NewsManagement/Operations

Arnold Palmer Management signs 20 year deal to manage Disney courses

Jack Crittenden
By Jack Crittenden
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“I think [Disney] saw an opportunity to improve the golf experience and felt someone with our background could do that and bring more golfers and guests to the resort,” said Jim Hinkley, president of Dallas-based Century Golf Partners, which owns Arnold Palmer Golf Management. “They did a lot of due diligence with us and we spent a lot of time getting to know them. The most important thing was whether our culture and their cutlure could work together.”
text-autospace:none”>Arnold Palmer and his golf course design team will handle the renovation and design strategic and innovative features for other courses. The Palm will be designated as an Arnold Palmer designed course after the renovation is completed.
text-autospace:none”>“After 40 years as a golf course architect, I’m looking forward to this opportunity to contribute to Disney’s rich and storied golf legacy,” said Arnold Palmer. “I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of memories playing golf and it will be a great reward to pass that on to those who share a passion both for Disney and the game of golf.”
text-autospace:none”>Hinkley said the 20-year lease is not unusual for his company, which acts more as owners than managers.
text-autospace:none”>“This is a long-term commitment and we are both excited about it,” he said.
text-autospace:none”>These are the first courses in Orlando for the management company, although it operates several courses in Florida. It also has experience with multiple course resorts, including PGA National Resort in Palm Beach. 
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Jack Crittenden
Jack Crittenden
Jack Crittenden is an award-winning journalist with more than 35 years of news experience. He has run Golf Inc. magazine since 1998, serving as Editor-in-Chief for most of that time. Crittenden is CEO of Crittenden Research, a media company in the law, real estate and medical liability insurance industries. He grew up in California and graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in public administration, specializing in urban planning. He graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law. He has run his company since 1991.

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