank">[email protected]