WDW Daily News

From tee to green, guests can follow in the footsteps of Golf’s greatest legends or create a legend of their own. Walt Disney World Resort offers four award-winning golf courses and world-class facilities designed to create magical memories for groups from one to one thousand.

54 holes of challenging golf on three 18-hole championship courses — Disney’s Lake Buena Vista, Disney’s Magnolia and Disney’s Palm Golf Courses — and a 9-hole family-play course, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, await golfers of all ages and skill levels. Spectacular fairways and immaculate greens combine with Disney’s personal service and unmatched attention to detail to fulfill every golfer’s dream.

Operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, guests will find the Walt Disney World Resort Golf Courses are equipped with everything they need to play a great game while on vacation. Two pro shops feature an impressive selection of golf merchandise such as souvenirs, logo shirts, caps and towels, as well as premium golf clubs rentals for men and women in both right-and left-handed models, and junior clubs are on hand, too. Rental golf shoes are also available, and neither rental shoes nor clubs need to be reserved in advance.

Golf carts are included in guests’ greens fee and players are required to use golf carts at the three championship courses. Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course is recommended for guests who prefer to walk the entire course. For guests wanting to freshen up after playing a course, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Clubhouse features locker rooms and showers for no additional fee.

Here’s a closer look at each of the Walt Disney World Resort Golf Courses:

Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course

Built in 1972, this Joe Lee course stretches to 6,745 yards from the championship tees. Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is a tough challenge to many, offering small, well-bunkered greens that demand accurate shotmaking. This classic country-club style course winds through pastel villas, pine forests, palmettos and sparkling lakes.

Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course has hosted the PGA TOUR, the LPGA Tour and USGA events. Guests can test their skills and fortitude at the demanding 7th hole with its challenging island green. The course is located near Downtown Disney and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and is a par-72 course. The course also offers a driving range and practice putting green for guests looking to hone their skills.

Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course

As one of the two original Walt Disney World Resort Golf Courses, Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course opened in 1971 and immediately became home for a PGA TOUR event. In true PGA TOUR style, this beautifully manicured, par-72 course has all the earmarks of a golfer’s paradise: elevated tees and greens, rolling terrain, and a very special sand hazard on the sixth hole that forms the silhouette of Mickey Mouse.

The Joe Lee-designed course is aptly named for its more than 1,500 magnolia trees and is the longest of the Walt Disney World Resort Golf Courses with a yardage of 5,232 yards to 7,516 yards and is located near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Private lessons from PGA and LPGA professionals that include video analysis are available to guests at this course. Playing lessons, corporate and group lessons are also offered here.

Disney’s Palm Golf Course 

The natural beauty of Florida woodlands makes Disney’s Palm Golf Course not only a pleasure to play but also one of Walt Disney World Resort’s toughest. Built in 1971, this Joe Lee-designed course measures 7,015 yards from the back tees, 6,461 from the middle and 5,414 from the front and is located near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The par-72 course is rated 4 stars by Golf Digest and was completely redesigned by Arnold Palmer Course Design in 2013. The extensive work included building entirely new green complexes, newly shaped tees, and a completely new bunker design that has modernized this historic golf course. This 18-hole championship course features shimmering lakes, tropical sands, palm trees and sloping greens, providing plenty of challenges for novices and seasoned pros alike.

Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course

Tucked away on a 40-acre parcel of land at Walt Disney World Resort is the 9-hole, par-36 Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, providing beginners a place to learn the game and seasoned golfers a unique challenge. The family-play, par 36 layout measures 2,913 yards, 2,552 yards from the front tees, and features fairways lined with majestic oak trees.

Designed by Ron Garl, this walking course opened in 1980 and is located next to Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The rolling greens of this walking course boast exciting challenges for more experienced golfers, as well as junior tees for younger golfers.

Additional Courses at Walt Disney World Resort

In 2014, The Tranquilo Golf Club at the new Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort officially opened. The 18-hole championship course is par-71, with a yardage of 6,901 and four sets of tees to accommodate all skill levels. Originally built in 1992 and designed by Tom Fazio as Disney’s Osprey Ridge, Fazio re-designed the course for its launch as Tranquilo Golf Club. The stunning course pays homage to the resort’s Spanish Revival design and tranquil setting, featuring many Southern Live Oak trees with delicate Spanish moss. Family play is encouraged, and the course offers special golf carts that accommodate a family of four.

For more information about Tranquilo Golf Club and to reserve a Tee Time online, guests can visit TranquiloGolf.com or call (407) 313-6880.

