Conference koolit::disney

rep to <<< Note 71.0 by GOONEY::MALONEY >>>
    
>    		What  about some information about the golf courses
>    that are located within WDW?   I would like to know about costs,
>    making reservations, renting equipment, best time of the day to
>    play?  

    Well I'm not a golfer, but I did stay at the Disney Inn (formerly known
    as  the  Golf  Resort)  and met and talked to a few golfers  there,  so
    keeping that in mind here some info
    
    The Magnolia and Palm  courses  are  18 holes and flank the Disney Inn,
    the  Lake Buena Vista Golf Course also 18 holes is located at the  Walt
    Disney World Village,  with  most  of the villa surrounding the course.
    All three course host  the  Walt Disney World Clasic usually in October
    and for a fee ($3,000) you can play alongside 2 pros.
    
    The  greens fee is about $35 dollars if  memory  serves  me  right  and
    includes  the  required  golf cart.  For more info  on  rates,  and  to
    reserve time call the master starter at (407) 824-3625.
    
    According to the ones I talked too the morning hours  are the best time
    for  play,  cool  and  tends to be peaceful, however they said  it  was
    rather busy at those times  and  required reservation in advance.  Also
    early afternoon was popular for those  who  went  into  the park in the
    morning, and left at noon time to  get away from the crowds, and return
    later.
    
    For  Disney  guest,  once  you have a confirmed  reservation,  you  can
    reserve tee off times, for off-site guest then it's  only seven days in
    advance.

    Rental  equipment/lessons are available at the pro shop located at  the
    Disney Inn.
    
    There is also a Wee Links, a six hole 1,525 yard experimental beginners
    course located at the Disney Inn as well
    
    Course Ratings are as follows
    
        Magnolia - par-72, 5,903 (Ladies) to 7,253 (championship yards)
        Palm - par-72, 5,785 to 6,951 (rated one of the 100  best  by  Golf
             Digest magazine)
        Lake Buena Vista Club - par-72, 6,002 to 6,540 yards
    
    all three course were designed by Joe Lee.
    
    Claude

    When I was down in Disney 3 weeks ago, my friend and I played the
    junior course called the Wee Links.  It was a very good course it
    is what I would consider a Par 3 type course.  We played on a Wednesday
    morning about 10:00 and we were the first ones on the green that
    day.  We had called on Tuesday to make a tee time and was told we
    did not need one for this course.  We rented clubs, bag, cart and
    purchased 3 Mickey golf balls a piece and paid for the green fee,
    TOTAL $27.00 a person.  The Wee Links is a 6 hole course but you
    can play it twice (we did).  I thought the price was great for all
    the things we rented.  Also, by playing the Wee Links it gives you
    the chance to see the 2 other Disney owned professional Golf Courses
    and where they play the Golf Classic.  I thought it was real neat.
    The greens are very well kept.
    
    We also ate breakfast before our game at the Disney Inn, "Garden
    Gallery."  We liked that very much.
    

rep to < Note 71.2 by WAV14::NEWFELL >

>    Also, by playing the Wee Links it gives you
>    the chance to see the 2 other Disney owned professional Golf Courses
>    and where they play the Golf Classic.  

    Actually there  are  3 courses, The Magnolia and Palm by the Disney Inn
    and the lake Buena Vista over at the WDW Village area.
    
    Claude    

    I will be at Walt Disney World in September and would like to play
    either the Palm or Magnolia.  Has anyone played these?  If so opinions
    on which is more challenging.  Also I was looking for current fee's
    including rental on clubs and shoes.  If anyone has information it
    would be greatly appreciated.
    
    Thanks,Mike

    
    
    Mike,
    the most recent info I remember was in the Rubins trip report in 18.54
    
    happy putting
    
    steve

    Two new courses are under construction just to the east of Ft.
    Wilderness.  They are scheduled to open in the Fall of 1991 and will be
    called the Fazio Course and the Dye Course.

    Does anyone have any idea for whom these courses are named?

    I played both the Palm and Magnolia last June. I preferred the Palm.
    It was a little more chalenging. If you are higher than a 15
    handicapper I'd recommend the Magnolia, or at least bring a lot of balls !
    
    The cost was $50 or $55 per round including clubs. We stayed at the
    Grand Floridian but I think that price applies to people not staying in
    the MK also.
    
    Another thought is the course at the Marriot World Center,
    approximately 5 - 10 minutes outside the "world". That was by far the
    nicest course I played down there. That one cost $75 with clubs.
    
    PS
      Dont go into the woods looking for stray balls ! We encountered a few
      native crocodiles that took offense to such actions !! And we thought
      the signs were a joke !!!!!

