| Magnolia Golf Course |
| Course Par Value: 72 |
| Course Yardage: 7516 |
The Magnolia is the longest of the Disney courses. Designed in classic TOUR-style, the wide fairways invite you to hit the ball, and hit it hard! But beware, 11 of the 18 holes boast water and 97 bunkers dot the landscape and guard sizeable, undulating greens.
Since December 1971, the Magnolia has been the final-round home of the Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart. The course has entertained many of the worlds finest golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, whose final-round scores in 1971-73 of 68, 64 and 67 earned victories in the first three Disney tournaments.
Much has changed at the Magnolia, including the course record: PGA TOUR veteran Payne Stewart, playing in the third round of the Classic in 1990, blistered the Magnolia in 61 strokes. His nine birdies and one eagle set a standard on the Magnolia that may never be touched.
Like a lamb one day and a tiger the next, the Magnolia required Stewart to log a humbling 76 shots during the next afternoons final round, dropping him into a disappointing 21st place tie.
The course winds through 175 acres of thick Florida wetlands. It features 97 bunkers including the world famous "Mouse Trap" fronting the par 3 No. 6. Water comes into play on 11 holes. Six stately bridges carry players across the many creeks that cross the course.
In 1993, 23 years after opening, the Magnolia received a refreshing face-lift. Course architect Lee returned to redesign all 18 greens and the main putting green. The putting surfaces, which had lost their shape through years of routine maintenance, were restored to their original condition.
"The main thing we changed on the golf course was the elevation of the back of the greens," Lee said. "We have created spectator mounds on most holes for better viewing during golf tournaments."
The original Tifgreen/328 grass was replaced with Tifdwarf, a grass that Lee describes as "superior and faster."
Aside from the greens, Lee had teeing areas realigned to their original form. He also changed many of the tees used by women. With women making up such a large portion of the world's golfers, he said he is "trying to do a much better job with ladies tees."
"I think the guy who said this is one of the greatest golf complexes in the world would have to be right," Lee said. "I think what we have done here recently [reconstruction] may be better than when it was originally done."
| Hole | Par | Yards | |
| 1 | 4 | 428 |
I have always played this hole with one thought, "avoid the trees to the left." Position off tee is all important. Green is
large. Pin position right is toughest. |
| 2 | 4 | 417 |
Don't flirt with the right side. Plenty of room left. Green with five sand bunkers is testy. Lower left pin is a sucker pin.
Play for the middle of the green. |
| 3 | 3 | 170 |
A fine short par 3 - usually 6 or 7 iron, depending on wind. It's a hole you think "2" -- but one bad swing, and you've made
a 4! |
| 4 | 5 | 542 |
Need to hit good, solid drive to go for green in two. When going for green, avoid long sand bunker left. If you lay-up, use
mid iron to leave a full wedge approach. Don't let all the sand bunkers scare you! |
| 5 | 4 | 492 |
I play this hole with a cut driver. Downwind, I use a 3-wood. Important to be in fairway, which makes approach shot straight
forward to a well-bunkered green. |
| 6 | 3 | 231 |
Famous home of Mickey Mouse sand bunker! Solid par 3, requiring mid to long iron shot. Avoid Mickey and two side sand bunkers
for best result. |
| 7 | 4 | 422 |
This is not a difficult hole, if you avoid the water hazard left. The wind and subtle pin placements make it difficult at
times to get ball close to hole with second shot. |
| 8 | 5 | 614 |
From pro tee, this hole is extremely tough to reach in two. Hit a solid drive and 3 wood to leave a short iron or wedge to
a sloping green. Staying below the hole gives you best chance for birdie. |
| 9 | 4 | 500 |
Excellent Par 4. Requires long drive to leave a mid to long iron approach to a large green that is penalizing if you miss
left. I'll take par here any time! |
| 10 | 5 | 526 |
I've had my share of luck here. Eagle in '83 pushed me to victory. After a good drive, green is very reachable with wood
or long iron. Hit it high to hold smaller green. |
| 11 | 4 | 399 |
One of the easier holes, if you put the ball in the fairway. Only way to take a big number is to mis-hit shot into water
off the tee or around the green. |
| 12 | 3 | 169 |
Par 3 that plays slightly shorter than yardage. Play for middle of green. Difficult up and down from anywhere, if you miss
the green. |
| 13 | 4 | 384 |
Position tee shot anywhere in fairway with driver or 3-wood, depending on wind conditions. Leaves short iron or wedge.
Green has more undulation than most on Magnolia. |
| 14 | 5 | 592 |
Tee shot not very difficult. Being a three-shot hole for me, I find avoiding water on left for second shot critical. Back
right pin position slopes away from fairway, making it difficult to get shot close for birdie. |
| 15 | 3 | 203 |
Very good hole, played with long iron to an elevated, undulated green, which makes chipping or pitching very difficult.
I won the 1986 Golf Classic here in playoff with par. |
| 16 | 4 | 450 |
Keep tee shot left center off the tee to allow for a better approach to green. The large green allows you to be aggressive,
knowing that 17 and 18 yield limited birdies. Trust your yardage - it looks shorter and plays longer. |
| 17 | 4 | 485 |
The most dangerous hole on the course. Tee shot over water, then a long mid-iron to a well-protected narrow green. Give
me a 4 here and I'll run to 18! |
| 18 | 4 | 492 |
Climaxed my course record 61 with a birdie here in '90. Demanding driving hole, with a well-protected green. Beware of
water right, it can come into play. Par is good here anytime. |
| Palm Golf Course |
| Course Par Value: 72 |
| Course Yardage: 6957 |
Disney's Palm course, which may be the toughest of the original Disney courses, is rated by Golf Digest as one of the "Top 100" Resort Courses in the country. It plays 6,957 from the back tees and is loaded with plenty of challenges. It boasts nine water holes, tight and heavily wooded fairways, and an abundance of natural Florida wildlife.
