The Golf Lover’s Guide to Doing Disney

Posted by: Laura May 13, 2022 Reading time: 9 minutes

Credit: Walt Disney World Golf

The Walt Disney World Resort is a place that has something for everyone. Whatever your unique interests may be, you’re bound to find fulfillment while visiting here, guaranteed. Even if going to the Parks, riding the rides, and taking to the admittedly more popular pursuits isn’t your thing, there is plenty in the way of alternative activities and recreational offerings awaiting you here as well.

If you happen to be an avid golfer, for instance, Disney will not disappoint. In fact, they boast four of the finest champion golf courses around, not to mention two excellent miniature golf offerings. And then there are all those extras that come in the way of lessons, promotional packages, and other delights. Are you looking for great ways to get your golfing on while visiting the Walt Disney World Resort? Here we are presenting you with this essential go-to golf lover’s guide to have on hand.

Related: 5 Reasons Why Disney World Is For Golfers

7. Disney’s Palm Golf Course

Originally designed by famed golf architect Joe Lee and now operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, Disney’s Palm Golf Course stands out as a palm tree-laden, wooded marvel to behold. Surrounded by an abundance of natural wonder and beauty, the course measures 5,213 yards from front, 6,339 from the middle and 6,870 from back. As an 18-hole championship golf course that’s been rated 4 stars from Golf Digest, players will find delightful challenges among several holes that even feature various water and sand hazards. Additionally, Disney’s Palm Golf Course was recognized among “America’s Top 75 Resort Courses.” What’s more, hole 18 has even earned the designation for being the fourth-toughest hole featured on the PGA Tour.

6. Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course

Measuring 5,127 yards from front tees, 6,558 from the middle, and 7,516 from the back, this heavily wooded wonder follows in a traditional Tour style format and is by far the longest of all golf courses at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, like Disney’s Palm, is an 18-hole champion golf course under the operation of Arnold Palmer Golf Management and too received a 4-star standing from Golf Digest. It also happens to be designated as a Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary by Audubon International. Of its grand total of 18 holes, there are quite a couple that boast water hazards. And while several of the final holes on the course come top-rated, it’s their hole 6 that is perhaps the most iconic—better known as the Mouse Trap for its iconic Mickey Mouse shape.

Related: Disney Experience to Close Indefinitely for “Major Renovation”

5. Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course

Another 18-hole professional golf course designed by Joe Lee, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista is done up in traditional Country Club style and spans a grand total of 5,177 yards from front tees, 6,281 from middle, and 6,745 from the back. As another representative of the bucolic beauty of nature, it likewise carries a certification for being a Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary by Audubon International. And for its impressiveness as a golf course, it follows suit in having been awarded 4 stars by Golf Digest. Another attribute worth noting is that Disney’s Lake Buena Vista has even played host to such professional events as the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and the USGA. Admittedly shorter and less challenging than other Arnold Palmer Management courses throughout Walt Disney World Resort, this is a place where beginners, like seasoned professionals, can truly shine.

4. Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course

Designed by renowned golf architect Ron Garl in a yard layout, Disney’s Oak Trail differs from the other Arnold Palmer Managed golf courses within the range of Walt Disney World Resort in a number of ways. Most notably is the fact that it features a 9-hole, par-36 walking course, making it a much more viable option for the entire family to come out and enjoy. It plays 2,532 yards from the front tees and 2,913 from the back, with the hole yardage ranging from 132 to 517 yards.

Driving home its family-centeredness, the course even features junior tees as well. What’s more, it even offers up what can debatably be called a more popular onsite alternative to traditional golf—FootGolf. A unique compilation of golf and soccer, FootGolf is admittedly one of Oak Trail’s defining callouts. Furthermore, their 18-hole FootGolf course is even certified by the American FootGolf League.

Related: Did You Know You Can Do These Things At Disney World?

3. Disney’s Fantasia Gardens

Enthusiasm for golf shouldn’t be limited to only spotlighting the more professional rankings within the Walt Disney World Resort range. Miniature golf also serves as a time-tested, family-friendly option with a proven success rate for bringing smiles to the faces of Guests looking for a relaxed, delightful outing. And what can be more delightful than one that follows suit with a theme that so perfectly reflects on the magic of Disney? That’s what you’ll find at Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf.

It goes without saying that the theme here is derived from Disney’s classic animated film Fantasia. Located within the EPCOT Resort Area, and conveniently within walking distance from the hotels in this range, Fantasia Gardens boasts 18 holes of interactive fun, including amusing themed obstacles directly inspired by the film. The adjacent 18-hole Fairway features all the makings of a more traditional golf course set in miniature format, with par-3 and par-5 holes ranging from 63 to 109 feet in length.

Related: Disney Miniature Golf 101 – Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland

2. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

Another jolly folly in the way of miniature golf can be found directly on-site within Disney’s own Blizzard Beach Water Park. A very “cool” place to be, what’s awesome about the theming here is that the course was supposedly designed by the one and only Santa Claus. Featuring two very different 18-hole options, one course—rightly called the Summer Course—features sand hazards whereas the designated Winter Course boasts “snow.” There’s also that mischievous spitting Squirty the Snowman to be on the lookout for along with many other fun, interactive props and obstacles sure to melt your heart!

Related: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon – 12 Things You Can’t Miss At Disney Water Parks

1. Great Golf Extras

Are you looking to get even more out of your serious golfing experience at Disney World? You may want to consider all the existing extras available to you. For instance, did you know that you can even sign up for private golf lessons with PGA professionals? Options range in a variety of offerings including 45-minute instructions, half-day and full-day golf schools, video analysis, group or one-on-one lessons, and on-course playing instruction. Click here to learn more about these and other offers.

Disney also presents special Sunrise 9 and Sunset 9 promotions available to sign up for. These allow golf enthusiasts a great way to either start the day or end on a sweet note by getting in 9 holes of some much-needed golfing. To learn more, visit their website.

Interested golfers who do not mind venturing off Disney premises a bit should also take note of the many other surrounding golf options throughout the greater Orlando area, including those at Disney’s own Good Neighbor Hotels.

Related: It’s not Just Princesses & Pirates – Rediscovering All That Disney Has to Offer Your Family!

Whether you are more of a mini golfer or you take to the sport in a more serious-minded sort of way, there are a number of ways to get your game on at Walt Disney World Resort. It doesn’t really matter how exactly you to take your tee, because with Disney you’re always guaranteed a “hole” lot of magic.

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