Why It’s Time to Move Branson To The Top Of Your Golf Vacation Wish List

Even beyond Big Cedar Lodge, this iconic Missouri city is hiding some incredible courses in plain sight.

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When it comes to the ultimate checklist of golf trips you can take within the United States, Big Cedar Lodge is an obvious inclusion. In fact, if you follow any of the golf writers and influencers who have visited since last year’s grand opening of Cliffhangers, Johnny Morris’s sprawling resort might even be at the top of your list right now. It is, after all, an almost indescribable experience for players of all levels, as the multiple courses are among the best in the nation and feature several “musts” — like the 19th Hole at Payne’s Valley — and the property itself boasts a combination of breathtaking natural surroundings with world-class accommodations.

However, the biggest mistake you can make when visiting Big Cedar is believing that it’s the only golf experience that matters in Branson. If you’re familiar with this family-friendly Midwestern vacation setting that has long been hailed as “The Live Entertainment Capital of the World,” you might think it’s antiquated or even outdated, as it is bolstered by celebrities like Yakov Smirnoff and Dolly Parton, among others. And while the latter has reached Betty White levels of public adoration, she’s still not exactly a magnet for younger travelers.

Driving into the heart of Branson recently, I was shocked to learn that this isn’t your grandparents’ getaway anymore. A wave of nostalgia smacked me in the face, not just because this is a time capsule of the nation’s rich musical and entertainment history, but also because I’m a St. Louis boy and my family once made annual treks here to enjoy budget-friendly fun for all ages. Hell, as I stared at the various roadside attractions and stereotypical gift shops, it felt like it hadn’t been 30+ years since my last visit, as it all just seemed so familiar.

Sure, a lot of this Midwest town feels stuck in time, between Dolly’s massive restaurant and the many (many, many, many) venues with celebrity impersonators, but there’s also a calming warmth and magnetism to it all, as evidenced by the millions of annual visitors. Yet, even as families still drive from all over for affordable lodging and activities, as well as the rejuvenated downtown scene, the biggest, fastest growing attraction here is golf.

Big Cedar Lodge is, again, the obvious example, and your entire Branson vacation could be based around this property, but you would be depriving yourself of a more fulfilling golf experience by not considering the city itself. It’s also a far more affordable option, but that’s up to your crew to decide.

Big Cedar vs the Bigger Golf Picture

Prior to my first visit to Big Cedar Lodge, I had heard enough stories from friends and my fellow golf writers to think I had an idea of what to expect. Here’s the thing, though: You cannot fathom how incredible this place is until you’re there. No photos, videos, or seemingly endless content from the Barstool Internet Invitational can prepare you for the aura, scope, and creative brilliance of this vacation masterpiece.

Like I said, you can base your entire Branson vacation experience at Big Cedar and you will, without a doubt, have an outstanding time. The resort is tucked away in an area that makes it seem other-worldly, and as evidenced by last year’s introduction of Cliffhangers, there is an emphasis on developing new, refreshing, and thoroughly creative concepts that will keep guests returning year after year.

In fact, this was confirmed when my friends and I were playing the celebrated short course and had to pause as a very familiar face drove past our tee box: Tom Fazio, on a top-secret scouting mission. (At least that’s what we told ourselves to seem a little more dramatic.)

Beyond golf, you’ll enjoy predictably outstanding dining options, including Osage Restaurant, with its incredible views and “Sunset Ceremony” cannon show, as well as a variety of accommodations, so every type of trip, from strictly “as much golf as humanly possible” to eco-curious family gatherings, will not only be successful, but also unforgettable. That’s obviously our goal when spending so much time and money, but you can actually save cash and add more to your trip by staying within the city itself.

Settle in the Heart of Bustling Branson

When “affordability” is the likely frontrunner for Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year, you have to ask yourself, what matters more: Resort spoils or saving enough money to pay for more rounds of golf? For us, the latter prevailed, so the quest to find the best place in terms of price, location, and space seemed daunting at first glance, but it turned out to be shockingly easy to find something we all agreed was perfect.

