Scheduled to open in 2019, the new Payne’s Valley Golf Course, named in honor of the late Payne Stewart, will feature a 19th hole set in a natural cavern system at the Branson, Mo., property. Woods will also design a short course, which property owner Johnny Morris described as “putt-putt on steroids.”
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris today announced a collaborative partnership with 79-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods and the Payne Stewart family that includes plans to create the first-ever public access golf courses designed by TGR Design, a world-class championship golf course and a family friendly short course, at Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, Mo.
Scheduled to open in 2019 and named in honor of the late Payne Stewart, the new “Payne’s Valley” Golf Course will be player-friendly and walkable. The layout will showcase the region’s natural beauty with a dramatic 19th hole, “The Rock,” that is set in a natural cavern system.
C&RB reported on the expected announcement on April 14.
“I couldn’t be more proud to partner with Johnny Morris to debut my first public-access courses at Big Cedar Lodge,” said Woods. “Johnny’s incredible passion for connecting people of all ages and walks of life to nature is truly inspiring. Together we’re tremendously excited to create a publicly accessible world-class golf experience in the center of America.”
In an interview with Morning Read, Morris described the planned short course as “putt-putt on steroids.” At the press conference, Woods shared on why building a public golf course matters to him. Woods learned the game at military courses and munis.
“How do we expedite rounds? How do we get more kids interested?” Woods said. “The easiest way is, never lose a damn ball.”
Woods described his design philosophy as limiting forced carries, creating options for players to use their imagination and making golf fun, Morning Read reported.
“Use the ground as your friend,” he said. “That’s an element that has been taken out of the game.”
Woods wants the course that he will build for Morris to play fast and firm like his favorite courses in Europe and the Australian Sandbelt. “I don’t care if it is brown,” he said. “Brown is OK. Brown is good. I want the ball traveling on the ground, and this course allows that.”
The friendship between Morris and championship golfer began on the water 20 years ago. “Shortly after Tiger won his first Masters Tournament in 1997, Tiger actually ended up buying one of our Bass Tracker fishing boats. My son and I had the opportunity to deliver his boat and spend the day bass fishing with him.
“When we contemplated building another golf course at Big Cedar last year, my son John and I visited Tiger’s new Bluejack National course in Texas and we were both blown away! It is a truly breathtakingly beautiful place very reminiscent of Augusta National. We quickly became excited about Tiger’s design philosophies and the three of us began to dream together about creating a world-class golf course in our stunning Ozark surroundings. We are very proud to align with Tiger to create an unforgettable golf experience that players of all abilities will be able to enjoy again and again.”
The “Payne’s Valley” Course will pay tribute to the legacy of the late Payne Stewart, a friend of both Morris and Woods as well as an Ozarks native who won 11 PGA TOUR events, including three Major championships. Stewart and his father Bill Stewart were instrumental in helping to establish golf in the region and nationally.
To further honor Stewart’s legacy, Morris, with the help of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is also creating The Payne Stewart Learning Facility, an extraordinary practice facility that will contain a tribute museum displaying Stewart’s personal trophies, scorecards, apparel, equipment, photos and more. Morris will also honor Stewart by expanding support to a number of charitable initiatives linked to the course.
Both the Morris and Stewart families are long-time supporters of Kids Across America Leadership Initiative (KAA), a nonprofit sports and outdoor youth camp based in the Ozarks. KAA’s mission is to serve underprivileged urban and minority youth through camping, boating and outdoor educational and recreational activities. At Kids Across America, the vision is to transform urban youth to impact their communities. The new course will be made available for KAA campers, free of charge, as part of their camp experience and from time to time host special events to raise funds and awareness on behalf of the organization.
“Our entire philosophy as a company and my personal passion is about connecting people to nature through fishing, hunting, boating, golf and other outdoor recreational activities,” said Morris. “We need to do everything we can to get kids outdoors at an early age so they can discover the lifelong gift that nature provides us—plus they’ll have a whole lot of fun!”
In conjunction with the new course, Morris will open a local chapter of The First Tee.
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