The Big Cedar Lodge resort in Ridgedale, Missouri, is opening 13 holes of its new Payne’s Valley course for preview play on 6 March. The course has been designed by Tiger Woods’ firm TGR Design alongside resort owner and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris.

The course will become the fifth at the resort, joining layouts from Coore & Crenshaw, Gary Player, Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus, and will be the first of Tiger Woods’ courses that is publicly-accessible.

“We are excited to give golf fans a taste of the truly remarkable experience we are creating here in the Ozarks,” said Morris. “Payne’s Valley marks the fifth golf course at Big Cedar Lodge, helping to solidify it as America’s next great golf destination. We are confident Payne’s Valley will be a truly memorable experience for all golfers, and we can’t wait to share it with the public.”

As players near the end of the round, they will have to traverse through a natural cave system to return to the clubhouse.

Guests at the preview event will also be able to view ‘The Rock at Payne’s Valley’ the dramatic setting for a ‘bet settling’ par-three nineteenth hole, designed by Morris.

Named in honour of the late Payne Stewart, the course will open fully in spring 2020.

Read more:

• “It all started on a fishing trip in 1997”

• The April 2018 issue of GCA included a construction update and routing map