How They Built The Island Green 19th Hole At Tiger Woods’ New Course Payne’s Valley

We got our first look at Payne’s Valley Golf Course, the first public course Tiger Woods has designed, during the Payne’s Valley Cup as Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy took on Justin Thomas and Woods. The golf was entertaining, Thomas exposed Michael Jordan as a cheater, and McIlroy professed his love for Dominos’ pizza, but it was the unbelievable 19th hole that really stole the show.

After Woods and Thomas won the match, things moved to the short Par 3. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Payne Stewart’s son joined the four golfers for a closest to the pin challenge on the bonus hole.

The hole itself is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s very obvious that this hole wasn’t built into the natural flow of the land seeing as how it’s an island green built into the side of a rock, but that doesn’t take anything away from how unique and flat-out unbelievable the bonus hole is.

It was designed by Bass Pro Shops and Big Cedar founder Johnny Morris and it took quite a bit of manpower to get build the hole nicknamed ‘The Big Rock.’ As you can see in the video, the green itself isn’t anywhere near the size of the famous island green at TPC Sawgrass. Surrounded by nothing but rock and water, it’s a mighty intimidating tee shot.

Thomas ended up winning the closest to the pin challenge on the 120 yard Par 3.