Awards

• Gold Medal Golf Resort, presented by Golf Magazine
• Premier Golf Resorts 2014-2015: Silver Award by Golf Magazine 
• Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course was included in Florida’s Top 75 Golf Courses by Golf Digest (2015)
• Disney’s Lake Buena Vista, Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses have each been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest (2015)
• Gold Tee Award winner each year since 2002 presented by Meetings and Conventions

Recognition and Hosting

• Disney’s Lake Buena Vista, Disney’s Magnolia and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Courses have each been certified by Audubon International as a Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary
• Host to a PGA Tour event since 1971
• Host to a LPGA Tour event since 1995
• The Lake Buena Vista course is one of a select few courses in the country to host PGA TOUR, LPGA TOUR an USGA events in the same year (1996)

Fun Facts

• Chip Beck holds the record for the Walt Disney World Resort Disney Golf Courses with the lowest tournament score of 61.
• Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, Payne Stewart, and Mark O’Meara have all won PGA TOUR events on Walt Disney World Resort Golf Courses
• The Palm’s 18th hole has rated among the 10 toughest holes on the entire PGA Tour four times since 1986

For more information about any of the Walt Disney World Resort golf courses or to reserve a Tee Time, guests may call (407)WDW-GOLF (939-4653) or visit GolfWDW.com.

Decorated professional angler Shaw Grigsby visited Walt Disney World Resort in Florida recently to meet with Disney Fishing Guides. Naturally he did a little fishing while he was here. Grigsby has competed in more than 300 B.A.S.S. tournaments and totaled nearly 9,000 pounds-worth of catches in his career.

The Bassmaster Elite Series pro who is from Gainesville, Fla., shared his Top 5 tips for fishing with a family at Walt Disney World Resort:

1. Whenever you take kids fishing, make sure it is about their fishing day. Don’t make it a day about your fishing. I generally bring snacks, things to do, a small net, towels, bathing suits and lots of sunscreen. Point out any wildlife you see and talk about what you see and what is happening. Whenever I hook a fish, I let them reel the fish in and then help them land the fish, only if it is necessary. If the fish comes off, don’t make a big deal about losing it. Celebrate what the fish felt like and how exciting it was. Be open to what kids want to do and let them explore. My daughter would get bored with fishing and would dip a small net in the seaweed. She started catching seahorses and I never knew they were there! Remember their attention spans are much shorter than ours, so just make it fun and enjoy being outdoors.

2. Whenever you are fishing with kids, I highly recommend using a braided line. Braided lines have little to no stretch, which has a number of benefits. It is much easier to feel the bait’s movements and the fish strike. When kids set the hook with a braided line, they get a much better hook set and catch more fish. Braided lines are more durable and line twist does not affect them as much as with other lines. My choice is a lighter braid, 10-15 lbs. The diameter is so small it will not affect the number of strikes. If necessary, a fluorocarbon leader can be attached for use in ultra clear water or with finicky fish.

3. Walt Disney World Resort lakes are typical Florida vegetation lakes that lend themselves to fishing with weedless lures. I like to use soft plastic baits in a variety of techniques. The drop shot technique is one of the easiest techniques to catch a fish at Disney. It is simple for anyone to use, especially kids. I use a Trokar TK110 wide gap worm hook in a 1/0 size. After tying it on, I take the tag end (about 6-8 inches long) of the knot and run it back through the eye, pulling the knot slightly inside the hook eye. This allows the point to stand up. Generally, I use a 3/16-ounce drop shot weight attached to the tag end of the knot. The hook can be rigged with a variety of soft plastics, as long as it is rigged weedless. My first choice for the Disney lakes would be a 6-inch Finesse worm in a watermelon red color in the clearer water and junebug in the stained water. The great thing about the rig is that there is no bad way to fish it. Just throw it out and drag it around. Because of the small, light, wire hook, you can get hooked up very easily.

4. The Walt Disney World Resort lakes are tremendous top water lakes. Whether you are using the walk the dog type, a hollow body frog, a soft plastic toad, poppers, propeller baits or buzzbaits, they all are very effective and extremely exciting. I like to throw all of these on braided line because it is strong, but more importantly, it floats and it has great hooksets. The braid will also give you longer casts, which is important in a clearer water situation. One thing to remember with the traditional top water is off time. Walk or pop the bait three or four times and then let it sit five to fifteen seconds, then start working it again. That off time, especially in Florida, is when a fish will strike. With the buzzbaits and toads, it is a constant movement but adds a few brief twitches. With all top water baits, hesitate slightly before you set the hook. Generally, less than a second of hesitation will allow the fish to get the bait in its mouth before you set the hook.

5. Being able to feel a fish strike a bait will make a huge difference in your fishing success. It is important to be able to feel the movement of the bait during the retrieve. When a fish strike occurs, you may feel the movement or maybe a total lack of movement. A lack of movement will occur when the fish gets the bait and swims toward you causing slack in the line. The only clue you may have when a fish strikes and swims toward you is that you don’t feel the bait as you normally would during the retrieve. Learn the way your bait feels on the first cast or two. When that feel changes, you may have a strike. There are a couple of ways to increase your sensitivity. First is to hold the rod gently but securely. If you hold the rod tightly it is harder for any movement to be transmitted through the rod. Second is to get direct line contact. With a bait caster it is easy – simply hold the reel in your palm and place your index finger in front of the reel where the line can touch your finger. A spinning reel is a little harder; when you are fishing a soft plastic or something with a slow retrieve, pick up the line with your index finger so that it runs over your finger as you retrieve the bait. Gaining a little sensitivity will allow you to catch more fish and make your day more fun.