Courses to Play in 2023 ►
Branson
America ’ s Newest ( and Best ?) Golf Destination
Words and Photography by Alan Hoskins , Feature Writer
Five courses opened by Johnny Morris within eight years vaults Branson into nation ’ s elite .
The scenic Tiger Woods-designed Payne ’ s Valley par-5 4th green is fronted by water and rock formations behind the green . ( Photo by Alan Hoskins , July 2022 )
No longer do Midwesterners need to go to Myrtle Beach , Arizona , Florida , or Las Vegas in search of great golf destinations . They have one of the very best , if not the very best .
Having toured major golf destinations in Louisiana , Mississippi , and Alabama , I can tell you from vast experience , Branson ( MO ) has courses every bit as good and many better than those found in the aforementioned golfing hotbeds . The opening of five courses in the last eight years by Big Cedar owner Johnny Morris has vaulted Branson from a solid golf community to one of the nation ’ s elites .
Most people don ’ t know that Branson boasts 10 high-quality golf courses . Morris ’ five courses ( three 18-hole championship courses and two par 3s ) are the most recent and have vaulted Branson to No . 3 on TripAdvisor ’ s list of top tourism destinations in America , No . 4 on Forbes ’ list of Top 10 golf destinations to be visited in 2022 , and No . 6 on Golfweek and GolfPass top golf destinations .
In fact , throw in Branson ’ s 29 theatres and 125 shows , and there ’ s nothing even remotely close to what Branson has to offer in golf and family-oriented entertainment .
“ What Johnny Morris has done has been fantastic ; it ’ s brought worldwide attention to Branson ,” says Pointe Royale PGA Professional Brent Burney . “ We ’ re seeing a different type of clientele because of Johnny . People are coming here just to play golf , not to play just because they are here . There is a big difference .”
“ Johnny Morris has had tremendous impact ,” says Dan Davis , the general manager at Branson Hills , Missouri ’ s No . 1 ranked course for seven years . “ Once he came on stage , it ’ s taken Branson golf to a new level . Bringing in the Senior PGA tour and having names like Tiger Woods has brought in a lot of outside golfers and a lot of attention to the other courses here .”
“ One hundred percent positive . It ’ s drawn more eyes on Branson than I ’ ve ever seen , and I ’ ve been here 13 years ,” says Ledgestone Head Professional Phillip Drips . “ We had more rounds last year than we ’ ve ever had . No longer do golfers have to go to Myrtle Beach or Las Vegas . The opening of Payne ’ s Valley gave us a jump start on a lot of eyes we wouldn ’ t have got . And it ’ s made Ledgestone look better . No longer are we one of the more expensive high-quality courses .”
“ It ’ s been amazing to see the increase in golf travelers over the last few years ,” adds Matt McQueary , Big Cedar public relations director . “ We think we have something really special here and want to show it off to golfers from all over the world .”
The Buffalo head tee marker gives a good indication of what an awesome course you ’ re playing . ( Photo by Alan Hoskins , July 2022 )
Two of Morris ’ three 18-hole championships courses , Ozark National and Buffalo Ridge , are No . 1 and No . 2 on Golfweek ’ s list of best courses you can play in Missouri . The third and newest , the Tiger Woods-designed Payne ’ s Valley , just opened full-time in 2021 and hasn ’ t had time to be ranked . But it will . Then there ’ s the most famous of the Morris ’ courses , the spectacular 9-hole Jack Nicklaus par 3 Top of the Rock that hosted the nationally televised PGA Legends tournament for several years . The fifth course , Mountain Top , is also a par 3 walking course played over 13 holes and designed by Gary Player .
But that ’ s only half of the star-studded courses . Missouri ’ s No . 1 course according to Golf Missouri , Branson Hills , is called the 38th best course in America and 49th toughest by Golfweek . Ledgestone , a semi-private course open to the public near Silver Dollar City , is No . 7 in Missouri , says Golfweek .
16 March 2023 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE