Big Cedar Lodge Puts Branson Golf on the World Map
Home of Golf Legends and Big Dreams makes SW Missouri a Must-Visit Destination
By Tim Cotroneo
Write up your list of the greatest names in golf. It’s likely that your picks played a part in the Big Cedar Lodge success story. Owner Johnny Morris’ vision for this 4,600-acre property, located in the heart of the Branson Missouri Ozarks, includes the best of the best at every turn.
Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Crenshaw, and designer Tom Fazio are integral to what 100,000 golfers experience annually at this SW Missouri golf wonderland. State natives Tom Watson and Payne Stewart also play prominent roles in the landscape and history surrounding this spectacular slice of golf Americana.
After purchasing the property located near Branson, Morris set out to create a premier wilderness resort. One of Morris’ goals was to showcase the beauty and heritage of his home state through golf and outdoor pursuits. Morris also placed a premium on honoring conservation, protecting the environment, and celebrating our nation’s veterans. To say Morris exceeded these goals is an understatement.
All five Big Cedar courses are certified by Audubon International for their enviro and sustainability best practices. As will be the sixth – the 18-hole par-3 Cliffhangers course that is scheduled to open this summer. All five courses are ranked either among the top 100 18-hole public courses in the U.S., or the Top 25 short courses.
As great as Big Cedar’s courses are, there are five more options in the golf destination that give players a plethora of different layouts to choose from. And for the more budget-conscious of us, they are easier on the wallet yet still garner best-of acclaim.
If cost is no concern, Big Cedar is the starting point – the resort’s courses are transcendent, which the following vignettes illuminate.
Top of the Rock Golf Course (Jack Nicklaus design)
“If there was ever a Par 3 course worthy of PGA Tour tournament play, Top of the Rock is it.” – Tim Finchem, former PGA Tour Commissioner
Finchem’s words proved true when the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf, a PGA TOUR Champions event, became the first TOUR-sanctioned event to utilize a Par 3 course. Top of the Rock was part of the event – as were other Big Cedar 18-hole courses – from 2014 to 2019. Fred Funk was the initial tournament winner finishing at 20-under par.
In addition to sweeping views of Table Rock Lake, the Top of the Rock property features Arnie’s Barn, a 150-year-old barn relocated from Palmer’s backyard. Golfers will be astounded by the Chapel of the Ozarks, a three-story church boasting floor-to-ceiling views through a glass backdrop that is adjacent to the course’s opening hole.
Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course (Tom Fazio)
“This property at Buffalo Ridge is even grander than what anyone imagined. I’m shocked every time I come here. I am amazed.” – Tom Fazio, Golf Course Architect
Glance to the left of Buffalo Ridge’s downhill Par 5 first hole and you’ll find a herd of North American bison. Look straight ahead and you’re greeted by the scenic Ozark Mountains. This 7,000-yard test has been rated the top public course in Missouri.
After your round, be sure to enjoy a drink at the Tall Tales Bar or a delicious meal at the Mountain Top Grill. The restaurant’s elevated perch means you’ll delight in some of the best views of the Ozarks.
Mountain Top Golf Course (Gary Player)
“We’ve built hundreds of courses over the years, but never one as drastically stunning as this. The transitions between wonderful rock formations and magnificent views make this a true national treasure.” – World Golf Hall of Fame member Gary Player
The Mountain Top is a 13-hole walking course that includes push carts. The elevations make this course a great sunrise or sunset escape. Holes 8, 9, 10, and 13 feature exposed limestone formations that date back 300 million years.
Ozarks National Golf Course (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw)
“There are so many beautiful spots on this course it’s unbelievable. There is a certain atmosphere about this place that we’ve never seen before.” – Two-time Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw
Ozarks National is known as a “players course” given its dramatic and challenging holes. It features a multitude of contours, ridges, ravines, and sand traps. Crenshaw and Coore’s design mandate was to work with the land, not fight it. The result is a venue that provides golfers with multiple options to make par.
In 2020, Phil Mickelson won the Charles Schwab Series tournament at Ozark National with a scorching 22-under. This was Lefty’s PGA Tour Champions debut.
Payne’s Valley (Tiger Woods with Beau Welling)
“It’s mind-boggling how far we’ve come and how special this place is.” – Tiger Woods
The 7,300-yard Payne’s Valley is Morris and Woods’ tribute to Missouri-native Payne Stewart. While traversing the Big Cedar Lodge grounds, restaurants, lodges, and event centers, you’ll find Stewart’s knicker-clad image everywhere.
Payne’s Valley is also where you’ll realize Morris’ passion for his home state’s limestone caves and outcroppings. The 18th hole putting green is framed by nearly 180 degrees of rock.
Tiger’s first public course design in America is also home to a little something extra titled The Big Rock at Payne’s Valley – the astonishing layout’s 19th Hole. After stopping by the Crow’s Nest comfort station to quench your thirst, saunter to the tee box to test your mettle at the 110-yard bonus hole’s island green. Score a hole-in-one and win a $1,000 gift card to Bass Pro as well as a custom-engraved momento.
