A golf cart carrying several players went over the side of a cliff and became submerged in water at the Payne’s Valley Golf Course in Missouri this week. The incident occurred at the 19th hole, an island green.
Videos shared on Instagram show the white roof of the cart barely visible beneath the water's surface. The golfers were seen in the water before diving down to retrieve their belongings. Some debris from the cart was found scattered along the cliffside, with a single shoe also noted on the bank.
The person filming the incident stated that the group had been driving on the cart path overlooking the green when they went over the edge. The filmer also speculated that alcohol may have been a factor, claiming the players were "drunk off their a**." A course staff member reportedly confirmed that the cart had been driven off the cliff.
Payne’s Valley Golf Course, located at Big Cedar Lodge, was designed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Design firm. It was the first fully public-access course completed by the company. The 19-hole championship course, named in honor of the late Payne Stewart, opened in 2021 and was recognized as Best New Public Course in America by Golf Digest. It has also been featured on Golf Magazine's, Golf Digest's, and Golfweek's Top 100 Public Courses lists.
This incident draws a parallel to Tiger Woods' own highly publicized DUI arrest in March 2026, when he was found asleep at the wheel of his SUV after it flipped over. Woods was charged with driving under the influence, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test, and subsequently sought professional help for his substance abuse.