Fall Golf Options
Bear Creek Valley
Fantastic Lake of the Ozarks Golf, but Grab Bear Creek’ s Delicious Breakfast First!
Editorial and Photography by Bill Cromwell
With a well-struck tee shot and a precise second shot to the downhill green that’ s nicely tucked away in the valley surrounded by timber, the par-5 14th hole can be a birdie or eagle hole. The green is a bit tricky, but if you make it in two, you can bag a Birdie!
It’ s fall, and you’ re thinking,“ I better plan a Lake of the Ozarks golf getaway now before snow falls.” However, with 12 toprated golf courses along the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail, it’ s tough to decide which courses you want to tee it up on. For me, there are several favorites: Old Kinderhook, Lake Valley, Deer Chase, and Osage National, to name just a few great tracks. However, one of the more enjoyable courses I play at the Lake and always in the mix is Bear Creek Valley Golf Club, which offers a true Ozarks golf experience.
Bear Creek’ s 6,796-yard layout is the definition of Ozarks golf. The course offers elevated tees( and views) that drop to meadows and scenic valleys through 250 acres of Ozarks forest, with ponds and lakes sprinkled about along Little Bear Creek. The scenery is amazing!
However, it does reside in a most unexpected place, so don’ t let your first impression fool you. As you drive up to the course— about two blocks east of Business 54 in Osage Beach, it appears to be a small strip mall. In fact, if you didn’ t notice all the golf carts out front, you might think you’ re at the wrong place. Not to worry; there is a great golf course waiting for you.
From the moment you walk into the quaint pro shop, you’ ll feel“ I like this place.” In fact, TripAdvisor rates Bear Creek Valley 5 Stars, GolfNow rates it 4.5 Stars, and we consistently rate it a 5-star course. Apparently, people enjoy the course.
Tee boxes at Bear Creek are not distinguished by your typical blue, white, and red colors; instead, they are designated by numbers— one through four— I like that! The number three tees, for example, play about 5,600 yards, which is more than long enough, especially
if you have never played here before. There are frequent blind shots and plenty of elevation changes. So, before you bite off more than you can chew, don’ t let ego rule the day; instead, be conservative with the yardage you decide to play. You’ ll have more fun dropping a few pars rather than searching the forest for lost balls all day.
Every hole here is distinctive and seemingly has distinctive elevation changes, making the correct club selection imperative.
“ I think the elevation changes make you think about your shot and club selection a little more,” said Spencer Duncan, the general manager of Bear Creek Valley.“ There are times you may need to add or subtract as much as three clubs to the shot, so you typically use every club in the bag.”
Built in 1999 and opened in 2001, Bear Creek Valley begins with the challenging par-4 downhill 1st hole that forces you to clear water twice. Laying up off the tee to the top of the hill in the fairway is the best play because driver could bring the timber lining the fairway or the water fronting the green into play. But, if you don’ t hit enough club off the tee, you face a daunting approach shot.“ Depending on your game, it is often not a driver hole,” Duncan said.“ I think the water is intimidating, and everyone wants to crush a big drive, but if, for example, you are playing the number two tees, the best shot is about 210 yards. That puts you inside the 150-yard marker with a level shot and a good look at the green.”
To further illustrate Duncan’ s point, elevation changes range from the 84-foot uphill par-4 4th to the 120-foot downhill par-5 14th. Playing 469 yards from the number three tees, I reached 14 in two— hitting driver and five-recovery club! I crack a driver pretty well, but I’ m not a long 300-yard hitter. Elevation changes are key
12 October 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE