If the recently-renovated Disney’s Magnolia is considered the “ice cream sundae’’ of Walt Disney World’s three championship golf courses, then the statue of Grumpy near the Magnolia’s 14th tee box is the cherry on top.
The three-foot-tall statue, which sits on a two-foot-tall stand, greets players to Grumpy’s Gauntlet, a four-hole stretch that is among the more challenging in Florida.
Each of the holes that make up Grumpy’s Gauntlet is new – redesigned by architect Ken Baker during Magnolia’s overall renovation. Once golfers get through No. 17, they will clearly understand why that stretch of the course is called Grumpy’s Gauntlet.
On the par 4 No. 14, the green slopes away from the center on all four sides, making it difficult to get approach shots to stop near the hole. The par 5 No. 15 is 597 yards from the back tees. At 456 yards from the championship tees, the par 4 No. 16 will be a huge challenge to reach the green in regulation for many golfers, especially with two bodies of water along the left side of the green. And the par 3 No. 17 is a test of skill, with water on both sides of the hole and a green that slopes in multiple directions
I recently played the course, a 1971 Joe Lee masterpiece, and agree with how Alex Forsyth, PGA, described Grumpy’s Gauntlet as “A scorecard buster”
Grumpy’s lines, “Mark my words, there’s trouble a-brewin’,” come from the original Disney classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
Those words pop up on the touch screen mounted on a golf cart approaching the 14th hole.
“Looking at the holes on a map, we decided we had to do something about ‘theming’ them,’’ added Forsyth, Disney Golf’s longtime director of sales and marketing.
Walt Disney Imagineering crafted Grumpy’s statue from Carrara marble using an AI-powered stone-carving robot. It depicts Grumpy with his signature scowl and, not surprisingly, has become a popular photo op location for golfers on the back nine. In addition to photos, golfers can customize and download a souvenir certificate for surviving the tough stretch of holes on the Walt Disney World Golf website.
Grumpy’s golf bag includes a seven iron to honor the dwarfs and a replica golf ball featuring the dimple pattern from 1937, when the Snow-White movie was released.
Walt Disney World Golf, operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, also has its own Grumpy’s Gauntlet display in the pro shop, loaded with merchandise that’s flying off the shelves. According to Forsyth, it ranks second only to Swinging Mickey Mouse in popularity.
Photos Courtesy of Walt Disney World Golf