GolfPlus- Dec19 Digital Edition (Dec 19) | Page 57

creeks and ponds spread throughout this rolling
terrain that has a steady downhill and uphill
layout (for an extra challenge try walking one
round), the test continues with your approach
shot. Many of the greens are elevated and
designed with false fronts that must be carried
to reach the putting surface.
And don’t think it gets any easier as
you near the end of your round. The 18th
certainly is one of the hardest closing
holes in golf. It’s a long, uphill par-
four that goes from the tee to a
landing shelf that many players
won’t reach. And even for
those who do, many approach
shots are grabbed by a huge
bunker complex about 30-40
yards short of the green. Feel
victorious if you make par
here.
LedgeStone
This former private facility rivals
the higher-pro¿ le Buffalo Ridge
Springs and Top of the Rock layouts
for attracting serious players. The narrow
Zoysai fairways lined by dense forests and the
plentiful water features along with elevation
changes and the native rock outcroppings will
challenge any golfer. Several of the short
holes play sharply uphill. The 6,881-yard par
71, concludes with a fountain view at the 18th
green.
Thousand Hills
Thousand Hills Golf Resort has an unusual
layout (one par-5, eight par-4s and nine par-
3s) that offers a full bag of fun. The relatively
short 18-hole course (par 66) follows a winding
creek and has dramatic elevation changes.
While it offers rental condos and log cabins
and brand new 10 and 7-bedroom lodges on
the property, it is also conveniently located
to many restaurants, evening entertainment
venues and hotels.
Mountain Top
Morris and golf icon Gary Player share a
similar passion for nature and golf. Through
a joined pioneering spirit, they created a
renowned golf experience.
Player’s design is a family-friendly short
course 13 holes (all par-3) with tee boxes as
far back as 205 yards for the best golfers and
as close as 40 yards for kids.
Sitting atop the Ozark Mountains just
south of Branson, it provides some of the most
magni¿ cent vistas in the area. The 13th hole
is only 95 yards from the back tees, but the
elevated green slopes downwards from back
to front. The limestone rock formations and
views from the clubhouse make it a ¿ nishing
hole to remember.“We’ve built hundreds
of courses over the years, but never one as
drastically stunning as this. The transitions
between wonderful rock formations and
magni¿ cent views make this a true national
treasure,” Player said.
Payne’s Valley
Expected to open next July, named after the
late Payne Stewart, a Missouri native who won
11 PGA events before dying in a plane crash
in 1999, this will be Tiger Woods’ ¿ rst public
course design in the United States.
Woods said he was attracted to the project
because of his long friendship with Morris and
a desire to honor Stewart.
“I’ve traveled all around the world and
played all around the world, but when it comes
down to it, it’s about working with the people
you want to work with,” he said. “Johnny and
I go way back. I like spending time around
people I like spending time with.”
Located on the site of the Murder Rock
Golf Club, a John Daly course that closed
when Morris bought the land in October 2013,
Woods envisions a course that is more casual
player friendly including wider fairways that
are shaped to keep more shots in play.
Being built to showcase the region’s
natural beauty, the championship course will
also feature an extraordinarily dramatic 19th
hole, “The Rock,” that can be used to settle
un¿ nished wagers.
The hole was envisioned by nature-
loving Morris, and is set in one of the most
dramatic geological features imaginable.
The challenging but player-friendly walkable
course will have an unforgettable ¿ nish
where golfers will actually traverse through a
breathtaking natural cavern system to return to
the clubhouse after completing the 19th hole.
While the heart of the Branson-area
may be the Big Cedar Lodge, the 4,600-acre
lakeside retreat that connects over 1.5 million
guests annually with a variety of nature-based
experiences including Dogwood Canyon
Nature Park, a 10,000-acre nonpro¿ t wildlife
preserve, more and more it is the links this area
is becoming known for. “Certainly, visitors can
enjoy the wide range of outdoor activities from
jet boats to mountain roller coasters, hunting,
¿ shing, horseback riding, hiking, camping and
conservation activities, but it is bound to be
the distinct golf that brings you back time and
again,” said McQueary.
GolfPlus
DECEMBER
2019
61