Golf

[rentayenta]

DH wants to golf. I don't know a thing about the courses or fees or most importantly discounts. Do DVC members get a discount on golf? I recall reading that we do but that was years ago and I can't seem to locate the details. Do they rent clubs? With having to pay for bags now on most airlines, I can't imagine the fee for clubs on an airline. How far out can you make a tee time? Is it 180 like an ADR?


Thanks for any info.

 

[Pirate Granny]

There is an annual pass discount...but the DVC discount you have to purchase a $50 membership for a better deal. They do rent clubs, for a while there was a deal for free clubs, so you can call WDWGOLF to check...they will move your clubs from one course to another (meaning no clubs in your room). They do have a two round deal. Reservations are only 90 days out. Hubby goes three or four times in a one week visit. Was my original carrot to get him to Disney more often!!!!

 

[drusba]

Information on the DVC member golf discount can be found on the members site. Look for the the Member Benefits Handbook?

A DVC member can get a 25% discount for pre-10 a.m. times and 40% for post 10 times. The discount is off the resort guest rate and not the higher day (off-site) guest rates. How much the discount actually amounts too varies among seasons. The high price season is about mid-Jan to end of April, low season May thru Sep, and mid-season Oct to mid-Jan. Rates are published on-line at the Disney World site (google disney world golf).

To qualify for the discount, the member must purchase an annual DVC golf discount card for $50 plus tax. You purchase it at any of the pro shops at the courses. You can make tee times up to 90 days in advance and usually you can get what you want by calling about 30 days or more out, 1-800-WDW-GOLF. The member and up to 3 guests playing with the member get the discount. If you have less than four they automatically hook you up with others to try to make four.You can reserve DVC discount times before you get the DVC golf card.

Whether you should buy the card and get the discount depends. If you are only going to do a round a year, the discount won't make up for the cost of the card. Also, if all you are going to do is pre-10 times, you should check into the two day discount that is offered to any guests staying on site. You pay for two rounds at once and golf on different days. That discount is often very close to the DVC discount per round, making it the preference for pre-10 times many times of year because you don't have to buy any annual card to get it, but of course you have to play an even number of rounds (you can buy multiple two day discount passes).

There is a 30% discount if you have an AP but that is 30% off the day rate and thus is not as good as the 25% DVC discount but you don't have to buy any card in addition to your AP. You cannot combine any two different discounts such as DVC with AP when getting a time.

You can rent clubs but it was $45 for steel and $60 for graphite clubs per round sometime back and might be more now. If you fly Southwest, there is no additonal charge for clubs. I believe other airlines charge the same as they do for any bag and thus taking them with is likely to be cheaper than renting particularly if you play more than one round.

There are four 18 hole courses, Palm, Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista, and Osprey Ridge. There is also a 9-hole executive course, Oak Trails, which is walking only. All the courses are good. Osprey was by far the best but there so much construction going on around it right now that it has lost some of its luster; it is where the new Four Seasons resort will be. The Magnolia is the one used for the pro tournament held there in Nov. Lake Buena Vista, which runs through OKW and SSR, is the easiest of the four although none is overly easy or overly hard. If you do not have a car, free taxi rides are provided from and back to hotel, although you need to tip.

 

[keaster]

FYI, the DVC golf badge (or disount card), is now available for $25 instead of $50 from now until August 31st. Here's the info from the Member site:

Arnold Palmer Golf Management's high regard for frequent players has created special perks for Disney Vacation Club Members, including a limited-time 50% discount off the price of a Disney Vacation Club Golf Badge. Available for purchase from May 1 - August 31, 2012, for $25 instead of the usual $50, the Disney Vacation Club Golf Badge enables a Member and as many as three Guests to enjoy significant discounts on their rounds (25% off for tee times before 10 a.m. and 40% off for tee times at or after 10 a.m.) and club rentals ($30 instead of the usual $45). Call (407) WDW-GOLF (407-939-4653) to purchase.

For another perk, head to the recently reopened Sand Trap Restaurant at Disney's Osprey Ridge Course. This casual, course-side restaurant, which now features a new menu of sandwiches, burgers, wraps and salads, offers Disney Vacation Club Members a 20% discount on food (excludes alcohol and gratuity).

