A view of the par-3 19th "bonus hole" at Payne's Valley.
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Tiger Woods’ newest course, Payne’s Valley, held its grand opening on Tuesday at Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozarks with the first-ever Payne’s Valley Cup, an exhibition that saw Woods and Justin Thomas take on Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy.
Woods’ newest design venture is also his first public one, and it’s a stunning property on an area rich with golf courses (there’s already four other gems at Big Cedar Lodge).
Payne’s Valley, named after the late Payne Stewart, who was from the area, has wide fairways, rolling terrain and gorgeous views. But the most memorable hole? That might just be the 19th — a dramatic par-3 “bonus hole” that features a narrow island green framed by a massive limestone outcrop and waterfalls. The clubhouse sits on top — hundreds of feet above the green — and looks down on the finish.
But while the course is a Woods design, the 19th hole was apparently designed by Big Cedar Lodge owner (and Bass Pro Shops founder) Johnny Morris. The hole is nicknamed “Big Rock at Payne’s Valley” and plays at 202 yards from the back tee. Check out a few more pictures of the stunning 19th hole at Payne’s Valley and for more on Woods’ newest course, click here. (Or, catch the Payne’s Valley Cup from 3-7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel on Tuesday or look for upcoming replays.)
As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of the sport’s most-read news and service websites. He spends most of his days writing, editing, planning and wondering if he’ll ever break 80. Before joining GOLF.com in 2015, he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and two kids. You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com.