Golfing in Disney/Orlando

[DanenRox]

Gathering opinions for my husband and cousin, both average golfers who are looking for a nice course to play in September. They're not looking for the most challenging course as my husband likes to say, "every course is a challenge". Well-kept, reasonably priced, nearby LBV (staying on Disney property but have a car), user friendly, all-around nice experience. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. We are DVC members/AP holders and are glad for discounts but the boys will venture off-site if needed. Thank you.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I'm looking into the same thing....I found this site:

http://www.wdwgolf.com/

 

[Deb & Bill]

The one thing about golfing on a Disney course. If you are not a foursome, they will add others to your group to make it a foursome. If they don't want to golf with total strangers, they may want to golf elsewhere.

 

[Simba's Mom]

DH has played all 4 courses at WDW. Palm has got lots of water around, which might scare some people. LBV has somewhat tight fairways, what with the buildongs around. Osprey is just plain relatively challenging and usually the most expensive. But they're all in terrific shape and "nice" is an understatement.

 

[drusba]

It sounds like you will be at OKW or SSR. Either one puts you virtually next to Disney's Lake Buena Vista course, the easiest of the Disney courses. In fact the LBV pro shop is at SSR. In Sep, you can play after 10 for $59 per person per round and with AP you can get a discount for before 10 times that let's you play for about $73 a round (note you can get a slightly better discount by buying and using the DVC annual golf member card for $50 but it is really not worth it for that time of year when you already have AP unless you are going to play a huge number of rounds).

The Disney courses are neither overly difficult nor overly easy and average golfers are the ones usually playing them and they could also play any of the other three. Order of difficulty, higher to lower, for the average golfer is Osprey Ridge, Palm, Magnolia, LBV. Osprey is the most impressive course.

 

[TisBit]

We played at Magnolia, it was challenging compared to a lot of courses that I have played. The rough is much more difficult to hit out of compared to local (non-pga) style courses. I am glad that we played at Disney, was able to cross it off my "done that" list. I would play there again, it was nice and fun....but my friend had a rough time of it and ended up giving up on the back nine, LOL

The one thing about golfing on a Disney course. If you are not a foursome, they will add others to your group to make it a foursome. If they don't want to golf with total strangers, they may want to golf elsewhere.

We went in late June and were not paired up...it is hit or miss depending on how busy...but that is true for any golf course that I have ever played. We are usually paired up, unless it is not busy that day.

 

[skelooch]

I just played several rounds during Memorial Day week, I was a single and was paired up with 2 others for one round and with another single on two of the rounds. My playing partner quit after 9 holes one day after a rain delay, so I played the back nine of Osprey Ridge by myself and didn't see another golfer until I got to the eighteen hole. Played 9 holes in a little over an hour.

The rate using the DVC golf membership was $53.25 incl tax, for play after 10am.

There's a summer slice discounted rate of $59 plus tax ($62.83) for play after 10am from June 1 until Sept 30, if you don't have a DVC golf membership.
They also offer free club rentals for resort guests paying the full non-discounted rate of $89 plus tax ($94.79)

My preference of Disney courses are LBV (easiest), Osprey Ridge (most scenic), Palm (most water) and Magnolia (most difficult).

 

[DanenRox]

Thanks for all the responses. We booked at LBV golf course for September. I was surprised we couldn't use our AP discount unless we booked 14 days out. Can I keep this reservation and call to apply the discount 14 days before? Or is the AP discount really just for open tee times close to the date? A bit of a let down frankly. Also, everything I read online indicates the AP discount can apply to "up to 3 guests". The CM this morning told me it would only apply to the AP holder? Does this sound right?

 

[skelooch]

No I don't believe you can keep the same reservation when calling at 14 days out. It will be treated as a new reservation, it would defeat the purpose of the 14 day restriction for reservations if you could just change it at the 14 day mark.

The AP discount is indeed good for the passholder and up to three guests, the CM was obviously misinformed.

 

[TisBit]

Thanks for all the responses. We booked at LBV golf course for September. I was surprised we couldn't use our AP discount unless we booked 14 days out. Can I keep this reservation and call to apply the discount 14 days before? Or is the AP discount really just for open tee times close to the date? A bit of a let down frankly. Also, everything I read online indicates the AP discount can apply to "up to 3 guests". The CM this morning told me it would only apply to the AP holder? Does this sound right?

I did the same thing for our golf reservation and they actually did cancel and rebook it. Not sure if they were supposed to...I figured they would have checked for a new tee time, but the CM said no problem and we had the exact same tee time.

 

[Hunnypaw]

Gathering opinions for my husband and cousin, both average golfers who are looking for a nice course to play in September. They're not looking for the most challenging course as my husband likes to say, "every course is a challenge". Well-kept, reasonably priced, nearby LBV (staying on Disney property but have a car), user friendly, all-around nice experience. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. We are DVC members/AP holders and are glad for discounts but the boys will venture off-site if needed. Thank you.

I have played Osprey Ridge and Magnolia. Both are great and I hear the Palm course is wonderful as well. Only (minor) drawback at playing Magnolia (and most likely at the Palm course) is that you hear the cars racing on the the Richard Petty Driving experience. The car noise is not on every hole, but you do hear it. Regarless, I would play there again as a solo golfer getting paired up with other golfers. Fun times... I hope they play well!

 

[drusba]

As far as tee times go, it is usually easy to get something close to the time you want if calling 14 days out, and that will definitely be true for September. As noted above AP discount is good for AP holder plus up to three guests as long as they are playing in same foursome as AP holder.