Short answer: If you want us to recommend the best golf courses at Big Cedar Lodge for average golfers, start with Payne's Valley: its wide fairways make it the most forgiving of the 18-hole courses. Add Buffalo Ridge Springs from the forward tees, save Ozarks National for the stronger players in your group, and use the par-3 courses (Top of the Rock, Mountain Top and Cliffhangers) for the lowest-stress rounds.
By "average golfer" we mean roughly a 12 to 25 handicap. Ozark Golf Getaways is an independent trip planner, not affiliated with Big Cedar Lodge or any course named here.
Which Big Cedar courses are most forgiving for average golfers?
Here is how the six courses rank for a mid-to-high handicap, most forgiving first among the 18-hole layouts.
| Course | Type | Average-golfer fit | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payne's Valley | 18 holes, Tiger Woods design | Best 18-hole pick | Wide fairways and broad shaping; big, sloping greens are the main test |
| Buffalo Ridge Springs | 18 holes, Tom Fazio design | Good from the right tees | Scenic cart round, but reviewers split on difficulty and it is long from the back |
| Ozarks National | 18 holes, Coore & Crenshaw design | Toughest on misses | Generous corridors, but tall native grass, blind shots and elevated greens |
| Top of the Rock | 9 par 3s, Jack Nicklaus design | Very friendly | Short holes, carts, Table Rock Lake views |
| Mountain Top | 13 par 3s, Gary Player design | Very friendly | Walking only, about 2 hours; built for families and newer golfers |
| Cliffhangers | 18 par 3s | Friendly, with drama | Holes of 60 to 170 yards among cliffs, creeks and waterfalls |
Course details come from Big Cedar Lodge's course pages and GolfPass listings as of October 2026. For a deeper look at each layout, see Big Cedar golf courses compared.
Is Payne's Valley too hard for an average golfer?
No. It is the course most average golfers should play first. Big Cedar describes Payne's Valley as having wide fairways, broad earth shaping and more than 450 feet of elevation change, and GolfPass reviewers in the 10 to 14 handicap range often call it the most forgiving of the three big courses. You lose strokes on the large, ridged greens, so aim for the correct side of the hole.
The catch is access: it is the hardest Big Cedar tee time to get.
Which tees should average golfers play at Big Cedar?
Moving up a set of tees helps most. Yardages and ratings below are from GolfPass course listings; confirm the current scorecard at the starter.
| Tee | Payne's Valley | Ozarks National | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back (Tiger / Ozarks) | 7,370 yds, slope 132 | 7,036 yds, slope 131 | Low single digits |
| Gold | 6,876 yds, slope 125 | 6,510 yds, slope 126 | About 5 to 12 handicap |
| White | 6,133 yds, slope 119 | 5,903 yds, slope 118 | About 12 to 25 handicap |
| Red | 4,957 yds | 5,025 yds | Shorter hitters and newer golfers |
At Buffalo Ridge Springs (about 7,036 yards, slope 130 from the back), average golfers should also play forward of the back two sets.
Should average golfers play Ozarks National?
Yes, if the group wants it, but go in with the right expectations. The fairways are wide, yet reviewers note there is little rough between the short grass and the tall native grass, so a miss is often a lost ball. Expect some blind tee shots and elevated greens, and a few reviewers say it is hard on first-timers. Play the White tees, carry extra balls and consider a scramble format.
Where do the par-3 courses fit for average golfers?
- Top of the Rock: 9 holes, par 27, with carts and lake views. A good arrival-day round.
- Mountain Top: 13 par 3s, walking only (push carts allowed), about 2 hours. Big Cedar says it was designed for families, juniors and golfers learning the game.
- Cliffhangers: 18 par-3 holes from 60 to 170 yards, opened in July 2025, with carts winding past limestone cliffs and waterfalls. It shares Payne's Valley's short public booking window.
What is a good 2-day Big Cedar plan for a mixed-ability group?
- Day 1: Arrive, play Top of the Rock or Mountain Top in the afternoon, dinner on property.
- Day 2: Payne's Valley in the morning, then Cliffhangers or the 19th hole for the group photo.
Big Cedar's tee time page currently lets off-property golfers book Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers up to 30 days ahead for tee times from October 26, 2026 to April 11, 2027, and up to 14 days ahead from April 12 through October 31, 2027. Groups must be staying at Big Cedar Lodge to book more than 30 days out. For budgeting, see our Big Cedar Lodge golf trip cost breakdown and check current rates.
Please note: Branson-area courses, including Big Cedar Lodge, limit how far ahead non-guests and the public can book, and resort guests get priority. We request your preferred courses and times as soon as each booking window opens, but specific tee times, courses and rates are not guaranteed until the course confirms them.
How does Ozark Golf Getaways plan a Big Cedar trip for average golfers?
Branson and Big Cedar trips are custom quoted from $799 per golfer. Tell us your handicap range and must-play courses, and we build the plan around the right rounds:
- Course and tee-time requests timed to each booking window
- Lodging for the whole group
- Dinner reservations
- Club rental or club shipping (optional)
- Custom logo gear for the group (optional)
- One itinerary and one point of contact
Start on our Branson golf trips page. Want a fixed starting price instead? Bella Vista, Arkansas is about two hours away, and our Arkansas golf packages start at $449 per golfer for the Ozark Weekender (12+ golfers; $479 for 8–11).
Questions
What is the easiest 18-hole course at Big Cedar Lodge?
For most average golfers it is Payne's Valley. Big Cedar describes it as having wide fairways and broad earth shaping, and from the White tees it plays about 6,100 yards with a slope of 119 on GolfPass's listing. The large, sloping greens are where it defends par.
Is Ozarks National too hard for a high handicapper?
It is playable from the right tees, but it punishes misses more than Payne's Valley. Fairways are generous, yet missed shots can end up in tall native grass, and there are blind shots and elevated greens. A 15 to 25 handicap should play the White tees (about 5,900 yards) and bring extra balls.
Which Big Cedar course is best for beginners?
The par-3 courses. Mountain Top (13 holes, walking only) is described by Big Cedar as designed for families, juniors and golfers learning the game. Top of the Rock (9 holes, with carts) and Cliffhangers (18 par-3 holes from 60 to 170 yards) are also low-stress rounds.
What tees should an average golfer play at Big Cedar?
Most 10 to 20 handicaps are happiest from the White tees, about 5,900 to 6,100 yards on Payne's Valley and Ozarks National. Single-digit players can move to the Gold tees. Check the scorecard at the starter, since tee names and yardages can change.
Can Ozark Golf Getaways plan a Big Cedar trip for a mixed-ability group?
Yes. We are an independent planner, not affiliated with Big Cedar Lodge. Branson and Big Cedar trips are custom quoted from $799 per golfer, and we request your preferred courses and times as each booking window opens. Tee times are not guaranteed until the course confirms them.
Tell us your handicaps. We'll pick the right Big Cedar rounds.
Send your group size (4–24 golfers), dates and handicap range. You'll get a custom plan and all-in quote within 24 hours. Tee times are subject to course availability.
Plan my trip or call/text (479) 259-2491 · trips@ozarkgolfgetaways.com