About
Johnny Morris designed the memorable 19th hole at Payne’s Valley, Tiger Woods’ first public-access U.S. course, making it an iconic spectacle with a waterfall backdrop and a dramatic route behind the falls.
Johnny Morris is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder of Bass Pro Shops, but he has also made a significant impact as a golf course developer and visionary in the Missouri Ozarks. Although not a dedicated golfer, Morris played a central creative role in developing Big Cedar Lodge into a renowned golf destination, collaborating with legendary architects such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player, Tiger Woods, and the team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. His first golf venture, Top of the Rock, opened in 1996 and became the first par-3 course ever to host a PGA Tour-sanctioned event in 2014. Morris is praised for his creative input, often dreaming up unique features like the spectacular 19th hole at Payne’s Valley, which he designed. Despite a background rooted in fishing and conservation, Morris has been called “the Walt Disney of the Ozarks” for his imaginative and nature-centric approach to golf course development.
