MO
The Top of the Rock Golf Course is a nine-hole, par-3 layout designed by Jack Nicklaus, situated at Big Cedar Lodge near Ridgedale, Missouri. Overlooking Table Rock Lake, the course is distinguished as the only par-3 layout ever utilized by the PGA Tour for a championship event. The terrain features dramatic elevation changes, with holes stretching over 200 yards and incorporating lakes, cliffs, and exposed rock ledges. Players warm up at the adjacent Ozarks National practice facility before beginning their round. The course begins near the Buffalo Bar patio, with the first hole offering a slight downhill shot that frames views of the Chapel of the Ozarks and Jack’s Cabin. The second hole presents a 100-foot drop to a green surrounded by rhododendrons, requiring players to pass through a unique rock tunnel to access the back tee. Hole three is considered one of the most difficult on the layout, featuring a highly elevated back tee that demands a downhill shot to a 30-yard deep green cut into the hillside, guarded by large bunkers and a massive oak tree. Water hazards and narrow targets define the middle holes. The fourth hole introduces a lake that cuts across the fairway, with the green protected by bunkers and azaleas. The fifth hole is a short but precise par-3 requiring an accurate short-iron shot across a valley to a narrow green fronted by deep bunkers. The sixth hole features an island green completely surrounded by water and rock formations, demanding a precise strike from an elevated tee to find dry land.
