“Mark my words, there’s trouble a brewin.’’
- Grumpy (1937)
With the most extensive redesign of Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course complete, Walt Disney World Resort and Arnold Palmer Golf Management have the course’s four reimagined holes, “Grumpy’s Gauntlet.’’ It’s new 18-hole putting green, meanwhile, is known as “The Greatest Green Ever Played.’’
Similar to “The Bear Trap’’ at PGA National Resort, “The Snake Pit’’ at Innisbrook Resort and “The Cliffs of Doom’’ at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Magnolia holes No. 14, 15, 16 and 17 – aka “Grumpy’s Gauntlet’’ – presents a challenging for golfers any skill level.
Led by One Club Limited and its head golf course designer, Ken Baker, the reimagining of these holes has dramatically – yet beautifully – changed their looks, each hole demands careful club selection to avoid massive waste bunkers, and requires strategic shot-making around tricky doglegs and precise putting on some of the course’s most undulated greens.
Grumpy’s Gauntlet is expected to be among the more challenging finishing holes in Central Florida.
For example, the par 4 No. 14 hole features a green that slopes away from the center on all four sides, which means getting approach shots to stop near the hole will be difficult. The par 5, 15th hole No. is a whopping 597 yards from the back tees. At 456 yards from the championship tees, the par 4 No. 16 hole, it will be a huge challenge to reach the green in regulation for many golfers, particularly with two bodies of water along the left side of the green. And the par 3 No. 17 is a test of skills with water on each side of the hole and a green that slopes in multiple directions.
“We’ve assembled an incredible team that has created the best possible experience for our guests from around the globe who travel here for a championship caliber golf vacation,” said Bruce Gerlander, general manager of Arnold Palmer Golf Management, which operates the Walt Disney World golf courses. “For more than four decades, Disney’s Magnolia served as a favorite stop on the PGA Tour and we have been methodically planning for this massive project for years.”
Other aspects of the redesign include new fairways and greenside bunkers and new Bermuda grass greens, plus:
- No. 14 transitions from a par 5 to a par 4 with a new green location.
- No. 15 has been moved and goes from a par 3 to a par 5 with a dogleg to the right.
- No. 16 shifts to a different location and now has a dogleg to the left.
- No. 17 changes from a par 4 to a par 3 with new tee box locations.
- A new cart bridge runs through the forest to connect holes 16 and 17.
Each hole now has a Disney theme and an inspiring quote from Walt Disney or golf legend Arnold Palmer. The sixth hole, for example, hole is called “The Mouse Trap’’ and features Walt Disney’s 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.’’
The reimagined Magnolia Course is among Central Florida’s top layouts
The 18-hole putting green features a scorecard and pin locations that change almost daily. It has plenty of undulation, challenging putts and fast greens that offer a good warmup before hitting the course as well as a fun option for kids. The green’s new 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, including reshaping the bunkers.
“These are dramatic changes to the Magnolia course that are creating a playing experience that will be challenging yet fun for all golfers,’’ said Adam Ball, vice president of ESPN Wide World of Sports, Water Parks and Mini Golf. “We know our guests expect a magical experience every time they come to play golf at Walt Disney World and this redesign is part of our ongoing commitment to achieve that for every golfer who steps up to that first tee.’’
Two of golf’s biggest stars – Sergio Garcia and Gary Woodland – have each got sneak peek at the redesign and ach walked away impressed.
“It will be amazing. The 15th (becoming) a big par 5; 16 is a long par 4 and they’ve brought in water perfectly,’’ said Woodland. “You’re going to have four closing holes down the stretch that will test every aspect of your game. It’ll be a great finish here at Magnolia.”
Added Garcia: “It’s a fun course to play. When (golfers) finish their rounds, they can’t wait to come back and I think that’s something the Magnolia course will have.’’
PGA Champion Jason Day recently teed it up for a practice round during the PGA Tour’s “Florida Swing”, the week before the Arnold Palmer Invitational and had high praise for the layout.
PGA Tour star Jason Day on the reimagined Magnolia Course
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I remember a lot of the holes, which were fantastic,’’ Day said. “The course looks phenomenal.’’
More than a decade ago, the Walt Disney World Resort and Arnold Palmer Golf Management (APGM) entered into a long-term marketing and lease agreement underpinned by a commitment to continually upgrade and enhance the Walt Disney World Golf experience for all visitors. The Magnolia course’s major redesign follows substantial course changes to Disney’s Palm Golf Course in 2013, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course in 2014 and 2018 and Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course in 2018.
As one of the original Walt Disney World Resort golf courses which opened in 1971, the Magnolia course is a par-72 layout that has all the earmarks (pardon the pun) to be regarded as one of Central Florida’s top courses – elevated tees and greens, rolling terrain and the popular Mickey Mouse-shaped sand hazard on the 6th hole.
Located across from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the course was designed by Joe Lee and is aptly named for its more than 1,500 magnolia trees. With tee boxes ranging from 5,252 to 7,560 yards from the back tees, it is the longest of the four Disney golf courses.
Photo Credits: Matt Stroshane (Disney)