By now, you probably know that this year Walt Disney World is celebrating its 50th anniversary, so as a newly minted golf writer, I made the 50-minute drive from my home in The Villages to Orlando to play the four Disney golf courses.
First, this road trip is shaping up as one of my favorite golf assignments since Disney Golf fondly refers to itself as the “Happiest Place on Turf.”
Someone has to be ready, willing and able to share their golf travel experiences and write about interesting golf course destinations, so it may as well be me. Now, let’s look at each of the four courses: Disney’s Magnolia, Palm, Lake Buena Vista, and Oak Trail golf courses.
As one of the two original Walt Disney World Resort golf courses, Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course opened in 1971. This beautifully manicured, par-72 course has all the earmarks of a golfer’s paradise featuring elevated tees and greens, rolling terrain, and a popular Mickey Mouse-shaped sand hazard on the 6th hole. This Joe Lee-designed course is aptly named for its more than 1,500 magnolia trees. With tee boxes ranging from 5,127 to 7,516 yards.
It’s definitely Disney’s longest course, but that’s what it was designed to be. You need to choose the right tee box to work from if you want to enjoy your day and keep your final score respectable. The key here is understanding that some courses will challenge the very best, and this is one of them!
Tucked away on a 40-acre parcel of land, Disney’s 9-hole par-36 Oak Trail Golf Course provides beginners a place to learn the game and seasoned golfers a unique challenge. This family-friendly layout measures 2,913 yards (2,552 yards from the front tees) and features fairways lined with majestic oak trees. More
