A little-known fact about Jessica is she spent three years working for a golf company in college, and her first job post-college was also in golf. So even though we are fans and are no strangers to golf, it’s usually in the form of mini-golf or TopGolf except when we’re golfing at Disney.

But just because we aren’t experts at making birdies doesn’t mean we’re going to turn down an opportunity to play at the most magical place on turf! Golfing at Walt Disney World Resort is a fun activity for amateurs and pros alike. We’ve hit the links a few times already and are always looking forward to our next round. 

Arriving at the Golf Course

You can access all three Disney golf courses by going to the Shades of Green Resort. When driving towards Magic Kingdom, follow the signs to head to Shades of Green. You will have to show the security guard an ID and during COVID times there are temperature screenings, but parking is free.

There is a dress code, but if you’ve played golf before it should sound very similar to what you may have experienced at other courses. Proper golf attire is required, so don’t show up with cut off jean shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top. Also, golf shoes with metal spike alternatives or tennis shoes are acceptable footwear.

Rates

The rates for play vary throughout the time of year, day of the week, and time of day you are visiting. There are discounts available for Florida Residents, Disney Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club, military, and AAA. You can book via the website, or by calling or stopping into the pro shop. If you are a single player, we suggest giving the pro shop a call to see if you’ll get paired with a twosome.

Rental equipment is available as well. There are men’s and women’s golf clubs as well as youth clubs both for right- and left-handed players (shoutout to all of the lefties from Tyler!). You can also rent shoes if needed as well. 

Golf Courses at Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course

This course is so much fun and a bit different from your “normal” resort golf course experience. Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course is a 9-hole walking course. It is certified by Audubon International as a Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary; there is a display before the first hole that shows off the different types of animals you may see on the course. We saw wild turkeys, birds, and deer during our round.

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Even though golf carts are not allowed on the course, you are able to use or rent pull carts or upgrade to the Club Car Tempo Walk Robo-Caddie. Jessica tried this out on our most recent visit and it was so cool.

This little robot follows you around by use of a transponder you wear on your belt. It takes some getting used to and there are some tips and tricks (be sure to turn it off when you are not walking and try and walk in straight lines or make rounded turns).

Neither of us are scratch golfers by any means, but the Oak Trail Golf Course provided a nice challenge without being ridiculously difficult. 

Disney’s Palm Golf Course

Tyler played the Palm Course with some friends and had a lot of fun. It is an 18-hole championship course and boasts the best resort courses have to offer – lakes, bunkers (there are 59 of them to avoid on the course), palm trees, and large, sloping greens. It’s rated 4 stars by Golf Digest, so it will definitely test even the most seasoned pros, but it’s still a lot of fun for newbies.

We encourage getting a golf cart at this course because each golf cart is GPS enabled, making it easy to figure out the yardage between your lie (in the fairway obviously) and the pin.

Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course

The third course, Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, is another beautiful course. This is the longest of the three golf courses, rated 4 stars as well by Golf Digest. While the fairways are wide, there’s a lot to contend with from water hazards to bunkers (there’s 97!). Like the Oak Trail Course, part of the Magnolia is certified by Audubon International as a Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary.

FootGolf

Something unique you can take advantage of at the Disney Golf Course is footgolf. This is a combination of soccer and golf and to put it simply, you kick a soccer ball around a golf course. Rather than try and get the soccer ball into the golf hole, you instead are aiming for a cup that is 21 inches in diameter.

FootGolf is played on the Oak Trail Golf Course. When we were playing our round of golf we saw the staff setting this up and saw a couple of families playing. It looked like a lot of fun. One thing to note, FootGolf is only available on certain days and is subject to availability. Typically, it’s offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday after 2:30 p.m., but be sure to check with the Walt Disney Wolf Golf website for more accurate information. It’s also worth noting that because FootGolf and regular golf are happening at the same time, you need to watch your shots carefully.

Food and Beverage

There are a couple of opportunities for you to fuel up before your round or unwind afterward. WDW Golf staff roams around with a refreshment cart (except for on the Oak Trail) which offers a variety of Coke products, beer, and mixed drinks along with snacks and sandwiches. For a bit of a more substantial meal, head over to Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Deli located near the practice putting green. You’ll find a few more lunch options here along with breakfast fare as well.

The Verdict on Golfing at Disney

If you’re a fan of the sport, golfing at Walt Disney World is definitely a bucket list item. You’ll be able to have a classic golf experience, with a Disney twist. Access to the courses isn’t as exclusive as you think and with all the available discounts, pricing is reasonable.