Disney's Magnolia Golf Course

Disney's Magnolia Golf Course opened on October 1, 1971 — the same day Walt Disney World itself welcomed its first guests. Designed by Joe Lee in classic Florida championship style, the Magnolia was conceived as the resort's marquee course: the longest layout in the Disney golf portfolio at 7,516 yards from the championship tees, with 97 bunkers and water hazards on 11 of its 18 holes.

The course became the permanent home of the PGA Tour's Walt Disney World event, hosting the final round of the tournament for 42 consecutive years from 1971 to 2012. Prize money grew from $30,000 for the inaugural winner to $846,000 by the event's final year. Jack Nicklaus won three consecutive titles here (1971-1973), and Tiger Woods captured victories in 1996 and 1999. Other champions included Payne Stewart, Larry Nelson, Davis Love III, and Justin Leonard. The course also served as a PGA Tour Qualifying School finals venue into the early 1980s and hosted the Senior PGA Championship from 1975 to 1979, with winners including Charlie Sifford and Julius Boros.

In 2022, a major redesign led by Ken Baker of One Club Limited began the most extensive transformation in the course's history. Four holes — Nos. 14, 15, 16, and 17 — were completely reimagined with innovative layouts and landscaping in a stretch now branded "Grumpy's Gauntlet." The project also included new greens, renovated fairways and greenside bunkers, a new cart bridge connecting holes 16 and 17, and Disney-themed names for all 18 holes. The full renovation was completed in early 2025.

Disney's Magnolia is a big, demanding Florida championship course that plays long at 7,516 yards from the tips with a slope of 141. Water comes into play on 11 of 18 holes, and the 97 bunkers — including the famous Mickey Mouse silhouette on the 6th — keep you honest throughout. The layout is lined with magnolia trees, pines, palms, and cypresses, and the flat Florida terrain is punctuated by enough shaping to create visual interest.

The recently completed renovation adds a modern dimension. The four reimagined holes of Grumpy's Gauntlet (14-17) bring waste bunkers, undulating greens, and strategic water into the closing stretch, creating one of the most demanding finishes in Central Florida. Each hole now carries a Disney-themed name, and golfers who survive the Gauntlet can download a personalized certificate celebrating their perseverance.

The resort atmosphere is family-friendly and welcoming. Arnold Palmer Golf Management operates the facility, and the experience includes GPS-equipped carts, a well-stocked pro shop, and the Champions Pavilion documenting four decades of PGA Tour history at the venue.

Course management is paramount on the Magnolia. With water on 11 holes and 97 bunkers, keeping the ball in play matters far more than distance off the tee. Identify the dry side of every fairway and play to it.

Save your concentration for Grumpy's Gauntlet (14-17). The four reimagined holes are the toughest stretch on the course. On the 14th, aim for the center of the green — the slopes shed balls off all four edges. On the 15th, do not try to reach the par 5 in two unless you are certain of your carry. The 16th demands accuracy with water left, and the 17th requires a confident swing with water on both sides.

Florida humidity makes the course play longer than the yardage suggests, particularly in summer. Take extra club on approaches. Morning tee times offer cooler temperatures and generally calmer winds.

The Mickey Mouse bunker on the 6th is a must-see, but it is also a legitimate hazard — aim away from it and enjoy the view from the fairway.