Disneyland Hotel Golfing 1960's

[Mr Wiggins]

As an FYI for Disneyland history buffs, the Holidayland ball field (on the extreme right of the above photo) was roughly where the Pirates show building is, and the tent was about where the Haunted Mansion show building is. The railroad tracks and berm were moved outward for the construction of the Haunted Mansion and New Orleans Square.

Back in 2009, Datameister posted an animated GIF which aligned aerial photos of Holidayland in 1960 and modern-day Disneyland, showing the before and after.

The building traced in red is the Swift's Plantation House chicken restaurant.

[oldhotelguy]

Wow that is really cool and thanks for sharing.

[explodingboy]

How about the boss man himself playing some golf on his course at the Disneyland Hotel! Jack & Bonita Wrather pictured below.

Bonita was cute back in her day!

[ParkersDad]

Thanks for the awesome stuff

[oldhotelguy]

Here are some shots of Bonita Granville from her movie days.

[Princess Victoria]

Fantastic stuff. I've heard of the Disneyland mini golf course, but photos have been elusive. These are certainly the best I've seen. Sure, you can mini golf anywhere, but I think it'd be quite fun if this was still around.

Oh, and those Bonita Granville photos are stunning! Such elegance and beauty. You just don't really see that anymore.

[oldhotelguy]

I have been told many, many times that Bonita was also a very sweet and caring person. There are still a few who are working at the Disneyland Hotel who had direct contact with her and they all say how nice she was.

[Mr Wiggins]

Oh, and those Bonita Granville photos are stunning! Such elegance and beauty. You just don't really see that anymore.

Yep. Like the company that the Wrathers ran -- you don't see that much anymore, either. Like the Wrathers themselves, it was a class act.

[NDNation]

One of the things I love about these old pictures is that they show how much DL standards have changed in the upkeep of their grounds. Can you imagine seeing brown grass and bare spots on lawns now? It wouldn't happen. In that respect, the park and hotels look much better now. I was even noticing that the palm trees in some of the pictures are not particularly well groomed.

[BoygunaSurf]

Best thread I have seen in many moons - thank you for sharing!

[HiddenMickeyBook]

Our family loved the mini golf course. I think I still have one of the scorecards buried somewhere in my Closet Of Death. We would play over and over. The Matterhorn was my favorite hole. (Of course, we would test it out first to see which hole in the mountain was the best! lol)

[JerrodDRagon]

Always wondered why they don't have a Golf Course near Disneyland...I mean over at WDW they have MANY courses here none....I'd think it would help with the whole "resort" feel

[Mr Wiggins]

One of the things I love about these old pictures is that they show how much DL standards have changed in the upkeep of their grounds. Can you imagine seeing brown grass and bare spots on lawns now? It wouldn't happen. In that respect, the park and hotels look much better now. I was even noticing that the palm trees in some of the pictures are not particularly well groomed.

The standards of upkeep weren't lower at the time -- like Disneyland itself, the Hotel grounds in those early photos were new and the seeded lawns and transplanted trees hadn't fully grown in. By the 60s the plantings had matured. Check out the photos in Don's book to see the landscaping over the years.

Always wondered why they don't have a Golf Course near Disneyland...I mean over at WDW they have MANY courses here none....I'd think it would help with the whole "resort" feel

My guess is that the land around Disneyland is 'way too expensive for a golf course.

[Bob Weaver]

They should have let those kids trapped at Holidayland just go into Disneyland while the company picnic was going... perfect solution.

Thanks for all the great photos! I'm fascinated by the mini golf course in particular and I wish it was still there.

[oldhotelguy]

Our family loved the mini golf course. I think I still have one of the scorecards buried somewhere in my Closet Of Death. We would play over and over. The Matterhorn was my favorite hole. (Of course, we would test it out first to see which hole in the mountain was the best! lol)

I am going to try and post a video of the Disneyland Hotel golf course taken from 1961. If I can figure it out, I will do it. Please watch for it!