Walt Disney World Resort itself boasts five championship golf courses: Osprey Ridge, Palm, Magnolia, Eagle Pines and Lake Buena Vista. Designed by legendary architect Tom Fazio, Osprey Ridge is arguably the most difficult course at Disney World. The Palm course has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest. The Magnolia course is known for the abundance of beautiful Magnolias that line the fairways. Eagle Pines is a par-72, 18-hole course designed by Pete Dye. Opened in 1971, the par-72 Lake Buena Vista course features 6,819 yards of golf. Disney World also offers the nine-hole, par-36 Oak Trail golf course.

Plenty of championship-caliber golf courses lie just minutes from Walt Disney World Resort. For instance, the award-winning MetroWest Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and offers a wide range of challenges, including numerous bunkers and plentiful water hazards, as well as expansive fairways. Celebration Golf Club, which lies just 5 minutes from Disney World, was also designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., along with his son Robert Trent Jones Jr. ChampionsGate Golf Resort boasts 36 holes of championship golf and is also home to the world-renowned David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Designed by Ron Garl and Howard Swan, the par-73 Eagle Creek Golf Club boasts five par 5 holes. The Shingle Creek Golf Club has already received the “Greens of Distinction” award from Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine.

Two area courses, Grand Cypress Golf Club and The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe, were both designed by “The Golden Bear” himself, Jack Nicklaus. The award-winning Grand Cypress Golf Club features three nine-hole courses, as well as the 18-hole New Course. It is also home to the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf. Amenities at the Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe include a 24,000-square-foot clubhouse, full-service restaurant, fully stocked pro shop and driving range.

Orlando also hosts several golf tournaments on the PGA tour such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational (formerly known as the Bay Hill Invitational) at Bay Hill Golf Club March 22-28, 2010, and the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World Resort’s Palm & Magnolia Courses November 11-14, 2010. Both of these immensely popular tournaments draw some of the top professional golfers in the world such as Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson.

Traveling to Orlando this summer? Check out the great deals at The Seasons by Westgate Resorts, which lies just 3 miles from both the Florida Mall and the Mall at Millenia, 7 miles from Gatorland, 8 miles from Universal Orlando Resort, 12 miles from SeaWorld Orlando and 18 miles from Walt Disney World Resort. Onsite amenities at The Seasons include an outdoor pool, hot tub, children’s pool and fitness room, as well as tennis and racquetball courts. Each of the two-bedroom suites at The Seasons features a fully equipped kitchen. For more information about The Seasons by Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

Summer Concert Series 2010 Lineup  
June 12, 2010 – Train
June 19, 2010 – Pitbull
June 26, 2010 – Earth, Wind & Fire
July 3, 2010 – Pat Benatar & REO Speedwagon
July 10, 2010 – Rob Thomas
July 17, 2010 – Counting Crows 

All concerts in the 2010 Summer Concert Series at Universal Orlando will take place at the Music Plaza, the state-of-the-art outdoor music venue located in the front of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida. The Summer Concert Series is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida.

For more information about the 2010 Summer Concert Series, and other summer entertainment and offers at Universal Orlando Resort, visit http://www.universalorlando.com/summer.

2. Disneyland – 15.9 million visitors

3. Epcot – 11 million visitors

4. Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 9.7 million visitors

5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park - 9.6 million visitors

6. Disney’s California Adventure – 6.0 million visitors

7. SeaWorld Orlando – 5.8 million visitors

8. Universal Studios Florida – 5.4 million visitors

9. Universal’s Islands of Adventure – 4.5 million visitors

10. Universal Studios Hollywood – 4.3 million visitors

Sources: Themed Entertainment Association, AECOM

David Cassidy - March 19-21, 2010
Starship Starring Mickey Thomas - March 26-28, 2010
Tony Orlando - April 2-4, 2010
Ricky Nelson Remembered Featuring The Nelsons - April 16-18, 2010
Atlanta Rhythm Section - April 23-25, 2010
Fran Cosmo (Former singer of Boston) - April 30, May 1 & 2, 2010
Davy Jones - May 7-9, 2010
Chubby Checker & The Wildcats - May 14-16, 2010

For more information about upcoming events at Walt Disney World Resort, visit www.orlando-florida.net.