Ozarks National, Payne’s Valley and Buffalo Ridge. 3 beautiful courses in the Ozarks near Branson, MO. I recently played all 3 and would recommend taking a trip there if you have not already.
What started out as a single course formerly known as Branson Creek has been transformed into a must see golf destination call Big Cedar Nature Golf. The formerly known Branson Creek is now called Buffalo Ridge and is a Tom Fazio design. Ozark National, built on top of the old John Daly murder rock course, is a gem designed by the Coore/Crenshaw team.
Payne’s Valley is a Tiger Woods creation. There is also a par 3 course, Top of the Rock, a Jack Nicklaus signature course and Mountain Top a 13 hole Gary Player design.
Buffalo Ridge:
A scenic downhill par 5 that is reachable in 2 starts your round. Playing 555 yards from blue tees the 1st hole has large fairway bunkers down both sides and bunkers that protect the green. The next 4 holes all play slightly downhill with the par 4 fifth hole the most memorable. A long par 4 that has water down the right side of the hole. A par here is a good score. Holes 6,7,8 play in the valley. While losing the views you have from holes 1-5 being elevated, holes 6-8 play nicely through wooded areas. The 7th hole is a fun short par 4.
The front nine ends with a long uphill par 3. A large bunker protects the left side of a very large green.
Crossing the road to the 10th tee. The amazing views of the hills prevalent on the first few holes of the front nine are back in sight. 10 is a slight dogleg left with bunker protecting the dogleg. Playing slightly downhill a good drive down the left side will leave a short iron approach and a chance for birdie.
The uphill par 4 15th is the showstopper for the back nine. Framed by trees, bunkers and a lake on the right, it is the stuff great pictures are made of. All sorts of options exist off the tee. From driver for the risk takers to long irons for placement seeking golfers. This is a must-see fun hole to play.
The finishing hole is a long par 5. Scenic views off the tee with a good wind behind you the green is reachable in two. The green is large with a ridge running through it creating 2 tiers in which getting on the right one will decrease your chances for a 3 putt.
Buffalo Ridge is a very enjoyable course worth the trip.
Ozarks National:
Built on top of what was once a John Daly design has been transformed into a wonderful new golf course. Ozark National has many holes offering wonderful views of the hills surrounding the course.
Some memorable holes from the front nine include the opening hole which is a reachable par 5. Playing uphill for the tee shot, a good drive will get you to the top of the hill leaving a downhill 2nd shot which can reach the green.
The 4th hole offers an uphill tee shot to a wide fairway. A bunker in front of the green obstructs a full view of a very large green with a ridge bisecting it from front to back. One of the best views on the course is found here on the 4th green.
The par 3 eighth hole sits in a hillside played over a ravine. A picturesque hole, bunkers guard both the front and back of green. A well-placed tee shot on the left side of the green leaves the best chance to make a putt on this sloped from right to left green.
The back nine starts out with an uphill dogleg right par 4. Playing 385 yards from the blue tees, it has a generous fairway but a tee shot down the right side will leave you with a shorter approach. Upon reaching the green you have another view that goes for miles. This can distract you from the job at hand which is to get down in 2 putts on this large green.
Holes 11-16 are solid golf holes with my only complaint coming on holes 14 and 15. They have blind tee shots. The directional markers used to show you which way to hit your tee shot is not easily seen.
Hole 17, in my opinion, would be the signature hole. A downhill par 3, the view is absolutely stunning. Playing around 115-135 yards and the prevailing wind at your back, club selection is critical. The 18th plays to a wide fairway with an uphill second shot.
Ozark National is a very enjoyable golf course. The fairways are wide and allow for a few missed drives. This gives you a chance to recover and still hit greens in reg. The approach shots need to be more precise as the greens are good size and undulating. 3 putts will come into play with approach shots not hit the right distance.
Payne’s Valley:
Having heard and read a few things about Payne’s Valley, I was excited to get the chance to play it. The clubhouse is at the top of a hill with a lot of the course viewable in the valley below.
The drive to the first tee in your cart sets up the day. Winding through stone walls, you can tell this is a different kind of place. Arriving at the first tee, the view on the downhill par 4 is awesome. Playing 483 yards from the Tiger tees, the first hole is a great start to the round.
The par 3 second hole is also downhill. The scorecard says 267 from the Tiger tees and 237 from the blue tees. It plays at least 2 clubs less due to the elevation change. This hole has a large green and is another scenic hole.
The 3rd hole is a drivable par 4 with a wide fairway. Bunkers guard the front and right side of the green. Reaching the tee on the 4th hole, you have just played 3 really fun golf holes and it continues with this slightly downhill par 5. Reaching the green in 2 on this hole is possible with a good drive down the right side. The green is guarded by a lake left and bunkers left and behind. A stone wall sits behind the green.
The 5th hole is a par 3. A peninsula green, water on 3 sides leaves the left side as your only bailout. Playing 169 yards from the blue tees, the green is sloped with a high point in the middle of the green, feeding shots hit to the middle off to the sides.
The 6th-9th holes are good golf holes playing on the flatter part of the property. The 9th hole is the number 1 handicap hole. A 429 yard par 4, it bends slightly to the right with a drop off left of the green.
The back nine starts with a beautiful downhill par 3. The 10th hole plays 161 yards from the blue tees. A waterfall behind the green adds to the eye candy.
The 12th hole is another drivable Par 4. Playing 322 from the blue tees, a wind at your back and firm fairways make this a fun hole to try and drive. At this point in the round the anticipation is starting to build for the 18thhole. If you have seen any pictures of it, you know what I am talking about.
Holes 13-15 all gently play uphill. By the time you reach the 15th green, looking back down the hill gives you a view of many of the holes on the golf course. The par 3 sixteenth plays back downhill. At 204 yards, the hole has a bunker right of the large green and bunker left. Par is a good score here.
After playing the par 4 17th, you reach the hole everyone is talking about. The par 5 eighteen plays 522 yards from the blue tees. It is possible to reach the green in two but this is a hole where if you take 3 shots to get there you won’t mind. Each shot bringing you closer to what is called “The Big Rock”. The green sits below a rock wall that is unlike anything I have seen on a golf course. Framed amazingly, it’s something you just have to see. Whatever you score on the 18th you won’t forget this hole.
The fun continues for one more hole at Payne’s Valley. The 19th hole is part TPC Sawgrass and part Wolf Creek. For those of you who have been to Wolf Creek you know what I am talking about. The 19th hole is around 113 yards depending on the tees you play . An island green that is surrounded by waterfalls and limestone rock, this is a perfect ending to a great round of golf.
Big Cedar says they are America’s next great golf destination. I would have a hard time arguing that point. I highly recommend taking a golf trip here to see these 3 wonderful courses. Have you played at Big Cedar? Let me know what you think. Email me at Jeff@1000awesomethingsaboutgolf.com or create a post in our forums here.
