Tiger Woods Golf Courses: A Behind-the-Scenes Tour of His Designs and Ownership

If you think Tiger Woods just swings a club and picks up majors, you’re missing half the picture. Tiger hasn’t just played on legendary courses—he’s quietly designing them too. And it’s not just about building fairways and greens; Tiger’s courses give you a real look at his thinking. But Tiger’s name isn’t just stamped on memberships, logos, or kitschy golf club covers. It goes much deeper.

Tiger Woods: From Playing Champion to Course Architect

Tiger Woods exploded on the scene as a teen, but even in his twenties, he talked about building “legacy” projects. As you’d expect from a guy who studies golf like a chess player, his approach to designing courses is personal. Tiger launched TGR Design in 2006, but he’s picky about what he puts his name on. Unlike mega-course developers who crank out a dozen projects a year, Tiger curates every one of his courses. In fact, up until 2025, he’s been involved in just over a dozen completed course projects worldwide.

This selectiveness is a smart move. Too many pro-athlete designers wind up getting paid for their signature but leave the actual plans to someone else. Not Tiger. When he sketches out a par 3 or a finishing hole, he’s thinking about how an average player—like me, or maybe you, or even my wife Lydia when she comes along for nine holes—would play the shot. He cares about playability, not just hero shots for tour pros.

In the Tiger universe, you’ll find only a few 100% Tiger-owned courses. Most are collaborations or signature designs. His most publicized American course is Bluejack National in Montgomery, Texas. Want numbers? Bluejack National’s membership shot up 28% in its first two years—a jaw-dropper in golf real estate. Tiger didn’t just put his name on a sign; he shaped how the course plays, removed unnecessary bunkers, and made the greens fun—never punishing. The par-three “The Playgrounds,” with 10 unique short holes, is a fan-favorite, and families love that it’s a spot for both big and little swings.

Another U.S. Tiger creation is Payne’s Valley in Missouri. This place is wild. It’s Tiger’s first public-access course in America, paired with a wild 19th hole called the “Big Rock at Payne’s Valley.” The 19th hole isn’t just a quirky bonus—it’s a challenge any time you play. This Branson project is genuinely open for regular folks to book, tee up, and brag about playing a Tiger course. Membership isn’t required, and for many, this is the first taste of what “Tiger-designed” means: wide landing spots, creative approaches, and forgiveness for anyone prone to the occasional slice. Take the numbers: Payne’s Valley saw over 30,000 rounds in its launch season—a new high for the area. It even hosted a televised skins match between Tiger, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Justin Rose in 2020, putting the course on the map.

The Full List: Which Golf Courses Does Tiger Own or Have Designed?

Let’s make something clear: Tiger Woods does not possess a portfolio full of courses he personally owns outright. Most of his business thrives on his design and consultancy, not ownership in the real estate sense. Still, that hasn’t stopped his fingerprint from popping up worldwide. Here’s the run-down of his completed and active design projects, many of which he’s had as much a hand in shaping as the clubs in his bag:

• Bluejack National (Texas, USA): Opened in 2016. Tiger’s signature modern course. Notable for fun, open fairways and friendly greens.
• Payne’s Valley (Missouri, USA): Named as a tribute to Payne Stewart. Opened to the public in 2020.
• El Cardonal at Diamante (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico): First Tiger course, opened in 2014. Blends Baja desert landscape with playable, strategic setups for average golfers.
• Jack’s Bay (Bahamas): Tiger’s first seaside course with breathtaking ocean views; opened in 2023 for exclusive club members.
• The Oasis Short Course, Diamante (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico): A par-three course catering to casual and family play.
• Trump World Golf Club Dubai (Dubai, UAE): Scheduled for completion but has faced construction delays amid economic changes. Tiger designed the course layout.
• Pacific Links National Golf Club (China): An ambitious 36-hole project, but as of 2025 parts are still under phased development.

Tiger also has other projects in the pipeline: Marcella Club (Utah, USA), a new public course in Florida, and high-profile designs in Chicago and West Palm Beach. But until these open doors, the finished list above is what’s out there—and what you can actually play (or, in the case of private clubs, at least dream about playing).

What’s unique? Tiger’s courses almost never feature forced carries or penalizing roughs right off the tee. If you’ve battled your way around intimidating pro-level layouts and walked away disheartened, a Tiger course feels like a relief. He’s deadly serious about making them fun. Lydia always loves how the greens are approachable, giving both of us a fighting chance on every hole. Tiger says on record, “Golf should be playable, fun, and not a beat-down every round.”

For the stats freaks, here’s how Tiger’s influence stands up as of 2025:

But wait—why don’t we see Tiger’s name on the deed for these courses in a pure “owner” sense? The truth: Course ownership involves insane levels of real estate risk, local politics, and long-term money sinks. Tiger has instead opted to hone his brand and vision through design partnerships, often with stakes in branding or revenue, but not full real estate liability. It’s a more modern, less risky way to leave a mark.

Hidden Perks and Trivia That Most Don’t Know

Beyond his design work, Tiger has also headed some unique projects that are way more than 18 holes. A perfect example is his focus on short courses. A short course isn’t just a half-course—it’s a way to build up confidence, practice your approach shots, or just spend an hour improving your game without slogging through endless par 5s. “The Playgrounds” at Bluejack National and “The Oasis” at Diamante both capture this philosophy. In fact, the Playgrounds sees more rounds per day than the main course in summer, especially among junior and family golfers—stats that prove Tiger gets real-life golf culture, not just pro-tour fantasy.

Ever heard of mini-course memberships? Some Tiger venues have them, so you don’t need to be a corporate tycoon to experience his layouts. If you’re planning a vacation, check seasonal offers. Many of these places throw in guest rounds for tourists in off-peak times—like January in Cabo, when rates drop by up to 40%.

Want to walk in Tiger’s personal shoes? At Bluejack National, rumor has it a few holes were inspired by Tiger’s favorite childhood shots at Cypress or Augusta. The signature par-3s don’t just test your swing but offer angles you remember. Some members swap stories about Tiger’s practice rounds—he occasionally visits for casual tournaments and likes to set up surprise clinics for junior members.

Curious about the future? Tiger’s got irons in the fire with tech partnerships. Some new courses include on-course shot tracking, meaning your phone scores every shot and gives instant feedback. Tiger’s even working on a layout with climate-friendly grass and water-conscious irrigation, a nod to golf’s eco problems. Courses in his pipeline have started to use these new ideas, setting trends rather than following old models. Expect layouts where you play from virtual “Tiger tees” that mimic real PGA shot profiles—perfect if you want to compare your game to the man himself.

A lot of people think famous player-architects overcharge just for a name. Tiger’s fee is high, sure, but he often demands that members get a say in revisions. At Jack’s Bay in the Bahamas, club members can vote on tweaks to the course setup. It creates a sense of community most big-name properties just don’t care about.

If you’re building a bucket list, Tiger’s courses are a top pick. They merge his killer competitive edge with a welcoming sense of fun. It’s a blueprint more golf designers could learn from. While you won’t see Tiger Woods listed as the property tycoon on deeds and tax records, you’ll know you’re walking the fairways shaped by his hand the moment you tee it up.