At Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, the pro shop is full of fun Disney apparel and accessories. Staff efficiently arranges carts and practice balls for the unique driving range which requires carry over water. Let the fun begin.
The first hole is staged by a Venice like scene along a canal system with ferries tooting their departures and arrivals. The practice green is on one side and the Mickey face bunker of the ninth green across the other side.
The picturesque course designed in 1972 by Joe Lee kicked off the Golf Writers of America Association tournament in January. Billed as the Happiest Place on Turf, Disney’s Alex Forsyth and crew live up to the slogan.
After golf, we boarded the ferry from Lake Buena Vista Golf to Disney Springs.
Traversing through the canals, passing antique car vessels with the horns blowing conjured up one of Disney’s originals- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
The lights and action of Disney Springs drew us to shore.
We were careful to note the spot for returning because Disney Springs is HUGE and getting lost can be easy.
There are so many shops, kids’ fun stops, fine dining, and entertainment for all ages.
At Raglan Road Irish Pub, it’s dinner and a show as young Irish gals click their Celtic heels, dancing on stages.
Saturday nights are very busy with a two hour wait for a table at City Tours, but we found two counter stools along the outside bar, with the smell of the Smoke House and sound of music from the House of Blues across the way.
A steady stream of humanity walked by with some pausing to catch a play during the intense Jax/KC game shown on the tall screens inside.
People watching almost results in sensory overload. Make way for all nationalities in casual tees and occasional stilettos with triplet strollers and seniors’ walkers.
Killer fried appetizers were walked off by us on the long way back to the ferry point, laughing all the way. Best Disney day for golfers!
The second tourney round was played at Disney’s Palm Golf Course after a fun team competition on the 18-hole putting green course. The Palm Course lacks the canals and ferries, but natural waterways are home to wildlife. Turkey Trots were the theme of the day with flocks roaming everywhere. Deer pranced and on one tee box a wild baboon type sound from the thick brush had us all wondering about the source.
Disney’s Palm Golf Course was redesigned in 2015 and awarded Golf Inc. Magazine’s “Renovation of the Year”.
While Walt Disney was not a golfer, he had the expansive entertainment vision to include the sport with now four courses to play. Currently Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course is being renovated with a significant reimagination of all 18 greens and much of Magnolia’s closing stretch – holes 14 through 17. It will be fully re-opened to the public this year. Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, a nine-hole walking layout rounds out the course options.
Disney goes out of its way to make vacations as convenient as possible with complimentary transportation to courses from select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and free parking for golfers on their way to courses. The resort experience is literally tailor-made for travelers.
Golfers on the go can rent TaylorMade golf equipment (available for men and women in left- and right-handed sets) and Adidas golf shoes. Junior rental equipment is also available. Bring the family, friends or play solo while the rest are enjoying all the characters, Epcot, and many other facets of Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World Golf brings out the best character in all of us producing magical memories. Disney.com
Postscript – After our golf in Florida, we rendezvoused with friends and family and realized we didn’t have room in our rental car to transport all to the airport, so we worked with Ship Sticks for the first time. While they will pick up anywhere, it was easy to drop them off to the Daytona Beach Fedex across from the Speedway.
They printed the Ship Sticks labels for our Sun Mountain Club Glider bags, one placed in a box, one by itself and both made it intact with our clubs, shoes, and accessories to Arizona for pickup on the day we returned. www.shipsticks.com
