Big Cedar Lodge Written By: Art Stricklin

HOLLISTER, MISSOURI– Of all the hugely, relatively new, successful golf resorts in America, two of the most popular are also the most unlikely.

Just 20 years ago, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, founded by American Greeting Card company CEO and links golf lover, Mike Keiser, set the standard on the remote Oregon coast.

But just a decade later, in equally remote but scenic land on the edge of the Ozarks Mountains, Johnny Morris has done the same. A hunting and fishing devotee, with no real interest in golf himself, but with a great appreciation for the outdoors, Morris built, as its marketing slogan states truthfully, “America’s Next Great Golf Destination.”

Amazingly, especially considering its humble outdoor beginnings, Morris, the CEO of the equally successful Bass Pro hunting and fishing super stores, has assembled an A-List of golf course designers. They’ve assembled a golf resort powerhouse, Big Cedar Golf, along with nearby Big Cedar Lodge, which shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

The latest manifestation of that is the newly opened Payne’s Valley Golf Course, named for native son Payne Stewart, which is the first public course designed by Tiger Woods working with architect Beau Welling.

The Woods course, which opened this fall after a lavish opening exhibition overseen by Woods and friends, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Justin Rose, joined courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Crenshaw and top architect Tom Fazio.

Quite a collection for someone who doesn’t play golf, but is, “always up for an adventure,” according to Morris’ wife Jeanie.

“We are building an experience unlike anything that’s been done before that will bring golfers of all ages and skill levels together and create lasting memories,” Morris said.

The new Woods course is getting all the attention these days and rightfully so. With only a few courses to his name so far, Woods followed the same fun-comes-first design philosophy which he used successfully at his Bluejack National golf course outside of Houston.

“I have wide landing areas, open green fronts, and tightly mowed green surroundings,” he said.

“Wide landing areas off the tee mean less lost golf balls, making the game more enjoyable and helping to speed up play. Open green fronts allow for golf balls to be bounced up onto the greens adding to the available shot options and giving shorter hitters an alternative to the high shot with lots of spin".

“I want the ground to be a player’s friend,” Woods added. “Tightly mowed green surroundings allow players the option of using everything from a putter to a lob wedge when recovering from a missed green. I believe this allows players to play to their strengths versus forcing them to hit a lob wedge out of thick rough. It also promotes creativity.”

All this is available to the paying public who find their way to his remote Southern Missouri location without any major airport service nearby, constantly proving if you build it and make it fun, they will come.

“Some of my greatest memories are growing up playing golf alongside my dad at public courses. I want to create courses were future generations can share those same experiences and I can play with my kids,” Woods added.

In fact, if Payne’s Valley, set in an actual valley ringed by the Ozarks Mountains and hundreds of acres of forest, wasn’t fun enough, Morris came up with the idea of a 19th hole, perfect for settling bets, overlooking a short par 3, over water, backed by a huge mountain and waterfall.

It’s an overload for the senses, where you can end your round on a great note, a watery one or certainly a scenic one with a twisted ride to the top of the hill and the unique spire topped clubhouse.

“I want to see a lot of birdies made here,” Woods said, “I have always felt that golf is about bringing people together and this has served as my inspiration to design fun and playable courses. ”

At Payne’s Valley, you can consider that mission accomplished.

The original golf course here, Buffalo Ridge Springs, reopened in 2014 after it originally began life as Branson Creek Golf Course designed by Fazio in 1999. It still offers stunning views of waterfalls, mountain streams, covered bridge and, yes, Buffalo grazing just to the left of the first tee.

Right next to the hilly Springs Course is the 13-hole par 3 Mountain Top short course designed by Gary Player and opened in 2017. It wraps around the Buffalo Springs clubhouse and can be walked and played with only a couple of short irons.

Like many great courses, Mountain Top puts one good hole after another good hole, one scenic view after scenic view until, it all melts into one very satisfying walk in the park.

Before the Woods course opened, the newest course on site was the Crenshaw and Bill Coore course Ozarks National opened in early 2018, featuring their minimalistic design philosophy and taking over some of the land which was a former John Daly designed layout.

The views are not as dramatic as Buffalo Ridge, but the wider views of the scenic surroundings are breathtaking. Plus, there is room for pleasant hunting fields along several of the holes.

When you’re tired of that fabulous foursome of courses, you can head back across the highway to the lavish Big Cedar Lodge Resort with all manner of lodging, links and libation.

In fact, the biggest problem here is there is often not enough lodging for all the newcomers who want to try out the great golf. You can choose between cabins, multistory lodging, traditional hotel or outdoor campground, and there is plenty to see and do, but you better choose in a hurry.

Big Cedar has a large spa, a resort style pool, miles of scenic trails and a huge, ‘fun mountain,’ with all kinds of games and indoor activities for the young and young at heart.

There are many natural caves which dot the grounds and can be accessed by an hour-long golf cart tour, and the artifact museum, which takes up part of the two-story facility. Morris also commissioned Nicklaus to design a rollicking and tumbling par 3 golf course. Titled Top of the Rock, it’s 9 holes of pure fun with many of the short holes looking directly out at Table Rock Lake.

Of course, all those golfing lodging and activity can make a person powerful hungry and Big Cedar has you covered here as well.

The Osage Steakhouse sits on the top floor of the Top of the Rock clubhouse and offers majestic steaks to go along with majestic views. The Buffalo Bar and Grill is at the lower level of the clubhouse and offers more casual fare and with an equally splendid view.

Devils Pool is another fine choice near the resort pool with the Buzzard Bar as a great place to toast your good fortune of being at a place this unexpectedly nice, long into the night.

Of course, Truman’s Café and Custard is the perfect start to another day with strong coffee and sweet treats.

Never has an America golf resort destination provided a more expectantly pleasant surprise as golfers by the thousands are now discovering at Big Cedar Lodge and Golf.

For more information and to make Go to: www.bigcedar.com

Call: (800) 225-6343.

reservations and tee times.