(BRANSON, MISSOURI) – Golfweek recently released its “Best Courses by State” compilation on June 15 and Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge, Payne’s Valley, and Branson Hills ranked as Missouri’s top four courses in that order. A fifth Branson Golf destination course, LedgeStone, is Missouri’s No. 7 rated layout, improving one place from its No. 8 ranking last year.
“It’s an honor to be considered one of the best courses in a state with more than 300 of them, especially when we’ve improved our ranking year over year,” said Phillip Drips, Head Golf Professional, LedgeStone Country Club. “That 50 percent of the state’s best public-access courses are in the Branson golf destination underscores why discerning golfers should consider us for their next golf round or group getaway.”
To determine Golfweek’s Best rankings, the media outlet’s course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them using 10 criteria on a 10-point scale. The raters also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce a cumulative rating for each, which is then ranked against other layouts.
Ozarks National (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw course design), Buffalo Ridge (Tom Fazio and Johnny Morris), and Payne’s Valley (Tiger Woods and Beau Welling) are Big Cedar Golf’s 18-hole courses. The golf resort also has three short courses rated among the nation’s best – Cliffhangers (Johnny and J.P. Morris design), Mountain Top (Gary Player), and Top of the Rock (Jack Nicklaus). They showcase the same rustic elegance that permeates all places owned and operated by Big Cedar Lodge and Bass Pro Shops Founder, Johnny Morris.
In addition to its No. 4 ranking in the state, Branson Hills (Chuck Smith-Bobby Clampett) was voted No. 10 in the nation earlier this year via Golfers’ Choice, a compilation of players’ favorite courses in America curated by GolfPass/GolfNow. The layout’s woodsy, brawny layout is as beautiful as it is challenging. LedgeStone, a destination favorite by area golfers, winds through heaving Ozarks’ terrain to deliver a thrilling experience that requires players to choose their shot strategy wisely.
Branson’s other three courses are Thousand Hills (Bob Cupp), The Pointe, and Holiday Hills. Thousand Hills is part of a multi-faceted resort complex with condos, cabins, and Reunion Lodges overlooking the golf course that are ideal for golf groups. It located in the heart of the destination adjacent to a myriad of live entertainment theatres and other attractions.
All 11 destination courses are located near one another as well as hundreds of restaurants, scores of lodging options, and after-golf things to see and do. Branson regularly garners top rated tourism destination status in America according to Trip Advisor.
For more information about the destination, visit ExploreBranson.com.