Curiosity about what golf courses tour pros own is common, and when it comes to a character as big as John Daly, the question often comes up. So, what golf course does John Daly own? The short answer is Lion's Den Golf Club in Dardanelle, Arkansas. This article will not only cover the details of Daly's home course but also touch on his past course connections and give you a feel for what it's like to walk in his footsteps an an owner.
John Daly's main golf course ownership stake is at Lion's Den Golf Club, located right in his hometown of Dardanelle, Arkansas. This isn't just a business investment for him, it's a deeply personal project. The course, originally known as Bay Ridge, was a place Daly grew up playing. When it fell on hard times and faced closure, Daly stepped in to buy it in 2005, saving a local landmark and preserving the place that helped shape his legendary career.
Lion's Den is the physical embodiment of the John Daly brand: unpretentious, welcoming, and built for fun. It’s a public course, which means anyone can book a tee time and experience it. There’s no stuffy atmosphere here. The clubhouse doubles as a museum of sorts, filled with memorabilia from his career, including replicas of his Claret Jug and Wanamaker Trophy. You’ll find walls lined with photos, tournament-worn outfits, and of course, a Pro Shop well-stocked with the famous Loudmouth apparel.
The course itself is a solid, enjoyable layout. It's not a U.S. Open torture chamber, but it offers plenty of challenge from the back tees, tipping out at over 6,500 yards. It reflects Daly’s "grip it and rip it" philosophy with several reachable par-5s and opportunities for heroic shots. But it's also a course that demands some thought, with water coming into play on several holes, most notably the signature "Lion's Paw" and "Lion's Jaw" - a pair of demanding par-3s guarded by water. It’s a place built for the people, much like Daly himself.
Owning a course is one thing, but knowing how to play it is another. If you ever find yourself in Dardanelle, playing Lion's Den is a must. As a coach, here’s how I’d advise you to approach a round on JD's turf. It’s about balancing aggression with smart play - a blend of Daly’s style and sound course management.
On a John Daly course, the temptation is to pull driver on every hole. While the fairways at Lion's Den are generally forgiving, this isn't always the smartest play. Your goal isn't just to be long, it's to be long and in a position to score.
Getting to the green is only half the battle. The greens at Lion's Den are fair but often protected by bunkers or subtle slopes. Your approach shot strategy is vital for setting up scoring opportunities.
Every course has holes that define the experience. At Lion's Den, the water holes are where your round can be made or broken.
While Lion's Den is his current pride and joy, it's not the only course with Daly's name attached to it over the years. Understanding his past ventures helps paint a complete picture.
For years, a common answer to this question was Wicked Stick Golf Links in Myrtle Beach. Daly was a designer and part-owner of this very popular course. He consulted on the design to create a links-style layout that encouraged creative and aggressive play. Wicked Stick was a fan-favorite for many years, offering a "Daly-esque" experience on the Grand Strand. However, it's important to note that Wicked Stick permanently closed in September 2015 to make way for a real estate development. Though it no longer exists, its memory lives on as part of Daly's legacy in course design.
Another course often tied to Daly is Murder Rock Golf Club in Branson, Missouri. Famed designer Chuck Smith laid out the course, with John Daly serving as a design consultant. For a period, it was even branded as "John Daly's Murder Rock Golf Club." His input aimed to ensure the course was challenging for pros but playable and fun for amateurs. Today, the course has been renamed Branson Hills Golf Club and is consistently ranked as one of the top public courses in Missouri. While his name is no longer formally attached, his influence remains a part of its history.
The key takeaway is that an athlete's business ventures can change. Daly's most active and personal ownership role today is undoubtedly at Lion's Den back home in Arkansas.
Why do legendary players like John Daly, Jack Nicklaus, or Arnold Palmer gravitate toward owning or designing courses? The motivation goes far beyond just a business investment. It’s about cementing a legacy and giving back to the game that gave them everything.
For a golfer, owning a course is a way to express their philosophy of the game in soil, sand, and grass. Daly’s ownership of Lion's Den isn’t about creating an exclusive, prohibitively expensive country club. It’s about accessibility and fun. It provides a permanent, tangible connection to their fans - a place where any golfer can go and literally walk in the footsteps of a legend. In Daly’s case, it was also about saving a community asset and preserving his own history.
Top-level golfers spend their lives analyzing course architecture. They see thousands of holes and understand what makes a hole great, what makes it fair, and what makes it exciting. Course design and ownership is a natural progression. It allows them to put their an immense amount of strategic thoughts and experiences into practice, crafting the kind of risk-reward challenges they always dreamed of playing.
Lastly, owning a course creates a personal home base. It’s a place to practice away from the spotlight, host charity events, and connect with friends and family. For John Daly, renovating and running Lion's Den was a labor of love for his hometown, driven by a desire to provide a great place for the local community to play golf. It's this blend of personal passion and business that truly defines Daly's venture into course ownership.
In short, John Daly's cornerstone course ownership is Lion's Den Golf Club in Arkansas, a public course that perfectly mirrors his approachable, for-the-people persona. While he has had other design and affiliate relationships with courses like Branson Hills and the now-closed Wicked Stick, Lion's Den remains his active passion project and home base.
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