Disney’s Magnola Golf Course Renovation Nears Finish Line
A project that Walt Disney World Golf calls the most extensive renovation in 51 years is almost complete despite some delays.
Walt Disney World has three championship 18-hole golf courses and a 9-hole walking course that have been run by Arnold Palmer Golf Management since 2011.
Photo by Steve Gorches/MickeyBlog. This is the entrance of Shades of Green resort and the Magnolia, Palm and Oak Trail golf courses.
Disney’s Magnolia and Palm 18-hole courses are located next to the Shades of Green resort and across the street from Grand Floridian.
Two driving ranges, a large putting green, and the 9-hole Oak Trail walking course that also has FootGolf (a combination of soccer and golf) three days a week are also located there.
Photo by Steve Gorches/MickeyBlog. A turkey strolls by the Magnolia Golf Course pro shop with work being done on the course in the background.
This location is known for its extensive wildlife with deer and turkey roaming the courses, numerous species of birds and alligators, snakes and turtles in the water hazards.
The other 18-hole golf course on Disney property is Lake Buena Vista, which sits among three different resorts: Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and Port Orleans.
Photo by Steve Gorches/MickeyBlog. This Mickey Mouse golf cart sits in front of the Magnolia/Palm pro shop for a fun photo-op.
LBV’s pro shop sits below The Turf Club restaurant near one of the docks at Saratoga Springs where a boat can take you to Disney Springs.
You can also get a Boar’s Head sandwich at Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Café just before you get into your golf cart and head to the first tee. There’s also a Chip ‘n’ Dale’s at the Magnolia/Palm location.
Photo from golfwdw.com. The new lining of the golf holes at Magnolia Golf Course.
Magnolia has been undergoing a massive overhaul this year that includes redesigning all 18 greens and reimagining holes 14 through 17.
Completion of the arduous project should happen by January 1st, according to our sources, with supply chain issues and Hurricane Ian resulting in slight delays.
Originally, 15 of the holes would be done by November 1st with an option of opening at least 9 holes early. But sources say that first part will likely be done around mid-November, and a decision hasn’t been made on any partial opening.
Photo by Steve Gorches/MickeyBlog. Here’s the sign in the parking lot with Mickey welcoming you back to the links.
The planned changes to holes 14-17 are very extensive. Hole 14 changes from a par 5 to a par 4 with the green moving. No.15 goes from a par 3 to a long par 5 dogleg to the right.
The 16th hole remains a par 4 but has been moved and redesigned into a dogleg to the left. No. 17 shrinks from a par 4 to a long par 3 (215 yards from the back tee).
On Hole 6, Disney Golf’s trademark Mickey Mouse bunker got a facelift to return to its original grandeur.
Photo from golfwdw.com. This Mickey Mouse-shaped bunker sits on the 6th hole of Magnolia Golf Course.
Other renovations include replacing the practice green behind the pro shop and new Yamaha premium golf carts. The latter have USB charging ports and Bluetooth speakers so you can play music from your mobile device.
Photo by Steve Gorches/MickeyBlog. The new carts include Bluetooth so you can play music directly through the speakers from your mobile device.
Magnolia’s storied history
The late Joe Lee designed the three 18-hole courses that hosted the PGA Tour Walt Disney World Golf Classic. That tourney ran from WDW’s opening in 1971 through 2012 with several famous winners.
Photo: D23
In early years of the tournament, all three courses rotated for the first three days with the final round at Magnolia. In later years, the first two days played on Magnolia and Palm with Magnolia hosting the final two rounds.
Golf’s all-time major winner Jack Nicklaus won the first three WDW Classic titles (1971-73), while No. 2 in career majors, Tiger Woods, won the event twice. Tiger’s second career win came at Disney two weeks after his first win in 1996. He also won in 1999 with another hall of famer, Ernie Els, finishing runner-up.
Photo: PGA TOUR Archive
Speaking of PGA Tour major winners, two fairly recent major champions helped break ground on the project in June. Gary Woodland (2019 U.S. Open) and Sergio Garcia (2017 Masters) got a glimpse of some of Magnolia’s renovations first hand (see video below).
Here’s another historic tidbit that could stump your friends in a session of Disney trivia.
It’s ironic that Arnold Palmer Golf Management oversees the Disney golf courses. Palmer, a longtime Orlando resident who died in 2016, tried out the courses in 1971 before WDW’s Magic Kingdom officially opened.
Photo: GolfWDW.com
While playing Magnolia, he saw the famous Monorail in the distance going through testing before any guests ever arrived.
Palmer told the cast member with him on the golf course that it would be great to ride the Monorail. The cast member obliged, making Arnie the first non-cast member ever to ride the Monorail.
Photo: MickeyBlog
That story and more about Palmer’s key role in bringing the PGA Tour to Walt Disney World can be found on Disney Golf’s website where tee times can be booked and details on memberships can be found.
