Hollister, Missouri, United States · America's Next Great Golf Destination
Tiger Woods's first public course carves a dramatic path through the Ozark Mountains — limestone cliffs, island greens, and a 19th hole unlike anything else in American golf.
Payne's Valley opened in September 2020 as the first public-access course from TGR Design, Tiger Woods's design firm, built in partnership with Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris on the grounds of Big Cedar Lodge in the Missouri Ozarks. Named in honor of Payne Stewart, the Missouri native and two-time U.S. Open champion, the course announced its arrival with a televised charity match that raised more than one million dollars for the Payne Stewart Family Foundation.
The land itself is the defining character of this golf course. Crews spent years blasting and shaping 300-million-year-old Ozark limestone to expose the ridgelines, hollows, and sheer cliff faces that now frame nearly every shot. The result is a landscape that feels geological rather than engineered — a quality rare in resort golf of any era. At 7,370 yards from the Tiger Tees with a course rating of 75.6 and a slope of 132, the layout makes full use of the terrain's natural elevation changes and the valley air that shifts with the ridges.
The round is structured as a journey with a deliberate destination. The first eighteen holes thread through the valley, mixing long, demanding par fours with several reachable par fives and two island-green par threes that test both carry and nerve. Then, rather than ending at the clubhouse, play continues to a bonus 19th hole — a par three to an island green set before Lunker Lake, with a 150-to-250-foot limestone formation serving as its backdrop. The exit from that green is itself an event: a nearly mile-long cart trail through spring-fed caverns and along the face of the cliff.
Golf Digest named Payne's Valley the Best New Public Course in America in 2021, its first year of full eligibility. The course is open to the public, though guests staying at Big Cedar Lodge or its affiliated properties enjoy priority booking access — a practical consideration during peak season when demand is high. The course closes for a winter period, typically from early December through early March, though exact dates vary by season.
THE TERRAIN
Limestone and ledge
Three hundred million years of Ozark geology sit just below the fairways. Blasted cliff faces, natural rock outcroppings, and sheer limestone walls define the visual frame on nearly every hole.
THE DESIGN
Valley drama
Tiger Woods and TGR Design used the ridge-and-hollow topography to create constant elevation change. Tee shots launch from promontories; approaches fall into bowled valleys — each hole feels spatially distinct.
THE WATER
Lakes and island greens
Water appears as both hazard and spectacle. Two holes play to greens nearly surrounded by water, while Lunker Lake — stocked with trout and bass — forms the setting for the celebrated 19th.
THE 19TH
A bonus wonder
An entirely free bonus hole beyond the regulation eighteen, the 19th plays 202 yards to an island green beneath a towering limestone cliff. Exit by cart through caverns. There is nothing else quite like it.
02 · The Holes
The signature holes
5 of 5 · tap any hole to watch creators play it
Six holes carry more of the course's weight than the other twelve combined — and the creator vlogs that prove it.
HOLE 19 · par 3 · 202y
The Big Rock
A bonus par three that exists outside the card yet defines the entire visit. The tee shot carries across Lunker Lake to an island green backed by a 150-to-250-foot limestone cliff draped in waterfalls. Getting there is the achievement; the mile-long Cliffhanger Trail through caverns is the reward.
202 yards · Christened by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger Woods, and Johnny Morris — possibly the most decorated opening ceremony of any single hole in modern golf.
HOLE 5 · par 3 · 189y
Island Green
The mid-round island-green par three demands a full carry across water to a green nearly surrounded by lake. A bridge crossing precedes the shot, building tension deliberately. Miss here and the drop is wet.
189 yards
HOLE 13 · par 5 · 653y
Longest par five
At 653 yards from the Tiger Tees, this is one of the longest par fives in Missouri resort golf. The Ozark terrain works against players at every stage — the hole does not offer a comfortable path to a back-nine birdie.
653 yards
HOLE 8 · par 5 · 565y
Valley par five
The longest par five on the front nine at 565 yards, hole 8 uses the valley's natural bowl to frame a hole where the approach must negotiate cliff-side rough and dramatic elevation change before reaching the green.
565 yards
HOLE 2 · par 3 · 266y
Opening par three
At 266 yards from the Tiger Tees, the second hole is among the most demanding par threes on the property — an early indicator that the back tees here are not for the faint-hearted. The elevated tee offers partial relief, but the green is well protected.
266 yards
05 · In Their Words
What creators say
3 on-camera verdicts · spoken while filming here
Look at this view. Yo, this is insane. That's Payne's Valley right there.
Big Cedar Lodge Resort Guest Booking · hotel package
Resort guests staying at Big Cedar Lodge, Angler's Lodge, or Camp Long Creek have priority booking access. They can book tee times further in advance than the general public by calling the reservations team.
Public Tee Time Booking · single
Off-property guests can book tee times online or by phone. Booking windows: 14 days in advance for peak season (April 14 – October 26) and 30 days in advance for off-peak (October 28 – April 14).
