If you’ve seen or played the golf courses at Walt Disney World, you know they are amazing. Lush fairways. Pristine greens. And touches of Disney sprinkled all around the four courses, enough to remind you that you’re still at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
But, in particular, if you play the Magnolia course and get towards the end, you might start to feel a little…well, “grumpy.” That’s because four of the last five finishing holes have recently been beautifully redesigned and have affectionately been named “Grumpy’s Gauntlet.”
Those holes – No. 14, 15, 16 and 17 – really are stunning. Think white sand bunkers. Unblemished fairways. And tropical landscaping. If you’re like me, you’ll definitely want to snap a few selfies during that stretch of holes.
In addition to being esthetically-pleasing, though, “Grumpy’s Gauntlet” will also test your nerves and your skill. I mean, take the 15th hole for instance. It’s a whopping 597 yards from the back tee box. And No. 17 is a par 3 that plays more 200 yards.
But the new whimsical Disney touches that have been added to the Magnolia course go far beyond just those four holes. In fact, every hole on the course has a name related to a Disney movie and includes a quote from legendary golfer Arnold Palmer or Walt Disney himself. For instance, hole No. 6 is called “The Mouse Trap” and features Walt Disney’s famous quote “I hope we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.” Hole No. 15 is called “The Dinglehopper” in reference to the Disney movie The Little Mermaid with an Arnold Palmer quote that says, “It’s a funny thing; the more I practice, the luckier I get.”
And there is a cool, new 18-hole putting green at the course (It’s fondly called the “Greatest Green Ever Played”) that features a scorecard and hole locations that change almost daily. It’s both fun and challenging as a warmup before you tee off as well as a great option for the kids. The name pays homage to the biographical Walt Disney Pictures sports film, The Greatest Game Ever Played, which is based on the early life of amateur golf champion Francis Ouimet and his surprise victory at the 1913 U.S. Open.
In all, the putting green and the reimagined holes represent the most extensive redesign of the Magnolia course and the latest changes since 2015 when several enhancements were completed around the course, which is located across from the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
Now that all of that work is complete, it’s time to hit the links. Book your tee times at www.golfwdw.com.
See ya on the tee box!