GOLF+ adds Payne’s Valley as Big Cedar courses and a putting app follow

Payne’s Valley is now playable in GOLF+, giving headset golfers a version of Tiger Woods’ public course at Big Cedar Lodge and starting a planned run of five courses from the Missouri resort.

The addition also comes as GOLF+ prepares to give its Immersive Putting mode a separate app. For players who use the game for both virtual rounds and practice with a real putter, there are two changes to follow: a course available now and an app move still to come.

GOLF+ introduced Payne’s Valley on October 14. Its official trailer follows the wide fairways, elevation changes and limestone scenery that define the Ozarks setting. The course is named for Missouri native Payne Stewart.

A course with room to choose

Big Cedar describes Payne’s Valley as a course built around broad landing areas and different ways to approach the greens. The resort’s hole guide makes those choices concrete. On the opening downhill par 4, it recommends favoring the left side to avoid the large fairway bunker on the right. At the ninth, playing closer to the right-side bunker improves the approach angle.

Those are useful details to bring into a virtual round. A fairway can offer plenty of room while still rewarding a particular side, and a safe tee shot can leave a less comfortable second shot. The resort also describes closely cut green surrounds intended to allow several kinds of recovery.

The bonus 19th provides a different finish: an island green beneath the limestone wall known as The Big Rock. Johnny Morris designed that extra hole. GOLF+ says its version includes the finish, along with the peninsula green at the fifth and the heart-shaped green at the 10th.

The developer plans to follow Payne’s Valley with Buffalo Ridge, Ozarks National, Top of the Rock and Cliffhangers over the next few weeks. It has not supplied an individual release date for each in the announcement.

What the putting change means

UploadVR reported October 16 that Payne’s Valley costs $11.99 individually. It is also available through GOLF+ Pass, listed at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.

The outlet separately reported that Immersive Putting is targeted to move into its own app in early November. That mode uses a real putter and ball, with a virtual green placed over the player’s floor. Current Pass access, statistics, handicaps and medals are expected to carry over.

Separating the apps would let players choose course downloads for full rounds and putting separately. UploadVR also reports that it would remove the need to switch between controller input and hand tracking inside the same app. The November timing remains a target; Payne’s Valley is the part players can access today.