There’s more to Walt Disney World than theme park parades, fireworks, and character meet and greets. What else is there, you ask? How about luxurious spas, five-star dining and shopping at unique boutiques? Today on the blog, we’re talking about something else people don’t normally associate with Walt Disney World - the sport of golf. Katie Young, Beyond Imagination Vacations travel planner, schools us on the basics of golf at Disney World and shares her recent experience teeing up at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.
Walt Disney World Resort is home to four championship golf courses. Disney’s Palm, Magnolia and Oak Trail Courses are located at the Shades of Green Resort (exclusively for military members and their families), while Saratoga Springs Resort is home to Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. You don’t have to be a hotel guest at one of these resorts to enjoy the courses. In fact, you don’t even have to be visiting Walt Disney World to play the courses. Additionally, there are different rates for play based on whether you’re a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, Florida Resident, Theme Park Pass Holder or golf course Day Guest, for example.
Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, the courses offer superlative design, impeccable service, world-class amenities and overall playability. In fact, the Palm, Magnolia and Lake Buena Vista have been rated four stars by Golf Digest, and are 18-hole courses. The Oak Trail is a nine-hole, walking course featuring junior tees for younger golfers. Tee times can be booked in advance online at golfwdw.com or by calling 407-WDW-GOLF.
In addition to play, the courses have private and group instruction led by PGA professionals. Lessons range from 45-minute tutorials to half- and full-day workshops with video swing analysis and custom club fitting opportunity. Junior golfers looking to step up their game can enroll in four-week clinics - ideal for those of us lucky enough to visit Disney World for that long, or Orlando residents.
Light packers - don’t worry about traveling with your golf gear. Clubs and shoes are available for rental at each of the four golf courses. If you prefer to play with your own equipment, Disney partners with Ship Sticks which picks up golf gear from your home or office and delivers to the golf course of your choice at reduced fees. Ship Sticks will also deliver your golf gear back to its original destination.
Now to Katie’s personal experience at Lake Buena Vista Golf Course: “My husband Shane and our friend, Michael, played at Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course on our last trip. The course was challenging but not overly difficult to where the average golfer couldn’t play. The course is immaculate, and you can see the golfers from many spots around the resort. Both Michael and Shane did have some difficultly with the Bermuda grass that makes up the rough.
Although Michael and Shane were a team of two, Disney paired them up with another team of two in order to make a foursome - like at other courses. The golf carts are equipped with GPS and will tell you how far the flag is from your current location. While on the course a refreshment cart will occasionally come around along with a pacer. The refreshment cart offers soft drinks, coffee, beer and cocktails along with breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The pacer is a person who will tell you if you are playing a little too slow and will encourage you to speed up your play.
Shane was lucky enough to encounter a Magical Moment while on the golf course! Disney digs a new hole each day for hole nine, and Shane was selected before play began to pick that day’s hole nine pin location. Shane and Michael both immensely enjoyed their golf experience and plan to make it to the other three courses on property.”
Shane and Michael on that day’s hole nine, selected by Shane himself
If you are an avid golfer, experiencing one, if not all, of the Disney courses is a must, and might be the signature reason why you plan your next trip to Walt Disney World. Perfect for bachelor/bachelorette parties or family reunions. For the golf hobbyist, a day at one of the four Disney courses might be a great way to spend a non-park day. And if you don’t want to commit a half-day to golf (because you want to chill at the pool too), Disney offers sunrise and sunset nine-hole golf play.
To book your golf vacation at Walt Disney World, contact Beyond Imagination Vacations’ resident golf expert, Katie Young, at Katie@beyondimaginationvacations.com.