Destination dominates ‘Golfweek’s Best’ annual rankings
BRANSON, Missouri – Golfweek recently released its annual “Best Courses by State” compilation 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. 8 rated layout.
“Visitors choose Branson for many reasons, not the least of which is our superlative golf courses,” said Heather Hermen, Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “Golf complements our lakes, live entertainment theatres, historic downtown, family friendly attractions, and modern waterside Branson Landing town center.”
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 – Cliffhangers (Johnny and J.P. Morris design), Mountain Top (Gary Player), and Top of the Rock (Jack Nicklaus) – and 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 – which has more than 300 – Branson Hills (Chuck Smith-Bobby Clampett) was voted No. 10 in the nation this year via Golfers’ Choice, a compilation of players’ favorite courses in America curated by GolfPass/GolfNow.
The sinewy layout is as beautiful as it is demanding. And 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, part of a multi-faceted resort complex, is in the headquartered in the heart of the destination adjacent to a myriad of live entertainment theatres.
All 11 courses in the destination 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.