With the eventual winner collapsing on the course on one day and winning it on the next, the 2012 PGA Tour stop at Walt Disney World had all the drama of a classic underdog story. However, the Disney Classic tournament itself was unable to overcome the loss of its big name sponsors over the last few years. In 2013, for the first time in over 40 years, Disney World is not included in the PGA Tour.
While I’m sad to see the end of the longest running stop in Central Florida on the PGA tour, with the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney is no longer reliant on professional golf to establish it as a world class destination for athletes. Golf itself is no longer the draw it once was and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Disney further contract its offerings once they judge the demand after the Four Seasons hotel opens. A couple of the courses sit on prime real estate for hotel or boutique theme park development.
Would you be willing to trade a golf course for a new experience at Walt Disney World?