Walt Disney World Golf Courses Palm/Oak Trail/Magnolia

URRRGH! Just had the worst customer service from Disney's Head Golf Professional!!

My family 8 members have Annual Memberships for Disney, three of us have Premium Memberships because we like to golf. (My father, my son and I)

I have golfed over 60 times this year alone at several of the Disney courses, the majority being Disney's Oak Trail. I golf in the spring, a little in the summer (too hot) and start again mid August and will golf till the end of spring. So basically have been golfing every weekday since mid August, including yesterday. I arrive today and as I am walking into the pro shop, the greeter welcomes me, Welcome to the Happiest Place on Turf then recognizes me and says, Oak Trail is closed today. I said really? Why is it closed? Response I don't know... Do you know how long for? No, the guys in the pro shop should know... I said ok, thanks.

I walk up to the counter, wait my turn then get served. I said hi there, I have a question, the greeter just informed me Oak Trail is closed but didn't know why, is that correct? Yes, it is closed. I say oh, ok.. Do you guys have a sign or notice posted to inform your customers because I didn't happen to see one,...no we don't... I just golfed here yesterday and was not informed it would be closed today. How long is it closed for...it is closed for a week!! ...Really? and no notice or email notification. No sorry sir. Man standing behind the counter blurts out. Did you have a tee time! I said no, Oak Trail is mainly a walk on course I reply (which I have been told in the past by staff as I used to block a (9:42 tee time Monday-Friday) The man says well that is why you weren't notified, you should have and smirks.. If you had a tee time you would know!

Now I am feeling like I did something wrong...I explain to him, I used to get them to block me Monday to Friday tee times every week but even with tee times I was still waiting 20-30 minutes to tee off...and now that there is no starter on the 1st tee it is worse so why bother. I told the man you can look at my record on file to check for yourself. His reply was you didn't have a tee time today so too bad if you had of you would have known...I can't inform you if you don't have a tee time. I have been working here 10 years and it is not policy to post or have a notice for our customers in regards to course closures.
I can't believe I am being told this and he is starting to get more and more aggressive. Premium pass holders make up a large portion of Oak Trail golfers, you would think a mass email would be sent out to them, but this is not policy. I look at his name tag, it says Sean (from Miami) I try to explain that I just drove 25 minutes to get here and it is very frustrating that it was not mentioned to me yesterday. Well you should have booked a tee time he snapped. So now I feel he doesn't give a care at all so I say OK, I would like to book some tee times please, he says when for, I say Monday-Friday 9:30am he says ok, I then say for the next year. Sean snaps OHH No! You can't book that far in advance! Well how far in advance can I book? No reply, he just stares at me.
I am thinking to myself as he is staring me down...is this really happening all I came in for was to find out why and how long Oak Trail was closed for and this guy Sean is treating me like trash.
So I say how about until December...no reply, he asks me my first and last name and then snaps, if you miss any of these tee times I will charge you. So now he is threatening me if I miss a tee time after basically calling me a fool for not having a tee time....I then say, so I am making these tee times at your suggestion, the tee times don't really mean a thing because as you told me Oak Trail does not have a starter this time of year, so they are not enforced but if I miss a tee time you will still charge me...Does this sound right I ask...Sean says yup! That's our policy.
I am thinking this must be the Tower of Terror because I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone!! Now I am really frustrated due to the way he has been snapping at me with an arrogant attitude but instead of causing a scene I take a deep breath ask what day is my first tee time (Sept.9th) say thank you and start to walk out. The only reason I didn't give him a piece of my mind is because I am there all the time and have never had an experience like this. Andrew who is a superstar and Chris are both fantastic employees and have looked after my bookings numerous times and are a pleasure to deal with and make you feel like you are at Disney among many other employees at the pro shop. This Sean guy whom I have never seen before ever....was the complete opposite, hard to believe he has lasted 10 years. So I begin to walk away and Sean says here is my card if you have any problems, hands it to me with his little smirk again, I begin to walk away look at his card says Sean Clarson PGA, Head Golf Professional....I couldn't believe I was treated and talked down to by the Head Golf Professional at Disney!!!
So now it is almost 4 hrs later, still no email confirmation of my tee times or dates...have no idea what he booked for me. Oh and even the web site has no notification of Oak Trail's closure...I guess against company policy.

Sean dropped the ball on this one.

R. Buckley

A fun outing! The course was in good shape and although small, the greens rolled true and were also in good condition.

The par 5's are a challenge as were several other holes and all-in-all, it was fun to play.

The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful as one might expect from a Disney course.