Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. is the recipient of the 2022 United States Tennis Association’s Outstanding Facility Award. The award was presented to BallenIsles’ Tennis Director Gary Henderson at an August 16th award ceremony held at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Outstanding Facility Award recognizes BallenIsles Country Club’s exemplary tennis venue and commitment toward the growth and development of tennis in the community.
“It is an honor to receive the USTA Outstanding Facility Award in Cincinnati with John Woolward (BallenIsles’ tennis maintenance supervisor),” said BallenIsles Country Club Tennis Director Gary Henderson. “I’m delighted that we have been recognized for the outstanding work my team has put in to make BallenIsles a positive sporting experience. Thank you to the USTA, BallenIsles Board, Racquets Committee, Members and staff for all your support.”
The BallenIsles Racquet Facility includes a 65,000-square-foot Sports Complex that features 30 courts – 20 Har-Tru clay courts, including a stadium court that seats 500, nine permanent Pickleball courts and one hard court – as well as a full-service tennis shop for all tennis participants needs. The BallenIsles tennis programs feature year-round exhibitions, club tournaments and clinics for all ages. Directed by Henderson and his professional staff, both the avid player and the novice can count on an exceptional tennis experience. BallenIsles also has an excellent Junior Development Tennis Program led by former world ranked players Henderson and Andrei Daescu.
“On behalf of our Board, membership, and staff, we are very humbled and appreciative of the acknowledgment of the USTA,” said BallenIsles Country Club General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Walls. “BallenIsles has a rich history with our tennis program, one that we take pride in and one that we fully intend to build upon. While our facilities, both in scale, quality, and offering are as good as any you will find in the country, it is our programs and participants we are most proud of. From the high engagement and usage of our members, quality of our instruction, support of local organizations through tennis, or hosting various events and competitions for all skill levels. We are engaged in supporting the game and seeing we do our part to ensure its growth is positive and full of energy.”
In addition the USTA recognition, Club + Resort Business Magazine recently named the BallenIsles Racquet Facility one of the top ranked facilities in the country in a 2022 competition.
In May 2022, BallenIsles hosted the finals of the International Tennis Federation’s Seniors World Tennis Championships with the men’s and women’s division finals in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed played at the club. The ITF Seniors World Championships is the pinnacle of the ITF Seniors Tour, providing competitive opportunities on the world stage for players from the 30+-90+ age categories at both team and individual levels.
Photo Caption: 2022 USTA Outstanding Facility Award (from left to right) Todd Carlson USTA Director of Tennis Venue Services, John Woolward Tennis Maintenance Supervisor, and Gary Henderson Director of Tennis
ABOUT BALLENISLES COUNTRY CLUB:
In 1964 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 complex including an exhibition tennis court and nine pickleball courts; 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.
For more information visit www.BallenIsles.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Becky Collison
BallenIsles Country Club
Director of Marketing & Communication
561.249.5818
bcollison@Ballenisles.org
