DH has purchased the golf membership. It's good for one year and I think it counts until the end of the month one year from when you purchase. For instance, if you purchase April 10, 2004 I think it is good until April 30, 2005. We usually try to get two trips on it. From the first part of May through October, the golf rates are only $35 with the card. That's when you really save. It goes up to $50 per round from November till about mid-January, then it goes up to $90. Dates of the three golfing seasons vary a few days each year. You also get a good discount on lessons. Don't forget about Celebration Golf Course. We haven't played it yet, but the rates are pretty good. Can't remember if it's tied to the card or not. We did not have any trouble at all making tee times. We usually went right at 10:00 or a few minutes after. Had lunch after our round and were in the parks around 4:00 or so.
Osprey Ridge and Eagle Pines are really great courses, as are the older Magnolia and Palm courses (where they play the professional tournament). Lake Buena Vista is a nice course, winds through OKW and the old empty Treehouse Villas, but it's quite a big tighter with narrow fairways. The Magnolia has the Mickey Mouse shaped sand trap. There's also a little 9-hole course. The Osprey Ridge course has turned Payne Stewart's locker into a small memorial. They have his clothes, etc. Replaced the wooden door with plexiglas. DH snuck me into the men's locker room when it was empty so I could see it.
We also played a course just south in Haines City. Too many houses around it to recommend it. But I would highly recommend Wild Woods or World Woods (or something like that). It was about an hour north-west of Orlando. Two great courses. No housing development. Just great golf courses at very reasonable rates. If you want more info on that I can ask DH later.
The great thing about WDW courses, is that they provide free transportation to and from the courses by way of taxi (that they pay for). They will also store your clubs for you.
