Goofyish
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 10, 1999
- Messages
- 8,541
** Saturday Spotlight focuses on Golf **
Disney has a selection of excellent golf choices for visitors to the area. For anyone coming in the summer and looking to play a few times they also are currently offing a summer long pass that is all your golf for $149 this is from May to Mid September. There are a few restrictions about tee times, which I believe is after 10.00 but for serious golfers who are planning to play more than 4 times this is an excellent offer, particularly as Disney has 5 championship courses to choose from as well as a 9 hole walking course. Like most Florida courses all the championship courses require you to have a golf buggy, for those lunatics that want to walk 18 holes in the Floridian heat they do offer a reduced replay rate on the 9 hole walking course.
Oak Trail is the 9 hole walking course and this is an excellent choice for anyone looking to get some cheap practice in before taking on one of the championship courses, while it is a mix of par 3,4+5 holes the holes are generally shorter than the other courses. Its function really is to offer those people who are non regular golfers, want to take their kids or non-regular golfing partners out for a round at Disney. Most kids would find the championship courses too long a trip and too difficult for them to get much enjoyment out of. While the holes are relatively short and not too punishing for errant shots, its still a decent test of golf for a good golfer and the greens are usually in surprisingly good shape considering the use it gets. Because of the client base it can occasionally get quite slow, but most people remember when they were kids/beginners starting playing the game and are understanding of the delays. It is wise to allow 2 ½ hours for the nine holes if you are on a schedule. For anyone wanting a game with their family who are not regular golfers I would strongly recommend the Legends Walk course at Orange Lake Resort just a few miles away along the 192. This is a walking 9 holes all par 3 course that offers a real challenge from the back tees , while giving non-regular golfers a chance to compete from the much shorter front tees.
Lake Buena Vista , I believe was the first Disney course and original home of the Walt Disney Classic pro tournament. It is a very pretty course that winds through the Old Key West resort and parts of Saratoga Springs, you can also see the remains of the tree houses that were part of the Disney Institute. Having driven past the course a few times recently it looks in absolutely stunning condition. This is one of the shorter WDW courses, but is also the tightest. This course is probably the best choice for an accurate ( but not overly long hitter) golfer whos playing against someone who hits the ball further but misses a few fairways. Miss the fairways on this course and you stand to get heavily punished. This is very much a personal thing, but if given the choice I prefer to play a course thats not in between buildings/developments, even one as attractive as LBV , for that reason its the WDW course I play least often, but having seen how well manicured it looks recently I may have to break that tradition and give it another go soon.
Palm and Magnolia share a clubhouse (with Oak Trail) and to me the courses are fairly similar. Previously they shared the WDW Pro-Am golf tournament with LBV, but I think they alone now host that televised event and its always nice to see the pros play a course youve been on. Both courses are reasonably long, have quite a few forced carries over water, are reasonably forgiving for occasionally errant shorts and will test a good golfer, while still remaining enjoyable for a high handicapper. With the exception of around the Pro-Am the rough is not too deep, the trees are not that abundant and the greens are kept at a friendly pace for normal golfers. Both courses are a pleasure to play.
Eagle Pines earns its name from 1) the birds you often see about the course and 2) from the many large scrubby semi bunker areas that you need to clear from the tee that are filled with pine needles from the many pine trees on the course. This stuff is an absolute rascal ( the bad language checker wouldnt let me put what I really think about the pine scrub LOL ) to get out of if you top your tee shots into it. For that reason I would strongly recommend that anyone who has the habit of topping their tee shots or who hit worm burners off the tee should avoid this particular course (obviously if youre playing for the beers against anyone with that habit this is an excellent choice of course
) On occasions you have 150 yards of this stuff to clear and it is almost impossible to get the ball out more than 100 yards, spending a couple of shots just to get to the fairway with any regularity is going to be a frustrating experience. However the course compensates the long hitter with some generous fairways, so its a great choice if youre a long hitter who is occasionally a little off target. The facilities are absolutely first rate and it has a very impressive looking clubhouse which it shares with
Osprey Ridge , my favorite course on WDW, nicely laid out , generous fairways , quite a lot of water , LOADS of wildlife on the course ( deer, gators, birds). After the 2nd hole the cart path takes you over a wildlife preserve and you dont see another building ( other than restrooms) until you see the clubhouse from the 18th . I was a little disappointed yesterday as the course was looking a little beaten up, but I guess that is excusable as it is closed from today for repairs. I can understand why the green keepers would have not concentrated their efforts on a course that is going to get their attention from today, but Id have been more than a little upset had I been paying full price ( $160) for a round yesterday morning, the course was not in a condition that warranted that price. However, taking into account the many other times I have played the course when it was in pristine shape, I think it is unfair to judge it harshly on one outing. It is a beautiful course to play when it is in its normal condition and I love the fact its so easy to forget you are in the middle of one of the busiest places on earth.
Other great courses in the area that I would recommend are Orange County National , Falcons Fire and Southern Dunes ( these three are fairly pricey, but all are stunning courses to play) , for a cheaper round but still nice courses are Ridgewood Lakes and Highlands Preserve (both off I 27) . Finally if you dont mind traveling a little I would also recommend , Deer Island, Stoney Gate ( Solivita ) course in Poinciana and Diamond Back in Haines City , Diamond back in particular is an absolute gem of a course and because its a little way out (30-40 minutes from WDW and a little tricky to find) it is outstanding value and not overly used mid week.
Vernon
Disney has a selection of excellent golf choices for visitors to the area. For anyone coming in the summer and looking to play a few times they also are currently offing a summer long pass that is all your golf for $149 this is from May to Mid September. There are a few restrictions about tee times, which I believe is after 10.00 but for serious golfers who are planning to play more than 4 times this is an excellent offer, particularly as Disney has 5 championship courses to choose from as well as a 9 hole walking course. Like most Florida courses all the championship courses require you to have a golf buggy, for those lunatics that want to walk 18 holes in the Floridian heat they do offer a reduced replay rate on the 9 hole walking course.
Oak Trail is the 9 hole walking course and this is an excellent choice for anyone looking to get some cheap practice in before taking on one of the championship courses, while it is a mix of par 3,4+5 holes the holes are generally shorter than the other courses. Its function really is to offer those people who are non regular golfers, want to take their kids or non-regular golfing partners out for a round at Disney. Most kids would find the championship courses too long a trip and too difficult for them to get much enjoyment out of. While the holes are relatively short and not too punishing for errant shots, its still a decent test of golf for a good golfer and the greens are usually in surprisingly good shape considering the use it gets. Because of the client base it can occasionally get quite slow, but most people remember when they were kids/beginners starting playing the game and are understanding of the delays. It is wise to allow 2 ½ hours for the nine holes if you are on a schedule. For anyone wanting a game with their family who are not regular golfers I would strongly recommend the Legends Walk course at Orange Lake Resort just a few miles away along the 192. This is a walking 9 holes all par 3 course that offers a real challenge from the back tees , while giving non-regular golfers a chance to compete from the much shorter front tees.
Lake Buena Vista , I believe was the first Disney course and original home of the Walt Disney Classic pro tournament. It is a very pretty course that winds through the Old Key West resort and parts of Saratoga Springs, you can also see the remains of the tree houses that were part of the Disney Institute. Having driven past the course a few times recently it looks in absolutely stunning condition. This is one of the shorter WDW courses, but is also the tightest. This course is probably the best choice for an accurate ( but not overly long hitter) golfer whos playing against someone who hits the ball further but misses a few fairways. Miss the fairways on this course and you stand to get heavily punished. This is very much a personal thing, but if given the choice I prefer to play a course thats not in between buildings/developments, even one as attractive as LBV , for that reason its the WDW course I play least often, but having seen how well manicured it looks recently I may have to break that tradition and give it another go soon.
Palm and Magnolia share a clubhouse (with Oak Trail) and to me the courses are fairly similar. Previously they shared the WDW Pro-Am golf tournament with LBV, but I think they alone now host that televised event and its always nice to see the pros play a course youve been on. Both courses are reasonably long, have quite a few forced carries over water, are reasonably forgiving for occasionally errant shorts and will test a good golfer, while still remaining enjoyable for a high handicapper. With the exception of around the Pro-Am the rough is not too deep, the trees are not that abundant and the greens are kept at a friendly pace for normal golfers. Both courses are a pleasure to play.
Eagle Pines earns its name from 1) the birds you often see about the course and 2) from the many large scrubby semi bunker areas that you need to clear from the tee that are filled with pine needles from the many pine trees on the course. This stuff is an absolute rascal ( the bad language checker wouldnt let me put what I really think about the pine scrub LOL ) to get out of if you top your tee shots into it. For that reason I would strongly recommend that anyone who has the habit of topping their tee shots or who hit worm burners off the tee should avoid this particular course (obviously if youre playing for the beers against anyone with that habit this is an excellent choice of course
) On occasions you have 150 yards of this stuff to clear and it is almost impossible to get the ball out more than 100 yards, spending a couple of shots just to get to the fairway with any regularity is going to be a frustrating experience. However the course compensates the long hitter with some generous fairways, so its a great choice if youre a long hitter who is occasionally a little off target. The facilities are absolutely first rate and it has a very impressive looking clubhouse which it shares with Osprey Ridge , my favorite course on WDW, nicely laid out , generous fairways , quite a lot of water , LOADS of wildlife on the course ( deer, gators, birds). After the 2nd hole the cart path takes you over a wildlife preserve and you dont see another building ( other than restrooms) until you see the clubhouse from the 18th . I was a little disappointed yesterday as the course was looking a little beaten up, but I guess that is excusable as it is closed from today for repairs. I can understand why the green keepers would have not concentrated their efforts on a course that is going to get their attention from today, but Id have been more than a little upset had I been paying full price ( $160) for a round yesterday morning, the course was not in a condition that warranted that price. However, taking into account the many other times I have played the course when it was in pristine shape, I think it is unfair to judge it harshly on one outing. It is a beautiful course to play when it is in its normal condition and I love the fact its so easy to forget you are in the middle of one of the busiest places on earth.
Other great courses in the area that I would recommend are Orange County National , Falcons Fire and Southern Dunes ( these three are fairly pricey, but all are stunning courses to play) , for a cheaper round but still nice courses are Ridgewood Lakes and Highlands Preserve (both off I 27) . Finally if you dont mind traveling a little I would also recommend , Deer Island, Stoney Gate ( Solivita ) course in Poinciana and Diamond Back in Haines City , Diamond back in particular is an absolute gem of a course and because its a little way out (30-40 minutes from WDW and a little tricky to find) it is outstanding value and not overly used mid week.
Vernon
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