Branson Hills - Hole #18

Golf Course Overview: Branson Hills Golf Club

Insights From An Insider With Dan Davis, GM

By Brian Weis

Local and traveling golfers love to research courses before playing them, whether it is to gain some local knowledge or to set an expectation before their upcoming round. Below is an interview with Dan Davis who shares some valuable insight about the property, its most talked about holes and the signature dish/drink to consume at the 19th hole.

How Does Your Course Differ From The Others In The Area?
Branson Hills Golf Club has received a number of accolades including 7 years as #1 in state from Golfweek and most recently ranked #1 in state by Golf Advisor and ranked #36 Nationally. The experience offers a huge amount of elevation changes throughout the round combined with great undulation of greens complexes.

For someone who has not played the course in awhile, has there been any new changes/renovations to the course or property?
We have softened the difficulty by transferring a few of the most penalizing bunkers to grass and are maintaining more of the previous designated "natural areas" in and around landing areas. We have also added several new teeing areas which will eliminate long carries for beginning golfers.

What is your course's answer to Amen Corner? (Describe your best/hardest 3 back/back/back holes)
This would have to be right at the end of your round starting with #16. This 183 yard par three, almost entirely over water, will challenge the most skilled players. #17 is a par 4 testing you with target golf at its finest. A lake, creek and strategic bunkering will not allow you to snooze at the end of the day. #18 is a 427 yard 4-par that is exclusively up hill and will remind all players what to work on for your next round of golf as you prepare to relax with a drink overlooking the arena that just challenged your fortitude.

What is your course's claim to fame, or is there a little known fact that golfers should know about the property?
We have been ranked in the top 50 most difficult courses in the nation.

What tournaments/events have you (recently) hosted or will be hosting?
We host many State Association and Corporate outing as well as the Branson Invitational, Spring Classic and Shamrock Shamble which all bring golfers from hundreds of miles away to Branson.

Besides golf, what other amenities do you offer if a golfer wants to spend most of the day at your facility?
The Magnolia Grill offers great Americana style food options and is a great environment to have lunch, dinner, watch the game, or enjoy a beverage overlooking the 18th hole.

For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging onsite or partner with any area hotels?
We offer lodging packages with the Hiltons of Branson at the Branson Landing which is only 3.3 miles away. There is also a Hampton Inn and 2-4 bedroom Villas within walking distance of the clubhouse.

Signature sandwich or drink?
The Magnolia Club is a Staple that has survived a number of menu changes and updates. This includes grilled ham, turkey and bacon, with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo constructed on grilled Texas Toast.

Social Media Links - Follow Branson Hills Golf Club

Contact Course
Branson Hills Golf Club
100 N. Payne Stewart Drive
Branson, MO, 65616
417-337-2963

www.bransonhillsgolfclub.com

Revised: 02/05/2021 - Article Viewed 9,721 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.