For a group of golf-obsessed bros on a budget, Thousand Hills is the simplest decision in town — although it absolutely qualifies for any type of traveler, as we had families, honeymooners, and retirees all within a stone’s throw of our three-story rental. In addition to a central location that sets you within minutes of the first tee box of the course that shares the same name, Thousand Hills is ideal, first and foremost, because of the different types of accommodations. We settled for basic comfort, a big kitchen (because I like to cook big ass breakfasts and grill post-round steaks), and extra space so we could kick back and relax before and after golf without having to worry about tripping over each other. However, a quick perusal of the website reveals other options that are great for people who aren’t dying to squeeze in 36 holes each day.

As I walked to Starbucks each morning for my mandatory bucket of cold brew, it allowed me to ponder the town a little more and think about the many activities I could pack an itinerary with for the sake of my 10-year-old son’s entertainment, as well as my wife and the in-laws, because that’s basically how I gauge whether or not a destination is the complete package. What cemented this for me was an evening spent exploring the downtown scene, which, to a guy who used to visit as a child, felt like a Main Street USA on the verge of becoming its own big attraction.

Despite the kitschiness and occasionally corny shops and attractions, Branson is the real deal and then some for every type of vacation, which is very hard to find these days.

Teeing Off All Over Branson

When it comes to elements like course design, the game’s history, and consistently breaking 90, I will never profess to be a golf expert. For anyone planning a trip based solely on golf and therefore looking for expert opinions and advice, look no further than Golfweek, which recently ranked every state’s best courses and determined that half of the Show Me State’s top options are located in Branson. Again, that’s obvious enough with Big Cedar’s offerings – Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge, and Payne’s Valley make up the Top 3, after all – but the city’s other courses are worthy of the spotlight.

For instance, the No. 4 course is Branson Hills Golf Club, a Chuck Smith and Bobby Clampett design that was recently anointed the No. 10 course in the nation by Golfers’ Choice, and some people, believe it or not, prefer its simple beauty and excellent layout to the fancier courses at Big Cedar. LedgeStone Country Club is another course that makes the list and its proximity to Big Cedar means that, at the very least, you can round it into your resort-based vacation plans to get a taste of the golf action off-property. But even then you’d still be missing out on great plays like Holiday Hills and The Pointe, which aren’t household names in the online golfing world, but they’re still packed with enough scenery to keep your Instagram feed loaded for weeks.

As I mentioned, staying in a Thousand Hills property allowed us convenient access to the Bob Cupps-designed course of the same name, and it took stepping into the tee box on the first hole to instantly understand why this is an award-winning favorite for locals. Even as it weaves through local neighborhoods, this course feels like it’s as isolated as the best resort courses, and it is so deceptive and tricky that I couldn’t help but laugh equally as hard at my worst shots and luckiest bounces. Reflecting on the round at the adorable Mulligan’s Grill, where you’ll enjoy a perfect burger, I wanted my group to turn right around and head back out, because it was simply that damned enjoyable.

That’s sort of Branson in a nutshell – surprises around every corner that’ll repeatedly exceed your expectations. The city isn’t synonymous with luxury and 5-star prestige, but most of us aren’t looking for that when it comes to a golf-packed vacation. The fact that more than a third of Americans can drive here in less than 24 hours makes it clear why the destination is so consistently popular, and the wide variety of accommodations makes it arguably the most convenient escape in the U.S. as well.

The cherry on top is 11 golf courses that are celebrated by experts and Average Joes alike – 12 if you count the new 2-acre putting course at Big Cedar that opened July 4 – each one acting like a piece in a larger puzzle that reveals a city that spoils visitors with subtle excellence. Not once did I complain about anything or even mutter curse words at crowds, traffic, or slow players. Instead, all I remember saying was, “I can’t wait to come back and do it again.”