At the 2006 Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart, Justin Rose thrilled the crowd on the opening day of the tournament by breaking the course record with a round of 60.
| Hole | Par | Yards | |
| 1 | 5 | 495 |
"First Impressions Count" - A glance down the first fairway lets you know you're playing the Palm Course. This moderate length par 5 is challenging. Keep tee shot right of sand bunkers and palms on left. Second shot must avoid cluster of bunkers on right. Green is well protected, so play smart early. |
| 2 | 4 | 389 |
"No Room For Error" - One of many holes justifying the national ranking of the Palm Course. Tee shot must negotiate water and woods. Approach shot to an elevated green with no mercy. Any shot short and right will find a deep sand bunker. Beware of the "slippery slope" left of the green...it's not forgiving. |
| 3 | 3 | 165 |
"Short 'n Sweet" - The shortest par 3 on the Palm Course, tee shot is an elevated tee to a large green, protected by water right. Avoid any of the three sand bunkers and you'll enjoy! |
| 4 | 4 | 422 |
"Lion or Lamb - Play the regular tee for a "laid back" par 4 or tackle the "beast" from the Pro tee. This hole offers you a choice. Regardless of tee selection, you must avoid the Florida woodlands down the entire right side. Approach shot is to a well bunkered green that features a subtle ridge on right half portion. |
| 5 | 4 | 403 |
"Road Hole" - This slight dogleg left par 4 runs parallel to the main exit hole of the Magic Kingdom. "What you see is what you get!" Keep tee shot out of trouble right. Approach shot is to elevated green with plenty of run-up room in front. |
| 6 | 4 | 412 |
"The Devil Made Me Do It" - No. 1 handicap hole, and it holds up to its rating. Begins with the most demanding tee shot on the course. If you're lucky to keep it "high and dry," you're faced with a long carry shot over water to a two-tiered green. Playing for score, play it like a par 5. You'll be glad you did. |
| 7 | 5 | 532 |
"Sandy Par 5" - A sweeping dogleg right, with two deep fairway sand bunkers looming right. Second shot must negotiate a long and short sand bunker right. Green is well protected with four other sand bunkers. It all adds up to eight sand bunkers that test you all along the way. |
| 8 | 3 | 205 |
"Give Me Your Best Shot" - The longest par 3 on the Palm Course, carved out of dense Florida woodlands. Demands a tee shot that can carry a large sand bunker protecting the entire front portion of the green. So go ahead, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot!" |
| 9 | 4 | 373 |
"Flashy Front Nine Finisher" - This moderate length par 4 has it all. With water staring you down left and two sand bunkers with wetlands right, it truly exemplifies the character of the Palm Course. The approach shot is to a raised green, which says "don't miss it left"...you'll be fishing. |
| 10 | 4 | 450 |
"Grin 'n Bear It" - The back nine begins and ends with two unbearable holes. Best way to tame this hole is to center tee shot between woodlands left and fairway sand bunker right. Leaves a long approach shot to a smaller than average green. Any mis-hit shot right spells trouble. |
| 11 | 5 | 552 |
"Steady As She Goes" - A basic par 5 that rewards accuracy. Both sand bunkers left come into play off tee, as do the pair of sand bunkers on the right for the second shot. The approach shot is to a forgiving green, if played to the middle. |
| 12 | 3 | 199 |
"High, Soft, and Straight" - This challenging par 3 requires just that. Five, yes five, greenside bunkers surround this tricky green. Give yourself plenty of club, it's all carry! |
| 13 | 4 | 364 |
"Slicers Beware" - Don't let the short length fool you, this sharp dogleg will "getcha" if you leave it right. The heavily planted pines create jail for those who dare. Play it smart to the left for best results. Approach shot is to a wide, but not too deep green. |
| 14 | 5 | 547 |
"Alligator Alley" - Florida's most famous creature often roams these waters. If he had an appetite for golf balls, he'd be one fat gator. Beware of tee box that aims right. Second shot must be placed delicately between water and two fairway sand bunkers, approach shot must clear three front greenside sand bunkers. |
| 15 | 4 | 426 |
"Everything But Water" - This hole plays into the prevailing wind to add even more yardage to this demanding par 4. Plenty of room off the tee to let it fly. The approach shot is to a mammoth green that allows forgiveness to the right. |
| 16 | 3 | 172 |
"On The Rocks" - One of the most picturesque holes on the Palm Course. The elevated tee provides one of the few holes on the course where you hit down to the green. Club selection is critical to this long narrow green. |
| 17 | 4 | 397 |
"Homeward Bound" - As you turn the corner from No. 16 and face this dogleg right par 4, you are once again reminded of where you are. The cluster of palms can provide havoc, if you don't play the way Mr. Lee wanted you to. Approach shot must avoid the large front right sand bunker. |
| 18 | 4 | 454 |
"TOUR Tough" - The PGA TOUR's best players will attest this is one tough finishing hole. Ranked as high as fourth overall on the PGA TOUR's toughest hole list, it requires two rock solid shots. Fairway is lined both sides with woodlands. Approach shot is all carry to a well-bunkered green. Making par here calls for celebration! |
Get the best deals on the best equipment all at the SHOP.PGATOUR.COM.
MOBILE
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network