Walt Disney World_® is a wonderful place to visit for many reasons, with its iconic parks, an extensive lineup of resorts and wide range of amenities combining to offer a comprehensive, family-oriented warm weather destination.

In fact, while on trips to the area my family and I have rarely had a reason to leave the “bubble” except to go back and forth from the airport.

Golf is certainly a big part of the destination, one I especially cherish with four upscale courses on property to choose from.

The centerpiece of the golf operation features 45 holes occupying a large property just a couple blocks from Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

While big, brawny Disney’s Magnolia tends to get the most attention on this site, Disney’s Palm is actually my favorite, with a distinctive design in a scenic setting offering ample playability to the mid-handicapper. It’s a venue that sets up quite well for my game, and I always look forward to teeing it up here.

Disney’s Palm features great variety in hole length and strategic placement of hazards, making it a memorable experience from start to finish that will offer opportunities to score but penalize weak play.

I can attest to that, after several rounds of feast-or-famine play including multiple sub-80 rounds but other days where I failed to break 90.

The layout works through a dense southern pine forest along corridors of varying width. With foliage everpresent and an array of water hazards closely in play, this is a course that rewards accuracy and execution over sheer length.

Established alongside Disney’s Magnolia in 1971, the 36-hole facility debuted concurrently with the historic opening of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. These two original Joe Lee designs pumped golf into the DNA of the iconic destination from its very beginning.

In recent years, significant investments have been channeled into the golf courses, with Arnold Palmer Golf Management enlisted in 2011 to run the facilities and redesign Disney’s Palm in 2013.

The comprehensive facelift breathed new life into the course, with careful attention paid to bunker shaping and other improvements that enhance playability. The look of the layout blends in with its natural surroundings succinctly, yielding a secluded and scenic golf experience.

The opening five holes skirt the eastern flank of the property within earshot of the hustle and bustle of Disney’s Polynesian Resort and the resort monorail. From there, the routing dives into the woods, where you’ll quickly feel removed from civilization.

Course Overview

Disney’s Palm Golf Course

Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Architect: Joe Lee (1971)

Par 72; 6840/6359/5988/5200 Yards

Course/Slope Rating: 73.3/134, 71.0/130, 69.1/125, 70.1/126

Featured Holes

#2 – Par 4, 423/389/371/323 Yards

The first of several encounters with water comes early at the cape-style, dogleg left second. Starting with a knee-knocking tee shot with water perilously close to the fairway on the left, modest ball strikers like myself will just focus on keeping the ball in play.

Longer hitters, though, will have a chance to play more aggressively and flirt with the pond, and cutting off distance will come at a huge premium. With an elevated, tiered green surrounded by runoffs on all sides, approaching with a short iron carries a sizable advantage.

I’ve had to hit long irons into the green here, and even after successful approaches I’ve come away with three-putt bogeys on numerous occasions.

#3 – Par 3, 175/165/144/105 Yards

This shorter par three features a multi-sectioned green, rewarding bold tee shots towards the pin. With a collection of bunkers surrounding the green and water short and right, it’s an inviting shot but will ruthlessly punish a mishit. Sure, you might be able to dial one in close to the hole here, but I’m always happy to walk away with a three.

#6 – Par 4, 404/383/361/299 Yards

Beautiful and intimidating, the sixth is one of the most memorable spots on site but can also put a big number on the scorecard. You’ll need to contend with a lagoon on both the drive and approach shot, before finishing on a tough, undulating green. The forced carry on the second shot is particularly demanding for a mid-handicapper, and I usually err on the side of long even if I can’t hold the green.

Pro tip – a drop area exists next to the green if you chunk one in the drink!

#10 – Par 4, 448/422/379/287 Yards

Sometimes in golf, it’s all about survival. That’s certainly the case at the long 10th, featuring one of the most intimidating tee shots I’ve seen anywhere.

With a long carry over water and deep woods both left and right, the visuals from the tee suggest a perfect tee shot is required to find short grass in a narrow corridor, but there is actually more room than it appears.

A truly poor drive will fall victim to the danger, but I’ve found that a mediocre one should stay in play and at least keep a routine bogey on the table. With a receptive green bordered by just one bunker, the approach shot is manageable and recovery from off the green is reasonable.

#13 – Par 4, 334/322/296/261 Yards

You’d think this course is a grind filled with tough par fours based on the previous hole descriptions, but the fun really starts at the shorter 13th.

I love this hole, and it reminds me of a tamer version of the ninth at The River Course at Blackwolf Run.

With water stalking the right side, a clear sightline to the green just begs for an aggressive tee shot. A grove of trees sits in the centerline of the more conservative route to the left, devaluing any benefit in taking safe passage.

Even with my shorter length, I’ve had no problem carrying the water up the right side to get near the green, setting up great chances at birdie.

#14 – Par 5, 532/435/405/392 Yards

The back tees might have some length on the 14th, but I’d recommend playing from the much more fun middle tees. At well under 500 yards with distance that can be cut off by playing aggressively, I’ve gotten home in two on numerous occasions.

That said, water is in play from the tee all the way to an elevated, well-bunkered green, so you better execute solid shots if you want to take advantage of this scoring opportunity.

#16 – Par 3, 188/169/161/139 Yards

This mid-length one-shotter requires a modest carry over water to a heavily back-left to front-right sloping green. DO NOT miss long or left here, as you’ll be left with a brutal angle for recovery.

The visuals of the pond are deceptive and may encourage extra club off the tee, but don’t be fooled – play to your stock yardage as even a mishit should carry the water and leave an uphill chip.

Closing Thoughts

While I enjoy all of the Walt Disney World_® golf courses, the one I look forward to the most during family trips is Disney’s Palm. With a playable yet challenging setup, manageable length, a scenic setting in the forest and convenient location within the golf hub of the destination, this track has a little bit of everything.

With Disney’s Magnolia set to fully reopen after a significant redesign of its own, the property will boast a fully refreshed 36 holes of fun, varied and engaging golf. The theme parks might command the most attention at Walt Disney World_®, but its golf should not be overlooked.

Walt Disney World_® Golf Website