Celebrating 50 Years: Disney World Golf Has An Interesting History Too 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 themidst of the year-long “World’sMostMagical 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 By Len Ziehm Ohio Golf Journal
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ2Nzk4