By Len Ziehm
Disney World first opened the gates to the “Magic Kingdom,” October 1, 1971. Family vacations were forever changed. Never, in the history of man, has one mouse created an economic boom that continues to this day in Central Florida.
The popular tourist destination has welcomed visitors of all age groups, backgrounds and countries for 50 years. That list also includes golfers, because The Magic Kingdom’s opening day was also the day that its first two golf courses, the Magnolia and the Palm, also opened.
Joe Lee designed both, as well as, Oak Trail, a nine-hole track that uses the same pro shop as the two original layouts. Nearby Lake Buena Vista, a third championship course, opened 10 years later. 
In the midst of the year-long “World’s Most Magical Celebration,’’ the golf division is proclaiming itself “The Happiest Place on Turf.’’
Alex Forsyth, the director of sales and marketing for Walt Disney World Golf, said the 50-year celebrations will carry all the way through 2022 and even into the start of 2023.
He also told us, “A major announcement about future development will be made.”
Forsyth wouldn’t go into details, but did admit that, “there are no plans at present to get back on the PGA Tour schedule.’’
The Disney courses hosted PGA TOUR events for 42 consecutive years, from 1971 to 2012. Most were near the end of the season and always drew the top names, as well as, big crowds. When the FedEx Cup Playoffs were incorporated into the PGA TOUR schedule, it created a big climax to each season. The Disney tournament was moved to the fall wrap-around schedule and became an early event in the following year’s season.
Forsyth explained,
“In the first events of a new wrap-around schedule, there were no big names. Without them, there weren’t big crowds and we relinquished our spot on the PGA Tour calendar.’’
Although the glory days of PGA TOUR tournaments held on the Disney Courses are fondly remembered, the resort’s attention shifted to recreational players and Disney World visitors, which proved to be a good thing for all concerned.
Golf very much remains a part of the Disney experience, as does its golf history. Arnold Palmer played a huge role in the development of Disney World Golf.
Palmer and Disney World arrived in the Orlando area at roughly the same time. In 1971, Arnie was making plans to purchase the Bay Hill Club, although he didn’t fully complete the purchase until 1975. During the interim he met with Sandy Quinn , Disney Resort’s Director of Marketing. Quinn had been assigned the task of bringing a PGA Tour event to the Magnolia and the Palm Courses.
Palmer was willing to help get the new tournament off the ground and the Walt Disney World (WDW) Golf Classic was held for the first time in December of 1971.
Jack Nicklaus won the tournament the first three years. The format was switched to a team event for five years, 1974-1978, but reverted back to its original stroke-play format until the final event held in 2012.
Tiger Woods won the WDW Classic in 1996 and again in 1999. Other champions included; Larry Nelson, Payne Stewart, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, David Duval, Lanny Wadkins, Ben Crenshaw and Luke Donald.
The Magnolia Course is the longest of the Disney courses at 7,516 yards from the tips. With 97 bunkers and water in play on 11 of the 18 holes, it received the most attention. Back in those early days, the television coverage was normally only available on the weekends, the pros competed on both the Magnolia and the Palm courses on Thursday and Friday, but after the cut on the weekends, only the Magnolia was used. The Lake Buena Vista course was also used for the WDW Classic on 17 occasions.
The tournament’s rich history is chronicled at the Champions Pavilion beside the first tee of the Magnolia, which was also used for the Senior PGA Championship. Several more familiar names won that event, as well. Charlie Sifford, Pete Cooper, Julius Boros, Joe Jimenez and Jack Fleck won the Champions Tour event on the Magnolia course.
The Lake Buena Vista course was the site for the LPGA’s HealthSouth Classic in 1996 and 1997. It was the first LPGA event to be broadcast live on The Golf Channel, with Karrie Webb and Michelle McGann grabbing the trophies.
Palmer’s connection to the Disney Resort continued as his design company renovated the Palm Course, in 2013, which earned “Renovation of the Year” honors. Today Arnold Palmer Golf Management operates the Disney courses under a 20-year agreement signed in 2011.
The Disney courses allow families to take a respite from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. They can enjoy championship golf on the same courses where the pros have won and never leave the Walt Disney World Resort.
