Magical Moment: A Stroke of Perfection

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., - Webster’s Dictionary defines golf as a game played with a small hard ball and various clubs. A pretty simple explanation – unless you’re a serious golfer. Men and women can be seen on golf courses around the world wearing bright colors, plaids, knickers and an assortment of hats as they hop in and out of golf carts, chasing that hard little ball hole after hole after hole.

They use irons for some shots and woods for others and they even have a language unique to their game, using terms like birdie, eagle, mulligan and bogey. They’re happy when they get a hole-in-one but not so much when they dub one. One thing they have in common is their love of the game.

Most Golf Operations Cast Members also love the game and take delight in talking about golf with Guests. At each Disney championship golf course, one skilled golfer is recognized every day with their Golf Shot of the Day Magical Moment. As player assistants travel the courses throughout the day, they are always on the look-out for the golfer who hits an outstanding shot. At Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, that shot might be made on hole No. 7, as the ball must clear a body of water and avoid a sand trap to get to the green.

Once the shot of the day has been made, Cast Members approach the special golfer and recognize him or her with a “Shot of the Day” pin. The golfer also gets a complimentary personalized yardage book and a laminated certificate when they return to the clubhouse.

C.J. Johnson, a core trainer for Golf Operations, says they want Guests to walk away saying, this is the greatest place to play golf in the world.

“We strive to give Guests a special golf experience here. It’s an extension of what Disney does at the parks and other locations. We feel our golf course is a stage as well, and we enjoy this as much as the Guests. There’s nothing more exciting for someone who loves golf to see someone make an exceptional shot.”