Located within the Ozark Mountains of Missouri lies a destination that is teed up to be the next big thing in golf. Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, created Big Cedar Lodge as a place for families to reconnect with nature. Over the years, Big Cedar Lodge has been redefining golf in the Ozarks.
Top of the Rock, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, is the first-ever par-3 course included in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event. Perched high above Table Rock Lake, the peaceful waterfalls, wandering creeks, bass filled ponds and pristine lakes of Top of the Rock complete a true celebration of nature and the Ozarks.
Buffalo Ridge Springs, acclaimed as one of the region’s top golf courses, has been transformed by Johnny Morris and renowned course architect Tom Fazio. The course layout brings players in close contact with nature and free-ranging bison from nearby Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. The course has been rated the #1 Public Course in Missouri by Golf Magazine and holds a Golf Digest rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Gary Player and Johnny Morris teamed up to create Mountain Top. The 13-hole course was designed to bring a more accessible experience to families, juniors and golfers who are learning the game as it routes through unforgettable rock formations and includes some of the best vistas in the region.
The golf course architect team of Coore & Crenshaw share Morris’ passion
for nature and conservation, making Ozarks National a fitting tribute to the Ozarks region and a challenge to avid golfers. The course was recently named the “Best New Public Course in America” by Golf Digest and rated the #1 Course you can play in Missouri by Golfweek’s 2020 rankings.
Named in honor of the late Payne Stewart, Payne’s Valley is the first public-access course in America by Tiger Woods’ design firm TGR Design. A partnership between Johnny Morris, Tiger Woods, and the Stewart Family, the course showcases the region’s beauty through a 19-hole championship course—the bonus hole designed by Johnny Morris. Morris let his imagination run wild and showed the world why he’s earned the reputation as “The Walt Disney of the Great Outdoors.” Morris envisioned the bonus hole as an epic expression of his vision of nature golf.
Below a massive rock wall lies an island green. If a golfer is skilled enough to land the ball on the green protected by two sand bunkers, they can reach the island by crossing a bridge. In classic Johnny Morris fashion, the lake below is teeming with giant Missouri Trout and Largemouth Bass.
Once golfers complete the hole, the nature adventure shifts into high gear onto “Cliffhanger Trail,” a nearly one-mile trail that ascends the sheer rock face. Golfers travel through a natural spring-fed cavern system that dates back millions of years, alongside 250-foot cliffs, across a handcrafted metal bridge that spans a 100-foot-deep gorge, and through ancient waterfalls.
The resort also has an endless number of attractions to enjoy: Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, Shooting Academy, Fun Mountain, and Cedar Creek Spa. In addition, Big Cedar Lodge opened Angler’s Lodge in Hollister, MO, to offer additional lodging options. Just a short drive away is Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife. To book your stay, visit www.bigcedar.com or call 1-800-225-6343.