    RE: .6
    
>    Two new courses are under construction just to the east of Ft.
>    Wilderness.  They are scheduled to open in the Fall of 1991 and will be
>    called the Fazio Course and the Dye Course.
>
>    Does anyone have any idea for whom these courses are named?


        I asked some golfer friends of mine if they knew why courses
        would be called Fazio or Dye.  They looked at me like I had
        two heads and said they are two of the most famous course
        designers in the world (I forgot their first names already). 

        Anyway, the reaction I got was similar to asking Len Goldberg
        if he has any idea why the WDW parking lot has sections called
        "Minnie" and "Pluto".
    

    Well I recently called the folks at Disney and here is the latest and
    greatest info.  Cart and green fees are $70   $32 after 3:00
    Club rental is $20 shoes $6  We are scheduled to play the Magnolia so I
    will post some information.
    Mike
    

    I just got back and while I was down there had the opportunity to play
    both the Palm and Magnolia. Tee times were no problem. After 12:00 you
    could basically pick your time. The courses are in great condition and
    will continue to become even better through the Oldsmobile Clasic in
    mid October. 
    I also saw one of their new courses which runs through the
    new vacation land timeshare at Disney. It was not opened yet to the
    public but several people, "special guests" I suppose, were playing it.
    
    Some words of wisdom :
    	Pack some golf balls in a bag and bring them with you. Disney will
    hit you anywhere from $5 to $12 for three balls and depending on your
    ability the golf ball expense could almost exceed your greens fees !

    
    
    RE: -1
    
    As I'll be over there (over here is the UK!) from September 27th to
    October 18th, I was hoping I might be able to go and spectate at the
    Oldsmobile Classic.  Does anyone know:
    
    1) Exactly when it's on.
    2) Are there any top golfers playing in it?
    3) How much it costs to spectate?
    4) Anything else that maybe interesting.
    
    
    Thanks in advance for any help.
    
    
    Andy  (T-minus 15 days and counting...)

�   1) Exactly when it's on.

    The latest revision of my confirmation had the following stapled to the
    information sheet that is always in the envelope:


         IMPORTANT REVISED INFORMATION:  Please be advised the WALT
         DISNEY WORLD OLDSMOBILE Golf Classic is scheduled for October
         10 through October 20, 1991.  All three golf courses are
         restricted to tournament play September 20 through September
         23 and October 10 through 20th.

    The original schedule was October 11-20.  They seem to have added an
    extra day at the beginning.

    Is it okay to ask about other area courses, near Orlando, but not
    connected with WDW? We'll be there the second week of January.
    
    	Frank

    Frank,
    
    Here are some in Kissimmee:
    
    Buenaventura Lakes Country Club Golf Course
    301 Buenaventura Blvd.
    
    Crystalbrook Golf Club
    2259 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
    
    Kissimmee Golf Club
    1307 Gilbert Avenue
    
    Orange Lake Country Golf Club Course
    8505 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
    
    Poinciana Golf & Racquet Resort
    500 East Cypress Parkway
    
    In Orlando:
    
    Marriott's Orlando World Center Golf Course
    1 World Center Drive
    
    By the way..Disney Greens Fees are $70/person before 2 P.M. and
    $32/person  each day after 2 P.M. I have no info on Greens fees for the
    courses I've listed but I'm guessing they are less than the Disney
    fees.
    
    Mike_who_is_not_a_golf_fan_but_has_his_moderator_hat_on
    

    Thanks, Mike. I appreciate the information. I'm sure I'll play at least
    one of the Disney courses, since they're all designed by famous course
    architects (Tom Fazio and Pete Dye). Incidentally, according to my
    issue of Birnbaum, the greens fees for the Pete Dye courses (which are
    the two new ones) are $85 ($45 after 3). This, of course, does include
    the price of the golf cart (no walking permitted, cart mandatory).
    Nice to know there are alternatives, at those rates.
    
    Happy New Year!
    
    	Frank

    ...but I thought only the two new courses were designed by Dye and
    Fazio respectively -- not collaboratively.  The three old courses were
    designed by Lee (see note 71.1).  I'll see if I can dig up a past issue
    of Golf magazine which had an article on the courses.  Both Fazio and
    Dye have there own style -- knowing what they try to do as "designers" 
    may help in the enjoyment of the course.
    
    Have fun!
    Moe

    Frank,
    
    I did some more research on the courses and the Marriott one in Orlando
    seams to be the big favorite. I got this from a friend who grew up
    caddying on golf courses and who has golfed along the East Coast. He
    ranks the Marriott course right at the top.
    
