Disney Golf

[JamieUK]

I'm going to Disney World on 14th December, and have booked Osprey Ridge GC at Bonnet Creek.

I'm wondering, have I made a wise decision in booking that course? I am a golf lover, and as there is 5 good courses, I want to make sure i've chose one of the best, if not the best. I've read reviews where people say it's very picturesque and difficult.

And info on Osprey Ridge, views or pictures would be much obliged!

 

[kylie]

I have some Pictures of Eagle pines and Lake Bunea Vista in this album

http://www.snapfish.co.uk/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=30782974/t_=27008714

I do not know if I can share this by simply pasting the link. If it does not work PM me your E-mail address and I will send you an invite.

Eagle Pines and OR share a clubhouse/car park. While I have yet to play OR the starter told me in July that it was better to play EP as there where more trees and shelter from the Sun (it was 4pm in misd summer). I am a happy hacker so any course with trees is a challenge!!!

EP and OR have the GPS system LBV does not have it yet.

 

[disneyholic family]

The Palm and the Magnolia courses (which are located across from the Polynesian resort - near Shades of Green), are both on the PGA tour....so i guess that must say something about them.

These are the descriptions i have of the various courses at WDW:

Palm & Magnolia - (both designed by Joe Lee)
The wide open, tree dotted <B>Magnolia</B> measures 5,232 yards from the front tees, 6,642 from the middle and 7,190 from the back.
The <B>Palm</B> is tighter , with more wooded fairways and nine water hazards; it measures 5,311 yards from the front, 6,461 from the middle and 6,957 from the back.
Both courses have received a four star ("outstanding") rating from Golf Digest magazine.
The Magnolia and the Palm share two driving ranges and two putting greens.

<B>Oak Trail</B> -
this nine hole, 2,913 yard layout, walking course tucked into a corner of the Magnolia, was designed for beginners and junior golfers, but has some tough holes including 2 par fives.

Osprey Ridge & Eagle Pines -
These two par 72 courses play from the Bonnet Creek Golf Club.
The Tom Fazio designed <B>Osprey Ridge</B> measures 5,402 yards from the front tees, 6,680 from the middle, and 7,101 from the back. It takes guests into remote areas of WDW property as it winds through wooded landscape near Fort Wilderness. Dramatic contouring puts some tees 20 to 25 feet above the basic grade.
In contrast, the Pete Dye designed <B>Eagle Pines</B> is a low-profile layout. It plays 4,838 yards from the front tees, 6,309 from the middle and 6,772 from the pro tees. Many fairways are bordered by scrub and pine needles; water comes into play as well.
Osprey Ridge and Eagle pines share a driving range and a putting green.

<B>Lake Buena Vista</B> -
This Joe Lee design measures 5,194 yards from the front tees, 6,268 from the middle and 6,819 from the rearmost markers. Among the shortest of the 18 hole, par 72 courses, it has a fair amount of water and its tree lined fairways are Disney's narrowest. The course is well suited for beginners but challenges experienced players. A driving range and putting green are available.

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Depending on the tee from which a golfer plays, Disney courses will prove challenging and/or fun, and all are constructed to be especially forgiving for the midhandicap player.

 

[Goofyish]

Jamie, have you got an Annual Pass for WDW?

If not, it may be worth getting one for the golf discounts:

"Golf: Slice 30% off Day Visitor Rates for the Passholder and up to three guests in the party. The discount is available on Day Visitor Rates for play anytime of day. Discounts cannot be applied to any other discount or special rate including, but not limited to, Twilight Rates. Tee times at this rate are limited and may be made up to 14 days in advance by calling (407) WDW-GOLF (939-4653). Advance reservations required. "

 

[disneyholic family]

you've probably already seen this desription from golfcourse.com:

The Osprey Ridge Course is a Tom Fazio links-style design. "Golf Digest" rated this course as the 7th "Best Public Course" in the state for 1996. It was built on rolling terrain and features high-mounded greens that will challenge most players. One of the goals in the building of this course was to change as little of the natural vegetation as possible. You will find oak forests and dense vegetation throughout its entire design.

