The third par 3 course at Big Cedar Lodge, Cliffhangers, is scheduled to open on July 4th. Big Cedar Lodge On the 4th of July, Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri’s Ozarks will open its new Par 3 Cliffhangers course and in doing so move into uncharted territory in the world of American golf – becoming the first destination resort with three short courses. Originally planned as a practice facility, Cliffhangers morphed into a wild adventure course with 18 holes (with distances of 60 to 170 yards) carved into 50 acres of dramatic limestone cliffs, with about 400 feet of vertical descent in total. The rugged layout, located adjacent to the Tiger Woods-designed Payne’s Valley course, was created by the resort’s founder, conservationist Johnny Morris, and his son, John Paul. While traversing steep mountain trails and navigating undulating bent grass greens at Cliffhangers, golfers will drive carts through cascading waterfalls, cross swift flowing creeks, and wind through a cave system. The finish at Cliffhangers might be on par with that of neighboring Payne’s Valley, where the par 3 19th hole -- a photo-worthy island green that sits in a pond at the base of a massive limestone cliff – has emerged as a social media darling. The culmination of Cliffhangers might just be a true one-of-a-kind experience, allowing players to launch tee shots from inside a cavern… and through a gentle waterfall. Players at the closing hole at Big Cedar's Cliffhangers course can hit from inside a cavern and ... More through a waterfall. Big Cedar Lodge MORE FOR YOU The ‘Wicked: For Good’ Trailer Is Finally Here—Watch It Now Trump Bans Travel From 12 Countries Bitcoin ‘Going To Take Over’—Tesla CEO Elon Musk Backs Shock $40 Trillion U.S. Dollar Collapse Warning Amid Price Boom “This is golf on the edge – literally,” said Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops and visionary behind Big Cedar Lodge. “We wanted to create something that celebrates the natural wonder of the Ozarks while delivering an unforgettable adventure for every golfer.” The cavern tee at Cliffhangers, where a waterfall spills over the mouth of the teeing area. Big Cedar Lodge Inspired by his childhood memories at Table Rock Lake in Missouri’s Ozark region, Morris has expanded Big Cedar into a year-round, 4,600-acre destination that connects guests from the Midwest and beyond with nature and the great outdoors. While Morris prefers fishing and hunting, he recognizes golf is a key part of the outdoor experience for millions of Americans for its physical, mental and social benefits. The addition of Cliffhangers gives Big Cedar six courses in total, helping further stamp its place as one of the premier golf resorts in the U.S. with a national footprint. The new Cliffhangers course in the foreground with the 19th hole of Payne's Valley in the distance ... More and the Mountain Top clubhouse at the top of the limestone cliff face up above. Big Cedar Lodge Three of the courses at Big Cedar are regulation-length layouts: Payne’s Valley, Ozark National designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and Buffalo Ridge from Tom Fazio. The other two short courses were designed by a couple of the game’s greats in major champions Jack Nicklaus (Top of the Rock) and Gary Player (Mountain Top). The Top of the Rock course is a pristinely-manicured 9-hole course that sits high atop Table Rock lake and for years hosted a senior tour event. Mountain Top, meanwhile, is a picturesque 13-hole layout set on the highest point on the main golf property. A well-protected green at Cliffhangers sits adjacent to the halfway house it will share with Payne's ... More Valley. Big Cedar Lodge Cliffhangers is different from anything else at the resort, with significant elevation changes, breathtaking views, and holes that climb across cliffs and over creeks as it steps its way along the cliffside with zoysia-covered surrounds. While there are 18 holes, Morris and his son included two extra “death-defying cliffhanger tee boxes” – one each on the 1st and 10th holes – that give players 20 chances for a hole-in-one. “Cliffhangers reflects everything we love about nature, adventure, and golf,” said John Paul Morris. “It’s wild, fun, and unlike anything in the game of golf today.” One of the precarious tee boxes at Cliffhangers Big Cedar Lodge Players will drive carts through caves while traversing the new Cliffhangers Par 3 course, the third ... More short course at Big Cedar Lodge. Big Cedar Lodge Cliffhangers is the vision of Johnny Morris (right), the founder of Bass Pro Shops, and his son John ... More Paul (left). Big Cedar Lodge A green site along the limestone cliffs at Cliffhangers. The 19th hole at Payne's Valley sits just ... More off to the left. Big Cedar Lodge Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions