Big Cedar Lodge's Payne's Valley Golf Course to host 116th Missouri Amateur Championship

By K.D. Michaels, Staff Writer

Big Cedar Lodge will be bringing the state’s top amateur golfers to Branson. According to a joint announcement by Big Cedar Lodge and the Missouri Golf Association, Payne’s Valley Golf Course will host the Missouri Amateur Championship next year.

The tournament, featuring top amateur golfers, is set for June 19-25, 2023. This will be the first MGA event to be played on the Payne’s Valley course. The championship event was hosted by Big Cedar’s Buffalo Ridge Springs course in 2015 and the Ozarks National course in 2020.

Past winners of the Missouri Amateur Championship include Payne Stewart (1979), and Tom Watson (1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971).

A young Payne Stewart (center) after winning the Missouri ProAm in 1979.

Special to Branson Globe

“We are very honored to have Payne’s Valley serve as the backdrop for such a prestigious event,” noted Johnny Morris, founder of Big Cedar Lodge and Bass Pro Shops, of the 116th annual championship. “Knowing that Payne and his father were both past champions of the Amateur Championship and that this group of players will be playing on this course dedicated to him, his family and their name’s sake is incredibly meaningful.

Payne’s Valley, a tribute to Ozarks native Payne Stewart, was the first public golf course designed by Tiger Woods and his golf design firm, TGR Design. The course offers pristine water features, large fairways and greens and a spectacular 19th hole.

“We are so excited to see the top amateur golfers in Missouri compete at such a special course,” said MGA Executive Director Scott Hovis. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Missouri golfers to play in the beautiful Ozark mountains and to honor both Tiger Woods and Payne Stewart as they compete for the Missouri Amateur title.”

In 2021, the Payne’s Valley course was named the Best New Public Course in North America.

For more information on the MGA Missouri Amateur Championship, visit mogolf.org. For more information or to book a tee time at Payne’s Valley or any of Big Cedar’s fine golf courses, visit bigcedar.com/golf.