Burgeoning Branson Golf Destination Beckons Visitors for Spring Break and Beyond By Brian Weis

Burgeoning Branson Golf Destination Beckons Visitors for Spring Break and Beyond

Country's Fastest-Growing, Most-Compelling Place to Play Astounds with Array of Courses

By Brian Weis

Planning golf trips now is particularly appealing as players anticipate the more golfer-friendly weather of March and April, and Branson is an ideal choice for those who want to experience what many are calling the country's most compelling golf destination.

The Missouri Ozarks oasis earns high praise through its 10 golf courses, all public access, all near one another, and including Tiger Woods' first-ever public course design - Payne's Valley, an 18-hole extravaganza with a stunning bonus 19th hole called "The Big Rock." When one sees the towering, 300-million-years-old limestone formations that surround the green (as does water )- with waterfalls cascading down them no less - they'll understand that this special extra hole came by its name honestly.

Add a variety of diverse yet complementary other playing options, wonderful restaurants and three lakes, and a plethora of other after-golf attractions, and it's clear why Branson is a spring break destination for not only discerning golfers, but also everyone in the family.

"Explore Branson during spring break and you'll leave having enjoyed what will surely be an unforgettable getaway," said Lynn Berry, Branson CVB Communications Director. "Play great golf courses that are drawing global interest, then experience some of Branson's many live shows, family attractions and other activities."

When considering where to stay and play in Branson, start by learning all that Big Cedar Lodge offers. In addition to a spectrum of wonderful lodging styles and Payne's Valley - Tiger's new course, the 19th hole of which he collaborated on with Big Cedar Founder Johnny Morris - the renowned resort includes four other layouts:

* Top of the Rock (9-hole par-3 course, Jack Nicklaus design)
* Mountain Top (13-hole par-3 course, walking only, Gary Player design)
* Ozarks National (18 holes, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw)
* Buffalo Ridge Course (18 holes, Tom Fazio and Johnny Morris design

Branson Hills Golf Club and the Hiltons at Branson (Branson Hilton Convention Center and Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing) combine to form another first-class stay and play option. Both hotels are located across the street from one another - Promenade on the waterfront at Branson Landing, Convention Center adjacent to historic downtown Branson. Branson Hills is a Chuck Smith-Bobby Clampett 18-hole course design, and it was voted one of the top 50 courses in the country in the Golf Pass/Golfers' Choice awards this year.

Thousand Hills (Bob Cupp design), The Pointe, LedgeStone (Tom Clark design), and Holiday Hills complete Branson Golf's roster of 10 courses, and each has earned appreciation for their playability and value. Thousand Hills has a variety of lodging options, from condos to upscale cabins, and Holiday Hills Golf Resort is a Holiday Inn Vacations Club property that is open to the public.

Branson Golf Directory

Branson Hills Golf Club, 417.337.2963
Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course, 800.225.6343
Mountain Top Course, 800.225.6343
LedgeStone Country Club at StoneBridge Village, 417.335.8187
Ozarks National, 800.225.6343
Payne's Valley, 800.225.6343
The Pointe, 417.334.4477
Top of the Rock Golf Course, 800.225.6343
Thousand Hills Golf Resort, 800.487.0769, 417.334.4553
Holiday Hills Resort and Golf Club, 417.334.4838

Revised: 11/08/2022 - Article Viewed 6,269 Times

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.