Special pricing available for local residents (typically specific Missouri/Arkansas counties; verification required).
Best time to visit
JAN · Closed
FEB · Closed
MAR · Shoulder
APR · Peak
MAY · Peak
JUN · Peak
JUL · Peak
AUG · Peak
SEP · Peak
OCT · Peak
NOV · Shoulder
DEC · Closed
Designer
Tiger Woods (TGR Design), Johnny Morris · 2020
Slope · Rating
132 · 75.6
Closed
Closed from approximately December 7 to March 5 (exact dates vary by season)
Where to stay
On-site options include Payne's Valley Cottages and Big Cedar Lodge. Off-site lodging includes Angler's Lodge (Hollister) and various hotels in Branson.
Getting there
The most convenient commercial airport is Branson Airport (BKG), approx. 10 minutes away. Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) is approx. 50 miles north (50-60 minute drive).
07 · History
Famous moments on Payne's Valley
8 moments · 2017–2021
2017
Tiger Woods and Johnny Morris announce Payne's Valley
At a press conference at Big Cedar Lodge, Tiger Woods and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris reveal the first public-access course from TGR Design, to be named in honor of Missouri native Payne Stewart.
2017
Construction begins in the Ozarks
Earthmoving and limestone blasting begin to carve the course from the Ozark Mountains' ancient geology — 300-million-year-old formations that would define the course's visual character.
2019
13-hole preview loop opens
While the full layout remains under construction, Big Cedar Lodge opens a 13-hole preview loop, giving the public an early encounter with the terrain Tiger Woods has been shaping.
2020
Grand Opening: The Payne's Valley Cup
The course officially opens on September 22 with a televised charity match. Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas defeat Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, raising over one million dollars for the Payne Stewart Family Foundation.
2020
The 19th hole is christened
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger Woods, and Johnny Morris gather to inaugurate the bonus 19th hole — a par three to an island green beneath the limestone cliff that would become the course's defining image.
2020
Over $1 million raised at launch
The opening exhibition match establishes the course's philanthropic mission from its first day of play, setting a precedent for the Payne Stewart Family Foundation's ongoing relationship with the venue.
2021
Golf Digest: Best New Public Course in America
In its first full year of eligibility, Payne's Valley receives Golf Digest's highest honor for new public-access courses — validation of both the design ambition and the quality of the finished product.
2021
Cliffhanger Trail completed
The nearly mile-long cart path through spring-fed caverns and along the 250-foot cliff face is fully finished, completing the immersive 'journey' that defines the round's final chapter.
08 · Common Questions
Answered from the library
7 questions · sourced from 6 vlogs
How do I book a tee time at Payne's Valley?
The course is open to the general public. Off-property visitors can book online or by phone through Big Cedar Lodge up to 14 days in advance during peak season (roughly mid-April through late October) and up to 30 days in advance during the off-peak period. Guests staying at Big Cedar Lodge, Angler's Lodge, or Camp Long Creek receive priority access and an extended booking window. The booking link is available directly at bigcedar.com.
Is Payne's Valley open year-round?
No. The course closes for winter, typically from around early December through early March, though exact closure dates vary by season. It is worth confirming current dates directly with Big Cedar Lodge before planning a winter trip to the Ozarks.
What airport should I fly into?
Branson Airport (BKG) is the closest option at approximately ten minutes from the resort — the most convenient choice if it serves your origin. Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) is roughly 50 miles north, about a 50-to-60-minute drive. Both are viable, though Branson Airport has limited service compared to Springfield.
Where should I stay when playing Payne's Valley?
Big Cedar Lodge is the on-site resort and the natural base — guests there also receive priority tee time access. Payne's Valley Cottages offer a more immersive on-site option. Angler's Lodge in Hollister is an affiliated property a short distance away. The nearby city of Branson has numerous additional hotel options across all price points.
What is the 19th hole, and do I have to play it?
The 19th hole is a bonus par three that lies beyond the regulation eighteen, playing 202 yards to an island green set before Lunker Lake with a towering limestone cliff behind it. It is free to play as part of the round — there is no additional charge. The exit from the green follows the Cliffhanger Trail, a nearly mile-long cart path through limestone caverns and along the cliff face back to the clubhouse.
How hard is Payne's Valley from the regular tees?
From the championship Tiger Tees, the course measures 7,370 yards with a rating of 75.6 and a slope of 132 — a genuine test for low-handicap players. Multiple tee options make the course accessible at more modest yardages, and the resort layout was designed to be playable for a wide range of golfers, not just scratch players. The elevation changes and occasional forced carries remain present at all tee positions.
Who designed Payne's Valley and who is it named after?
The course was designed by Tiger Woods through his design firm TGR Design, in partnership with Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. It is named in honor of Payne Stewart, the Springfield, Missouri native who won two U.S. Opens and the 1989 PGA Championship before his death in 1999. The opening exhibition match raised over one million dollars for the Payne Stewart Family Foundation.