Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course opened on Oct. 1, 1971 – the same day as the Magic Kingdom park – and now the course is getting a magical makeover, thanks to the reimagining of holes 14 through 17.
Images courtesy of Walt Disney World Golf
All three courses at Walt Disney World Golf – Magnolia, Palm, and Lake Buena Vista – have undergone renovations and redesigns over the years to enhance playability. In the coming months, Arnold Palmer Golf Management will further improve Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course as they reimagine the finishing stretch of the course.
The updates to holes 14 through 17 will be designed and overseen by Ken Baker, head of golf course design at One Club Limited, and are expected to be reimagined as follows:
- Hole 14 – Currently a par 5, will become a par 4, with a new green location
- Hole 15 – Currently a par 3, will shift location and become a long par 5, with a dogleg to the right
- Hole 16 – Will shift location and remain a par 4, but will now become a dogleg to the left
- Hole 17 – Currently a par 4, will become a par 3, with new tee box locations
In addition, holes 16 and 17 will be connected by a new wooden bridge through the forest, several new fairway and greenside bunkers will be added to accommodate the shifting hole locations, and new teeing grounds will test each level of player. The changes to the holes will retain the par 72 traditional nature of the golf course.
2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland and 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia recently got a sneak peek at the redesign, and both PGA Tour stars were impressed.
2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland
2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia
“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.”
Garcia agreed. “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.”
Details of the reimagined holes are not yet final, and Walt Disney World Golf will release updated information as the project moves towards its completion later this year.
Disney’s Magnolia Course will be closed most of the summer, but Walt Disney World’s other courses will be available. Click here for more information.