With PGA Tour out of the way, Walt Disney World's four golf courses shine

With the Children’s Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart long gone from the land of Mickey, now is the time to pencil in the family vacation getwaway to Walt Disney World, and reap a foursome of golf courses in tip-top shape.

I visited Disney’s four courses last January before the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, and was blown away by how smooth the greens were. Over the last several years, each of Disney’s courses reseeded their greens with TifEagle Bermuda, and they rolled as smooth as any bent strain I’ve putted on, especially at the crack of dawn when you’re the first feet stepping on them. I’m not used to butter-smooth Florida greens, but these are as good as you’ll find in the southeast.

You also don’t have to be a pro to roll in a few bombs in on them. Probably the main reason why scores are always so low during the PGA Tour event is that the Magnolia and Palm courses, while long, have pretty flat greens that are seldom heavy breakers. Put a good roll on it with some pace, and you’ve got a shot and dunking a few.

It goes to show Disney knows golf as much as they know cartoons. They also provide free roundtrip taxi rides for golfers staying at one of their resort properties.

One other reason to take the family to Disney in the next month or so, is that the theme parks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are often less crowed than during spring break or the summertime. My family spent a week at WDW a few years back right after Thanksgiving and walked on practically any ride, which is pure heaven for any kid. I must have rode Splash Mountain a dozen times in one afternoon. I was mildly obsessed with Brer Rabbit back then.

Another reason to visit Disney’s golf courses now is that Osprey Ridge, a Tom Fazio design, is scheduled to close in the near future to make way for a Four Season’s Resort. While this course isn’t featured in the PGA Tour event, many resort-goers consider this their favorite of the Disney courses, thanks to it’s heavily-shaped land and pure seclusion from the theme parks.