 

[disneyholic family]

i just found another very interesting review of osprey ridge written by Alan B. Nichols at this site: http://www.golftravelreviews.com/reviews/fl-orlando-dailyfee.html

OSPREY RIDGE: The newest Disney course, Osprey Ridge, opened in 1996 and designed by Tom Fazio. I am a diehard Fazio fan. I think he is THE best designer and I have played a dozen of his courses around the country. I would put Osprey Ridge right up there among his best.

Fazio is the Deacon of Dirt. He can sculpt some masterpieces out of the most pedestrian sites. As with Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, he turned a flat, undistinguished site within the Disney property into a layout that looks like it should be in the mountains. With upwards of a million tons of earth which he dug up to create some half dozen lakes around the course, he has created dramatic elevations and fashioned some of the most memorable holes marked by ridges and high mounds, waste bunkers bordered by tall native grasses, and wide-sweeping fairways that offer spectacular views of old pine forests. These features give Osprey Ridge a pristine look and feel that makes you think you are miles from civilization, yet The Magic Kingdom and all the other resort attractions are literally a few miles away. The course was renamed Osprey Ridge from its original title after Ospreys began nesting in the six nesting platforms installed around the course. The birds are just a few of the wildlife species seen on the site.

After a strong front 9 featuring a terrific downhill par 3 and the half-moon shaped dogleg right par 5 9th around a lake, the course seems to pick up momentum, as each magnificent hole gives way to the next. Nos. 16-18 are the best three finishing holes I have ever played. They include the par 5 16th, a 542-yard dogleg left around a lake from a well bunkered, sloped green elevated some 12 feet above the fairway. The drive from an elevated tee over water on the 216-yard 17th to a mounded green makes this hole as challenging as it is majestic, and the 454-yard 18th dogleg right around still another lake is reminiscent of Pete Dye's classic finishing holes.

Osprey Ridge is a genuine Tour caliber course, yet it is not laid out to accommodate huge crowds. There is only one access point to 14 of the holes -- a wooden bridge through dense forest.

 

[homerdog]

Osprey Ridge is fantastic, definitely the best Disney course IMO

Other courses that you might like to try out are Panther Lake and Pine Barrens (about 25 minutes and hour and a half from Disney respectively).

Here's 3 pictures taken at OR last October. Excuse the swing

 

[Goofyish]

Is that the only 'Eagle' you managed to get Homerdog? LOL

 

[homerdog]

Is that the only 'Eagle' you managed to get Homerdog? LOL

Actually, I did eagle the dogleg right par 5 ninth the first time I played it in 1996

Driver, then 3 wood across the lake to about 6". About as close as I'm ever likely to come to getting the rarest bird of all, an Albatross. The group in front said it ran over the edge of the hole. D'oh!

 

[JamieUK]

Thanks for the pics! Did you get anymore? They're great.

I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[tim june and sam]

Posted in LOL-sort-of-way......We went to Fantasia Gardens on trip earlier this month.

I am a keen golfer, but only a notch above Hacker category, DW & DS hate it (hence only went for fun game) and have to say that I was astounded by the quality of that place.

They have a genuine "crazy-golf" course themed on Fantasia plus a challenging "putting" course.

Whilst the latter is all artificial turf, it is superbly laid out (sand traps, trees, dog-legs, etc.), very good looking and worthy of any proper golfer's visit for an hour with the family. Cost c.$10 each, highly recommended.

 

[disneyholic family]

i just came back to see when you're scheduled to be there....lucky you...december...
every year we promise ourselves that we'll try a round, but it is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hot (in the summer) that even the thought of it has us sweating...

 

[homerdog]

Did you get anymore?

5th hole

7th hole

9th hole

16th hole

 

[kylie]

I am a keen golfer, but only a notch above Hacker category,

Thats my target .... to be a notch above hacker

 

[UKDEB]

Nice photos, Homerdog. Pity about that fat geezer who seemed to find his way into every shot. I've heard Photoshop Elements is good for removing annoying blemishes!

 

[homerdog]

I'm not fat, I'm seasonably plump

Now where's my cheesy poofs?

 

[homerdog]

UKDeb & Matt at the golf course

 

[JamieUK]

Great photos once again!