Disney's Magnolia Golf Course Adds 'Grumpy's Gauntlet' with Major Redesign

Mar 18, 2025 in "Golf - Magnolia course"

Posted: Tuesday March 18, 2025 3:10pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

If you play Walt Disney World’s Magnolia Golf Course soon, you'll notice some significant changes, especially towards the end. Four of the last five holes (No. 14, 15, 16, and 17) have been redesigned into a new stretch called "Grumpy's Gauntlet."

Here’s what you can expect from these updated holes:

  • Fresh landscaping with tropical plants
  • Well-maintained fairways
  • White sand bunkers

This redesigned stretch also provides a tough challenge:

  • Hole 15 is a long 597-yard hole from the back tees.
  • Hole 17 is a tricky par 3 that stretches over 200 yards.

The entire Magnolia course now has added Disney theming. Each hole has:

  • A Disney-inspired name referencing classic movies.
  • Quotes from Walt Disney or legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.

For example:

  • Hole 6 ("The Mouse Trap") includes Walt Disney’s quote: “I hope we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.”
  • Hole 15 ("The Dinglehopper") from The Little Mermaid has Arnold Palmer’s quote: “It’s a funny thing; the more I practice, the luckier I get.”

Another new feature is an 18-hole putting green called the "Greatest Green Ever Played," inspired by Disney’s golf movie, The Greatest Game Ever Played. The layout and hole locations change nearly every day, keeping it interesting for repeat visits. It's also a kid-friendly area and a good place to warm up before your round.

These updates mark the biggest changes to the Magnolia Golf Course since 2015. The course is located just across from the recently opened Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.




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    AylaMar 22, 2025

    Every single course we have ever played has at least one dog leg hole, if not two.

    Skibum1970Mar 22, 2025

    Plus, by hole 15, a player is usually starting to get a little tired. The heat combined with the torque on the joints and muscles with a swing that isn't natural just naturally wear a person down. Then, you come off a long par 4 at 14, fight 15 (as you mentioned), 16 isn't long but plays against people who fade/slice and there is a lot of trouble to get into, and then a long par-3 over water. #18 finishes with a long par four. While I haven't played it, I can see where this is definitely Grumpy's Revenge.

    SmokyMar 19, 2025

    15 and 16 look genuinely difficult. We'll see how they actually play but 15 looks brutal because of that crazy dog leg.

    Skibum1970Mar 19, 2025

    Bad Grumpy!! I expect that from Dopey.

    zulemaraMar 19, 2025

    I worked at the Palm/magnolia in 2004-2005 on my college program. I think I should go walk around one day and see everything! Have to wonder if I would know any of the staff anymore.

    JoeCamelMar 19, 2025

    Plop plop fizz fizz house broken is for loosers cuz

    MisterPenguinMar 19, 2025

    Yo, what G be doin' on the links, homie?

    JoeCamelMar 18, 2025

    It's not the difficulty of the holes that make it a gauntlet let's just say it's been G's play yard for weeks now so watch where you step.......

    Skibum1970Mar 18, 2025

    I think that they are harder than they look. The bunkers and water placement along with the length is going to challenge just about anyone. There isn't much of a bailout left either as the trees await. I may give this a whirl in early May. It's this or Lake Buena Vista. Played the Palm a few years ago and it was great. I just always look at LBV from Port Orleans and dream and so it's probably time to go for it.

    UNCgolfMar 18, 2025

    Those holes don't look anywhere near hard enough to be called a gauntlet. Which isn't a bad thing -- it would be silly for Disney to build a super hard course -- but just saying.

    Ben_since_1971Mar 18, 2025

    Looks like they really moved earth and created some more water hazards. Looking forward to playing it this September.

    SmokyMar 18, 2025

    The layout looks great. Disney golf is criminally underrated and one of my favorite things to do on property. Haven't played Magnolia since last year during the middle of the renovations but it's a great course and one of the few things at Disney that is very reasonably priced. There's something special about warming up early in the morning at the driving range, drinking a coffee, and hearing the train in the background from MK while I shank all of my shots in the woods.

    DCBakerMar 18, 2025

    More details on "Grumpy’s Gauntlet", aka Magnolia holes No. 14, 15, 16 and 17:

    DCBakerMar 18, 2025

    Disney says the Magnolia Golf Course renovation is complete: https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/magnolia-golf-course-now-offering-a-dose-of-grumpy-with-loads-of-golfing-fun/