Big Cedar Lodge - America's Premier Wilderness Resort
Located deep within the Ozark Mountains of Missouri lies an unexpected destination that is teed up to be the next big thing in golf. Big Cedar Lodge, both a nature enthusiast and sportsman’s dream escape, stretches along the shores of Table Rock Lake, and has long been hailed as America’s premier wilderness resort.
Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, purchased Big Cedar Lodge in 1987 with the intent of creating a place for families to reconnect with nature. Over the years, Big Cedar Lodge has greatly expanded its offerings but Morris’ vision to create a wilderness resort as a place where conservation and family traditions come together has remained at the heart of the resort’s mission.
Big Cedar Lodge has further expanded its commitment by redefining golf in the Ozarks. Five distinct courses are a vision of Morris and five of the biggest names in golf.
Ozarks National by Coore and Crenshaw
The golf course architect team of Coore & Crenshaw share Johnny Morris’ passion and appreciation for nature and conservation, making Ozarks National a striking display for the senses. Designed to test avid players and golf travelers from around the country and provide the perfect complement to the existing 18-hole layout at Buffalo Ridge Springs. 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. It also serves as a gateway to the Ozarks National Forest, cementing Big Cedar Lodge as America’s next great golf destination
Top of the Rock by Jack Nicklaus
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, experience peaceful waterfalls, wandering creeks, bass filled ponds and a true celebration of nature, the Ozarks and the game of golf.
Buffalo Ridge Springs by Tom Fazio
Buffalo Ridge has been transformed by visionary Johnny Morris and renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio. Adding new approaches, water features and bunkers, Morris and Fazio have redesigned the course layout to bring players in close contact with native grasses 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 stars out of 5.
Mountain Top by Gary Player
World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player and Johnny Morris teamed up to create a world-class, family-friendly golf course. 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.
Payne’s Valley by Tiger Woods & TGR Design
Named in honor of the late Payne Stewart, the new Payne’s Valley golf course is the first public-access course in the world completed by Tiger Woods and his design firm TGR Design. A partnership between Johnny Morris, Tiger Woods and the Payne Stewart Family, the course showcases the region’s natural beauty through a 19-hole championship course. That’s right, this course has 19 holes with the bonus hole being designed by Big Cedar Lodge founder, Johnny Morris. Morris let his imagination run wild to show 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 and a stunning tribute to Payne Stewart.
Below a massive rock wall, an island green rises from Lunker Lake. If a golfer is skilled enough to land the ball on the green protected by two white sand bunkers from the tee box 140 yards away, he or she can reach the island by crossing a tiny bridge. Below the bridge, in classic Johnny Morris fashion, Lunker Lake is teaming with giant Missouri Trout and Largemouth Bass.
Once golfers complete the hole, the nature adventure shifts into high gear. Morris’ epic adventure continues on the “Cliffhanger Trail,” a nearly one-mile nature trail that ascends the sheer rock face before returning to the clubhouse. Golfers travel through a spring-fed cavern system that dates back millions of years as they traverse alongside 250-foot cliffs, across a handcrafted metal bridge that spans a 100-foot-deep gorge, and through ancient waterfalls.
“This hole is a tribute to all nature gives us, to great friends and families enjoying happy times together outdoors, and to the amazing legacy of Payne Stewart,” – Johnny Morris
Along with all of Big Cedar’s golf offerings, the resort has an endless amount of leisure attractions to enjoy such as nearby Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, the Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy, Fun Mountain and Cedar Creek Spa. Big Cedar Lodge also opened Angler’s Lodge in Hollister, MO to offer additional lodging options for those traveling to the Ozarks. Just a short drive away is Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife which has twice been voted as America’s Best Aquarium by the readers of USA TODAY. To book your stay, visit www.bigcedar.com or call 1-800-225-6343.