A Golfing Vacation For The Whole Family

For the seasoned golfer, planning a family vacation is often a tedious task. It can be hard to find ways to keep children entertained during a golfing getaway, cutting into valuable green time and putting a damper on the overall experience. Fortunately, the magical world of Disney recognized the need for a family-friendly golf adventure. In 1990, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort opened, providing golf lovers with a set of four championship courses.

The Magnolia Golf Course was designed by renowned golf architect Joe Lee. Named for the more than one thousand magnolia trees that decorate the course, the Magnolia Golf Course acts as the backdrop to the PGA Tour’s National Car Rental® Golf Classic final round. Rolling grounds and a variety of water hazards compliment the 18-hole course, which sits alongside Floridian Way and Magnolia/Palm Drive.

As evident from its name, the Palm Golf Course was created with a tropical feel. Joe Lee used a mix of palm trees and warm sand to flatter experienced golfers. Boasting one of the top five toughest 18th holes found on the PGA tour, the Palm Golf Course has been declared one of the top 75 resort courses in the United States.

Sitting adjacent to Buena Vista Drive is the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, featuring forest-inspired greenery and a country feel, with Joe Lee again holding the creative reins. The course contains a 7th hole island green, located at the opposite end of the Lake Buena Vista clubhouse, putting green, and practice range.

Golfers are sure to enjoy the striking fairways of the Osprey Ridge Golf Course, identified by Golf Digest as one of the top courses in Florida. With Tom Fazio at the design helm, Osprey Ridge boasts a combination of trees, several water holes, and more than 70 bunkers.

As with any other Disney adventure, accommodations, dining and activities can be found throughout the area. World-famous Michael Graves is responsible for the breathtaking designs found within the Dolphin and Swan hotels, featuring a total of more than two thousand rooms. To keep the family busy in between amusement park visits, the resort contains five swimming pools, tennis courts, walking trails, and a health club and spa.

Another idea to consider is to combine a golfing vacation with other activities.  For example fishing is another great family activity.  Try looking into some Alaska fishing lodges that have golfing courses nearby.  You can plan a diverse family vacation with fun for everyone just by thinking out of the box.