    Mike

    The three new Golf Courses not yet listed in here are:
    
    Osprey Ridge Course
    
    7100 yards - 18 holes - Par 72
    
    Eagle Pines Course
    
    6772 yards
    
    Executive Course
    
    9-hole Par 36 course (most challenging)
    
    Rates for 18 holes including cart fees and tax are $70-85.
    
    Tip: After 3 P.M. the rates drop about 50%.
    
    Mike
    For Tee Times and Tournaments call (407) 824-2270.

    The following is output of the DowVision (TM) test system under
    development, contact SDSVAX::SWEENEY for more information.

Copyright � Dow Jones & Co. 1992
Source: Press Release News Wire
Headline: 
 DISNEY'S `MAGIC LINKDOM' GROWS TO 99 GOLF HOLES WITH COURSES DESIGNED BY 
RENOWNED PETE DYE, TOM FAZIO
Time: Mar 10 1992 0744



Story: 
  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney's "Magic Linkdom" 
has grown to par-396 over 99 golf holes with the opening of two courses 
crafted by renowned designers Pete Dye and Tom Fazio.
  The adjacent Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge courses join a trio of 
championship layouts -- host to the million-dollar Walt Disney 
World/Oldsmobile Golf Classic each fall -- and a family-play 9-hole course.  
All six courses at Walt Disney World Resort are available for play by the 
general public.
  "Three first-rate resort courses just aren't enough anymore," says Mike 
Beaver, manager of Walt Disney World golf and tennis operations.
  Already, the Palm, Magnolia and Lake Buena Vista courses are at or near 
their capacity, and with the expansion of Disney resorts and the continuing 
growth in popularity of the sport, more golfing visitors are expected.  Those 
Joe Lee-designed layouts -- distinctive in their elevated tees and greens -- 
host about 400 tournaments and thousands of individual rounds of golf each 
year.
  Both Dye and Fazio were excited about the opportunity to build courses at 
Walt Disney World.  Said Dye, "This'll be in the limelight." Echoed Fazio, 
"Golfers are going to expect it to be quality, because the name Disney is on 
it."
  The Dye and Fazio courses are located in the northeastern part of the 
43-square-mile Walt Disney World property, a duck hook away from Fort 
Wilderness Resort and within a John Daly 7-iron of Disney's Dixie Landings 
Resort, which opens in February.  The courses share the new Bonnet Creek Golf 
Club clubhouse designed by the celebrity architectural firm Gwathmey Siegal & 
Associates.
  The courses also share the distinction of being different.
  "The character and atmosphere of the individual courses will give people 
more choices," says assistant project manager Tom Sunnarborg of the Disney 
Development Co.  "We are very excited about it."
  The high mounding and natural framing of the Fazio course contrasts with the 
low-profile Dye design.
  A meandering ridge with a variety of elevations winds from the area of the 
clubhouse to the north end of Fazio's course.  "The ridge comes into play a 
variety of ways," says Disney head professional Eric Fredricksen.  "You'll tee 
off it on No. 3; you'll hit to a green in the side of it on No. 12; you'll 
shoot to a green on top of it at No. 16."
  Fazio's par-72 layout plays at distances as short as 5,402 yards from the 
forward tees...or at a healthy 7,101 yards from the back boxes.
  Dye's 6,772-yard (from the back tees), par-72 course is distinctive with its 
low, dished fairways and pine straw instead of rough. "Play'll be very fast 
and enjoyable," Fredricksen enthuses.  "The ball will sit up on the pine 
straw: it'll be a little more forgiving -- not easy, but a fun and challenging 
course."
  To the delight of many a golfer, Dye has designed-in a lip on the edge of 
fairways by water hazards so that balls don't dribble into the drink.  
Strategically planted St. Augustine grass on the golf side of the water will 
provide a thicker carpet, further helping to keep balls in play.
  Fairways and tee areas on both courses are planted in 419 Bermuda; the 
greens, in Tifdwarf.
  /CONTACT:  John Herbst of Walt Disney World Press & Publicity, 407-824-4531/
07:18 EST

    I'll be travelling over in August from N. Ireland to Orlando and I was
    wondering if anyone could tell me how much I should expect to pay per
    person for Club Hire and green fees in that area. I don't mind
    travelling a few miles if the cost is vastly reduced outside the
    immediate WDW area, provided the course are still good. Can anyone give
    me an estimated price?
    
    Gary.

    Noticed last night while thumbing through "The Travel Agent's guide to 
    WDW" that the greens fees for the onsite courses were $75-$95.
    (My sister owns a travel agency and got two of these so gave me
    one)
    I'll check tonite to see if it mentions club rentals

    Anyone have the latest prices to play 18 holes at either the Palm or
    Magnolia courses?