 

[drusba]

^That apparently was just announced and be aware of the following: if you are going during summer (which you would need to do to buy the discount card for $25), AND you intend to golf after 10 to take advantage of the 40% discount, think twice. The 40% is off the regular resort guest rate of $89 during the summer, making the cost per after 10 round about $54 with the DVC discount card. However, Disney has a price slice discounted rate that begins at 10 every morning during the summer under which any Diseney resort guest can play for $59 a round. In other words, that price slice discount is best for after ten rounds if you are going to play less than five rounds because you don't have to buy a DVC discount card to get it.

Also, if you are going to do pre-10 a.m. rounds during the summer and you need to rent clubs, it is actually better to pay the regular Disney rate of $89. The 25% DVC discount makes the per round price about $67, add $30 for clubs and you pay $97. However, Disney's summer promo for regular resort guests who pay that $89 per pre-ten round is that they get clubs and range balls for no extra charge.

 

[dvcbrad]

I highly suggest playing in the afternoon when twilight hours begin. I have done this a number of times (most recently at LBV in March), and have never not been able to finish a full 18. It's less crowded, and the prices are very reasonable. You didn't say where you're staying, but the LBV clubhouse is right at SSR, so if you're there or OKW, you can walk to the course. (or worse case if at OKW, take the boat to DTD and then the boat over to SSR.)

 

[Lucia_27]

We are new DVC members, and I'm trying to figure out the best deal for my DH for golf...

If he plays twice, before 10 am, it looks like the 2 Day Play deal is the best (not figuring tax):
2 Day Play = $140
DVC with Golf Badge = $158.50
-----$89 guest rate x 2 = $178, x .75 = $133.50, +$25 Golf Badge
Annual Pass discount = $145.60
-----$104 day rate x 2 = $208, x .70 = $145.60

If he plays once, it looks like the Annual Pass discount is the best:
DVC with Golf Badge = $91.75
-----$89 guest rate x .75 = $66.75, +$25 Golf Badge
Annual Pass discount = $72.80
-----$104 day rate x.70

(He doesn't need to rent clubs, as we drive).

 

[Simba's Mom]

You can reserve DVC discount times before you get the DVC golf card.


You can rent clubs but it was $45 for steel and $60 for graphite clubs per round sometime back and might be more now. If you fly Southwest, there is no additonal charge for clubs. I believe other airlines charge the same as they do for any bag and thus taking them with is likely to be cheaper than renting particularly if you play more than one round.

There are four 18 hole courses, Palm, Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista, and Osprey Ridge. There is also a 9-hole executive course, Oak Trails, which is walking only. All the courses are good. Osprey was by far the best but there so much construction going on around it right now that it has lost some of its luster; it is where the new Four Seasons resort will be. The Magnolia is the one used for the pro tournament held there in Nov. Lake Buena Vista, which runs through OKW and SSR, is the easiest of the four although none is overly easy or overly hard. If you do not have a car, free taxi rides are provided from and back to hotel, although you need to tip.

We were just at WDW 2 weeks ago, and DH golfed almost every day. I was surprised to see that, at least at that time, resort guests could rent golf clubs for free. DH brought his own clubs, and thanks to it being Southwest, we didn't pay, so he didn't test it out. However, he does have first-hand experience that yes, you can reserve tee times before you have the card. When we called for tee times, the CM just quoted us the price with the card, then DH paid for the card when he arrived. And not everyone would say LBV is easier (but agree that it may be a little less difficult). For one thing, because it's surrounded by buildings, some people find the fairways tight. Also, when we were there, overlooking the 6th hole, the majority of the golfers trying to hit the green ended up splashing their ball in the water.

 

[mouse]

We have used the free taxi service to the golf courses several times. Driver has always refused tip, saying tip was included. Maybe that policy has changed. My husband & I both play, so the DVC golf badge was a no brainer for us. When we flew US Airways in February of this year, our golf bags were considered over sized and the cost to fly them was ridiculously high, almost as much as our air fare. We left them home.

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks for all of the info. We'll be at the THV and AKV so I'm thinking he'll golf for sure when we're at THV and then maybe once more. Seems silly to golf once if he's going buy a discount card and/or haul his clubs there. We're United/Cont on the way home and they charge for bags. I need to check their fees to check clubs. We used a credit and found a really really cheap flight so even with bag fees SW couldn't touch it. I'm currently looking for outbound flights and think we'll end up with SW as I've got some miles to use.


I appreciate all of the insights. I'll show him this and he can decide what course and what time. He'll have to join another group. He's easy going, cool, hope he gets with a good group. Guess only a chick would worry about that though?!