In short
For a Big Cedar Lodge golf trip, stay at the resort: guests book tee times by phone at lower resort rates, get a free golf shuttle, and staying groups can book more than 30 days ahead, while outside golfers can only book 14 days ahead for most of the 2027 peak season. The Payne's Valley golf cottages sit right at the main golf clubhouse; the lakeside lodge is about 22 minutes away by shuttle, and Hollister and Branson hotels are 15 to 20 minutes from the courses. April, May, September and October are the best months, when the fairways are green and the heat is milder.
Where to stay at Big Cedar Lodge
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Live map · Big Cedar Lodge (main resort)Hotels and rentals at live prices, Sun, May 16 to Thu, May 20
Open the live map for Big Cedar Lodge (main resort) ↗
Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map to match your trip.
ACourse to play
Courses you can play at Big Cedar Lodge
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Resort guests first
Payne's Valley
Tiger Woods's public course, built with Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris, with a bonus 19th hole below a cliff and waterfall. The one most people come for. Resort guest rate from 450 USD in the 2027 peak season; outside golfers from 550.
Resort guests book by phone with reservations (1-800-225-6343). Golfers not staying at Big Cedar can book online up to 30 days ahead for play from October 26, 2026 to April 11, 2027, and only 14 days ahead for play from April 12 to October 31, 2027. Groups must be staying at Big Cedar to book more than 30 days ahead. Online waitlist if your date is full.
Green fee: $450 (2027) · Course site ↗
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Resort guests first
Ozarks National
Coore and Crenshaw's course on open ridges with long views of the hills. Often ranked the best of the group. Resort guest rate from 300 USD in the 2027 peak season; outside golfers from 375.
Resort guests book by phone. Outside golfers can book online up to 14 days ahead for April 12 to June 14 and August 16 to October 31, 2027, and up to 60 days ahead for June 15 to August 15, 2027. Groups must be staying at Big Cedar to book more than 30 days ahead.
Green fee: $300 (2027) · Course site ↗
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Resort guests first
Buffalo Ridge
Tom Fazio's course through native grass and a bison pasture, renovated in 2025. Has its own driving range, open to non-players for 45 USD, and a 9 hole rate after noon. Resort guest rate from 300 USD in the 2027 peak season; outside golfers from 375.
Same windows as Ozarks National: resort guests book by phone, outside golfers 14 days ahead for most of the 2027 peak season and 60 days ahead from June 15 to August 15, 2027.
Green fee: $300 (2027) · Course site ↗
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Resort guests first
Cliffhangers
An 18 hole par 3 course cut into the cliffs above Payne's Valley, every hole a wedge or short iron, with waterfalls and a tee shot from inside a cave. Cart path only. Resort guest rate from 250 USD in the 2027 peak season; outside golfers from 300.
Same windows as Payne's Valley: outside golfers 30 days ahead for play to April 11, 2027, then 14 days ahead from April 12 to October 31, 2027. Resort guests book by phone.
Green fee: $250 (2027) · Course site ↗
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Resort guests first
Top of the Rock
Jack Nicklaus's 9 hole par 3 course above Table Rock Lake, the closest course to the main lodge. It closes on November 6, 2027 and is expected to reopen around June 2028. 2027 peak season rate 150 USD for resort guests, 175 for outside golfers.
Outside golfers 14 days ahead for most of the 2027 peak season and 60 days ahead from June 15 to August 15, 2027. Resort guests book by phone. Warm up on the Buffalo Ridge range, since Top of the Rock has only a putting green.
Green fee: $150 (2027) · Course site ↗
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Resort guests first
Mountain Top
Gary Player's 13 hole par 3 course on a ridge by the clubhouse, walking only and under 2 miles. Good for an arrival evening. 2027 peak season rate 100 USD for resort guests, 120 for outside golfers.
Outside golfers 14 days ahead for most of the 2027 peak season and 60 days ahead from June 15 to August 15, 2027. Resort guests book by phone. Starts at the Mountain Top clubhouse, shared with Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers.
Green fee: $100 (2027) · Course site ↗
How tee times work
If you stay at Big Cedar, book your tee times by phone with reservations (1-800-225-6343): the resort guest rate is only available that way, and groups must be staying to book more than 30 days ahead. Golfers not staying can book online, but only 14 days ahead for play from April 12 to October 31, 2027 on Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers, and for most of that season on the other courses (60 days ahead from June 15 to August 15). In the 2027 peak season Payne's Valley starts at 450 USD for resort guests and 550 USD for the public. A waitlist runs online for full days.
Closures to know about
2027 aeration closures: Top of the Rock March 15 to 21, Mountain Top and Cliffhangers March 15 to 17, Buffalo Ridge and Payne's Valley March 22 to 24, Ozarks National March 25 and 26, and every course September 7 to 9. Lower recovery rates apply for about 10 days after each. Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge and Mountain Top are closed from January 1 to March 4 and December 6 to 31, 2027. Top of the Rock is scheduled to close on November 6, 2027 and to reopen around June 1, 2028.
