The only par-3 course ever used by the PGA Tour, a Jack Nicklaus design through limestone cliffs above Table Rock Lake.
Top of the Rock holds a distinction that elevates it beyond the category of resort par-3 course: it is the only short course ever used by the PGA Tour, having hosted the Legends of Golf event. That credential places it in a different conversation than the par-3 layouts that operate as warm-up exercises or family-friendly alternatives at most resorts. Jack Nicklaus designed the nine holes through limestone cliffs overlooking Table Rock Lake, and the setting, the design pedigree, and the Tour history combine to produce an experience that justifies its own tee time rather than treatment as an afterthought.
The holes play through a landscape of exposed limestone, native hardwoods, and lake views that compress the visual drama of the Ozarks into a compact routing. Several holes stretch beyond 200 yards from the back tees, which places them firmly in long-iron or hybrid territory and removes any suggestion that this is a pitch-and-putt exercise. The shortest holes, in the 120-yard range, require precision rather than power, with small greens defended by bunkers cut into the limestone terrain and slopes that reject anything that misses on the wrong side.
The elevation changes are significant for a par-3 course. Several tee shots play downhill to greens near the lake's edge, and the vertical drop affects both club selection and the visual impression of the target. What appears to be a 160-yard hole may play 140 yards once the elevation is factored in, and the adjustment is part of the challenge. The greens are well contoured and maintained to speeds that reward touch. Two-putts are earned, not given.
The Top of the Rock complex surrounding the course adds context that no other par-3 course in the country can match. The Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, the Arnie's Barn restaurant (a relocated 1920s barn that Arnold Palmer personally selected and shipped from his Latrobe, Pennsylvania property), and the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum are all part of the same complex. Playing the course is the centerpiece of a half-day at Top of the Rock that includes dining, cave exploration, and the museum. The integration of golf into a broader experience is intentional and well executed.
The green fee of $135 for resort guests at peak rates makes Top of the Rock the most accessible course in the Big Cedar collection. Walking or cart play is available, and the nine-hole format fits naturally into a morning or afternoon that includes the other Top of the Rock attractions. For golfers with a full Big Cedar itinerary, Top of the Rock works as a rest-day complement to the championship courses. For visitors with limited time, it provides a concentrated version of the Ozarks golf experience. Book direct through bigcedar.com.
Tom Fazio's 18-hole design through rolling Ozarks grassland, where a resident bison herd grazes alongside the fairways. Ranked among Golf Digest's Top 100 Public.
Gary Player's 13-hole par-3 course routed through Ozarks rock formations at elevation. Walking only, designed to be accessible across all skill levels.
Coore and Crenshaw's ridgeline routing through the Ozarks, featuring panoramic views and a 400-foot wooden bridge on the 13th hole. Golf Digest Best New Public 2019.
Tiger Woods' first public-access course, an 18-hole championship layout with a bonus 19th par-3 carved through Ozarks ridgelines above Table Rock Lake.