When Walt Disney announced his secret Florida Project in 1965, golf was a focal point of the planning process. In fact, as he flew over what is now the Walt Disney World Resort, he sketched out the Magic Kingdom Theme Park, several hotels and golf courses, which all opened in 1971.
While Disney, a distinctive animator, film producer and entrepreneur, never lived to see his vision become reality — he died at age 65 in December 1966 — he was keenly aware that a world-class resort in the Sunshine State must include golf.
Joe Lee designed Disney’s Palm and Magnolia golf courses, as well as Disney’s Lake Buena Vista near Disney Springs, which opened a year later.
For more than four decades, Disney was on the PGA Tour schedule. Jack Nicklaus added a bit of gravitas to the event by winning back-to-back-to-back, 1971-1973. Tiger Woods won here in 1996 and 1998, along with a host of major winners that include Mark O’Meara, Davis Love III, Hal Sutton, Payne Stewart, Raymond Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Vijay Singh and David Duval. The tour moved to other pastures after 2012.
“Our world-class courses have hosted some of the biggest names in professional golf, and our amenities and team members ensure that all of our guests fully enjoy their experience, from bag drop to their final putt, every day of the year,” says Bruce Gerlander, general manager of Walt Disney World Golf.
There’s a wide variety of nearby lodging options such as Disney’s Grand Floridian and the Four Seasons on the higher end, to far more value-priced options, including the Wyndham and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista.
Dining experiences that will please most every palate abound at Disney Springs, which is a short walk from both Wyndham properties as well as Lee’s third masterpiece. Disney’s Lake Buena Vista course will undergo a major renovation in the coming months. This will include a complete greens overhaul and select bunker restorations as well as a state of the art irrigation system.
With 63 holes of golf — there is also the Oak Trail nine-hole course — available to guests there’s no shortage of opportunity for a varied play.
Walt Disney World Golf will soon unveil a life-size statue of Grumpy, of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” fame, and has launched a new merchandise line to celebrate the recent redesign of the Magnolia course, which features Grumpy’s Gauntlet. Situated next to the 14th tee box, players will be able to capture their golf experience by taking a photo with the beloved Disney character before facing the task ahead.
In 2013, Disney’s Palm layout was redesigned by Arnold Palmer Design Company. Last year, Disney’s Magnolia completed an extensive reimagination, including reshaping and contouring the greens, rebuilding all teeing grounds, and renovating the chipping and bunker areas around the greens and along the fairways. The signature addition was Grumpy’s Gauntlet, which features a redesign of holes 14 through 17. In the 1937 Disney classic, Grumpy says “Mark my words … there’s trouble a-brewin’.” Now we have an idea of what he meant.
In January, the National Golf Course Owners Association honored Walt Disney World Golf, which is operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, as the 2026 Resort Course of the Year.
“Walt Disney World Golf represents the pinnacle of resort-level golf experiences, setting a standard for service, design, and industry leadership,” said Cathy Harbin, president of the NGCOA Board of Directors. “The APGM team members at Walt Disney World Resort are passionate about our industry, delivering first-class experiences and inspiring others. It is a privilege to recognize their dedication to golf and highlight their achievements.”
With a touch of Disney whimsy, the resort has cleverly introduced an 18-hole putting course, “The Greatest Green Ever Played!” The name is a play on the biographical sports film, “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” released by Walt Disney Pictures and based on the early life of amateur golfer Francis Ouimet and his surprise victory at the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The course, adjacent to the first of Disney’s Magnolia, is open to all golfers who bring their own putters and balls. Also, reservations are not required.
“Our vision was to create something unique and enjoyable, and our guests are as pleased as we are with ‘The Greatest Green Ever Played!'” Gerlander adds.