A sensible plan
Four nights from Sunday to Thursday works well. Arrive and walk Mountain Top in the evening, play Ozarks National on day two, Payne's Valley with its 19th hole on day three, then Buffalo Ridge in the morning and Cliffhangers in the afternoon on day four. Fit Top of the Rock in on the way back to the lodge any evening, and avoid the September 7 to 9, 2027 aeration closures.
Getting there
Branson Airport (BKG) is the closest, about 30 minutes by car from the main lodge and about 15 from the Payne's Valley clubhouse. Springfield-Branson National (SGF) has more flights and is about 80 minutes away. Rent a car, or book a paid private airport transfer through the resort at least 10 days before you arrive.
Practical notes
- Walking
- Mountain Top is walking only, with push carts or caddies. Cliffhangers and Top of the Rock are cart path only. Every cart has GPS, and at Payne's Valley, Ozarks National and Buffalo Ridge carts can go on the fairways when the weather allows. Non-playing riders pay 45 USD plus tax (30 at Top of the Rock).
- Caddies
- Forecaddies on every course by request, and bag carrying caddies on the championship courses and Mountain Top. 2026 rates: forecaddie 50 USD per bag plus a suggested 30 USD tip per bag; bag carry 100 USD per bag on the 18 hole courses and 50 on the par 3 courses, plus a tip. Caddies are independent and paid in cash at the end of the round (some take PayPal or Venmo). Book ahead through [email protected] or 417-973-2576.
- Dress code
- Collared shirts for men and boys over 12; no swimsuits or tank tops for women. Soft spikes or sneakers. Groups of four at most. No outside alcohol.
- Shuttle
- Free golf shuttle for guests staying at Big Cedar (and at the Bass Pro Shops Angler's Lodge in Hollister), between your room and every course, on demand through the resort's shuttle app from 06:00 to midnight. Ask for a pickup 90 minutes before your tee time. The resort says only paid private rides can be booked ahead; see its shuttle information page for current details. Airport transfers from Branson and Springfield are paid private transport, arranged at least 10 days ahead (price not published).
- Stay rules
- A two night deposit is taken when you book (one night stays are charged in full). It is refundable less 100 USD up to 21 days before arrival; after that it is lost. Any change after booking costs a 100 USD fee. Check in 16:00, check out 11:00. Payne's Valley cottage guests check in at the Mountain Top clubhouse; the cottages are pet-free.
- Pace of play
- Expected round times: Payne's Valley 5 hours, Ozarks National and Buffalo Ridge 4 hours 30 minutes, Cliffhangers 3 hours 30 minutes, Mountain Top 2 hours, Top of the Rock 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Winter
- The zoysia fairways go dormant and yellow from late October to about early April but stay playable. Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers stay open in the off-season at lower rates, and so does Top of the Rock until its closure on November 6, 2027.
When to book
- NowBook a room with free cancellation as close to the course as you can.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- May 16 to 20, 2027Your trip.
Free guide
The Unofficial Big Cedar Lodge Golf Trip Guide
Every area, every course, how tee times work and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
Big Cedar Lodge golf trip questions
Do I have to stay at Big Cedar Lodge to play the courses?
No, all six courses take outside golfers. They pay the higher public rate and book online: 14 days ahead for most of the 2027 peak season, or 60 days ahead on every course except Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers for play from June 15 to August 15, 2027. Groups staying at the resort can book more than 30 days ahead; how far ahead an individual guest can book is not published, so ask reservations.
How much does it cost to play Payne's Valley?
In the 2027 peak season (April 12 to October 31) it starts at 450 USD for resort guests and 550 USD for the public. It drops to 275 and 310 USD in the shoulder season and 200 and 225 USD in the off-season.
Can you walk the courses at Big Cedar?
Mountain Top is walking only. Cliffhangers and Top of the Rock are cart path only, and every cart has GPS. Ask the golf shop if you want to walk Payne's Valley, Ozarks National or Buffalo Ridge.
How much is a caddie at Big Cedar?
In 2026 a forecaddie was 50 USD per bag plus a suggested 30 USD tip, and a caddie carrying your bag was 100 USD per bag on the 18 hole courses, plus a tip, paid in cash to the caddie. Book ahead through the caddie manager.
Which airport is closest to Big Cedar Lodge?
Branson Airport (BKG), about 30 minutes by car from the main lodge and about 15 from the Payne's Valley clubhouse. Springfield-Branson National (SGF) has more flights and is about 80 minutes away.
When is the best time for a golf trip to Big Cedar?
April, May, September and October. The zoysia fairways are green from about April to late October, while June to August is hot, with average highs near 90 degrees. Every course closes for aeration on September 7 to 9, 2027.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Photo credits
- Table Rock Lake, Branson, Missouri by Bruce Grembowski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Downing Street Historic District looking north. Ye Olde English Inn is in background by Jessalo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Branson Landing - panoramio by Cal Wolfe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Branson Creek ^15 Tee Box - panoramio by Greg Ball, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