Cliffhangers (Johnny and J.P. Morris)
”It’s like playing golf on the moon.” – Bass Pro and Big Cedar Founder Johnny Morris
Opening in the summer of 2025, the visuals at The Cliffhangers 18-hole, par-3 course are otherworldly. Expect golf holes ranging from 60 to 165 yards in length. Tighten the laces on your golf shoes as only an in-person account will aptly convey Cliffhangers’ dramatic elevation changes, slopes, and rock formations.
This unique golf environment is carved amidst cliffs, rocks, and caves. Most of the fairways and putting greens feature wood railings in case golfers get too comfy living on the edge. Morris and his son J.P. call Cliffhangers the most incredible par-3 course in the world.
Branson – the Town and Golf Courses
Located mere minutes from Big Cedar Lodge, the city of Branson is one of America’s most popular entertainment destinations. The legend of Branson dates back to 1907 when the novel Shepherd of the Hills paid tribute to the region’s beauty and people.
Fast forward to today and Branson warmly welcomes millions of tourists annually. Popular attractions include three glorious lakes for water sports and recreation, more live entertainment theatres than Vegas and Broadway, Historic Downtown Branson, modern waterfront Branson Landing, and the town’s faith, family and flag DNA.
Veterans are particularly appreciated in Branson and there are several events and places dedicated to them. In 2026, when America celebrates its 250th year (semiquincentennial), the town is adding more celebrations earning the title of “America’s Most Patriotic Destination.” See things to do in Branson and sites to see on the journey to 250 here (explorebranson.com/2026-branson).
With five golf courses of its own, Branson and Big Cedar combine for 10 playing options, with the forementioned 11th to debut this summer.
Branson Hills (Chuck Smith-Bobby Clampett design) is the best of the bunch. Like Ozarks National, it’s known as a “player’s course” (a euphemism for the stout challenge it presents golfers). And like Ozarks National, it’s an exceptional, brawny course with memorable holes and lush surroundings. It was ranked as the No. 1 public course for several years until Big Cedar’s three 18-holers opened. Now it’s No. 4 giving Branson the top four courses in the state (source: “Golfweek’s Best Courses by State”) and five overall.
The fifth? LedgeStone Country Club (ranked 7th in Missouri by Golfweek), a Tom Clark design that is a sinewy, rollicking layout. With hole names like The Slot, Temptation, Deception, and Sidewinder, one quickly begins to understand the exciting, exacting aspects that await.
Thousand Hills is one of the most popular courses in the golf destination and a great place for golf groups to stay thanks to its various accommodations offered. Reunion Lodges are multi-bedroom units with full kitchens, living rooms, and spacious decks overlooking the par-66 Bob Cupp-designed track. Don’t let the relative shortness of the design fool you – there are an array of ingenious holes that require quality golf to make par.
The Pointe and Holiday Hills round out the destination’s courses. Both are known as player friendly courses. Holiday Hills was the first course in Branson, and The Pointe is where many of Branson’s most popular entertainers from yesteryear lived and/or played (Andy Williams, for example).
When traveling to Branson with the family and considering other attractions, start with Silver Dollar City, a theme park with amusement rides, live shows, craftspeople, festivals, and adventure tours. History buffs are drawn to Silver Dollar City’s Marvel Caves which provides a glimpse into Missouri during the 1800s. This theme park also includes craftsmen showcasing vintage Branson professions such as blacksmiths, candy makers, and bakers. Thrill seekers can’t get enough of Silver Dollar’s seven roller coasters including one that soars seven stories high and another that travels at speeds of 68 miles per hour.
Something New on the Horizon
Like Branson, Big Cedar offers more than golf. There are two upscale marinas, an award-winning spa, a nature arena for concerts and events, a natural history museum, pools, family friendly amenities, bass fishing with professional guides, and much more.
Big Cedar is a favorite destination for buddy trips and families seeking a multigenerational vacation. From an accommodation standpoint, there are lodges, cabins, cottages, and villas. Dining options are plentiful with over a dozen restaurants and bars, as well as a wine and whisky cellar. Top of the Rock’s Buffalo Bar features nightly bagpipe ceremonies at sunset overlooking Table Rock Lake accompanied by a Civil War era cannon fired simultaneously. Also, Big Cedar annually offers curated events for veterans during Memorial weekend, the 4th of July, and Veterans Day.
With Johnny Morris at the helm, there is always something new and exciting on the horizon. In 2026, the Big Cedar Lodge team eagerly anticipates unveiling On the Rocks – described as “The Most Extreme Putting Course on the Planet.” Will this new course deliver? When your hospitality benchmark begins and ends with the best of the best, it’s a sure bet that Big Cedar will exceed expectations.
