South at BallenIsles Country Club

The South Course at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens represents a collaboration between two prominent Florida golf architects, Dick Wilson and Joe Lee. Wilson, who passed away in 1965, left behind design plans that were later executed and refined by Lee, his former associate. This working relationship was common in Florida golf development during the 1960s and 1970s, and the South Course reflects the design principles both men championed: strategic bunkering, water hazards integrated into play, and greens that reward precise approach shots.

The course occupies rolling terrain unusual for South Florida, with elevation changes that provide natural drainage and create more dimensional shot values than the typical flat Florida layout. Water features appear throughout the routing, characteristic of Palm Beach County courses built during this era when developers incorporated lakes and canals both for aesthetics and practical water management. The design emphasizes accuracy over distance, with fairways that require thoughtful club selection and positioning to set up favorable angles into the greens.

BallenIsles operates as a private country club community with multiple courses serving its membership. The South Course functions as one of the club's championship layouts, hosting member competitions and club events throughout the year. The Palm Beach Gardens location places it within one of Florida's densest concentrations of golf facilities, where the subtropical climate permits year-round play. Conditioning standards remain high, consistent with the expectations of South Florida's private club market.