Short answer: if your group can only play one Big Cedar Lodge course, most first-timers pick Payne's Valley, the Tiger Woods design with the famous 19th hole. If you have two or three days, add Ozarks National (the design lover's pick) and Buffalo Ridge (the scenic, relaxed round), and use Top of the Rock or Mountain Top as a short par-3 round on arrival or departure day.
2026 public green fees (peak season): Payne's Valley from $525, Ozarks National and Buffalo Ridge from $350, Top of the Rock $150, Mountain Top $120. Shoulder season (late Oct to early Dec, Mar to mid-Apr) is roughly half price. Planning a group trip? See our Branson golf packages, from $799 per golfer.
Ozark Golf Getaways is an independent trip planner. We are not affiliated with Big Cedar Lodge or any course; we plan and request the golf and lodging for your group.
How do the Big Cedar golf courses compare at a glance?
| Course | Designer | Holes | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payne's Valley | Tiger Woods / TGR Design | 18, par 72, plus a par-3 19th | Championship | The bucket-list round |
| Ozarks National | Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw | 18, par 72 | Championship | Design fans, better players |
| Buffalo Ridge | Tom Fazio | 18, par 72 | Championship | Scenery, a relaxed cart round |
| Top of the Rock | Jack Nicklaus | 9, par 27 | Par-3 course | Arrival day, lake views |
| Mountain Top | Gary Player | 13, all par 3s | Par-3 course, walking only | A quick, casual walk |
Details from Big Cedar Lodge's course pages as of October 2026. Big Cedar's golf page also lists Cliffhangers, an 18-hole par-3 course. Rates vary by season and day, so check current rates.
Is Payne's Valley worth it?
For most groups, yes, at least once. Payne's Valley opened in 2021 and is described by Big Cedar as the first fully public-access course designed by Tiger Woods. Golf Digest named it Best New Public Course in America in 2021.
The layout is a par 72 with bentgrass greens and zoysia fairways, and it finishes with a bonus par-3 19th hole set at the base of a tall limestone wall with waterfalls.
What to know: it is the hardest tee time to get at Big Cedar and it has the shortest public booking window (see below).
Who should play Ozarks National?
Golfers who care about architecture. Ozarks National opened in 2019 and was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. It is a par 72 that runs along ridgetops and drops into valleys, with native grasses, plenty of bunkering, and a stone house more than 100 years old that you see from several holes.
It has hosted PGA Tour Champions golf; Phil Mickelson won there in 2020. Big Cedar lists both walking and cart options and an average pace of about four and a half hours.
What makes Buffalo Ridge different?
The bison. Buffalo Ridge is a Tom Fazio design where a free-ranging herd of American bison grazes alongside the fairways. The course first opened in 2000 as Branson Creek Golf Club and was redesigned and reopened as Buffalo Ridge in 2013.
It is a par 72 built for cart play, with native grasses, springs, waterfalls and rock formations. Big Cedar says all 18 greens were resodded and the greenside bunkers redesigned in 2025. It is a good second or third round for a mixed-ability group.
Top of the Rock or Mountain Top: which par-3 course should you add?
- Top of the Rock: 9 holes, par 27, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1997. It overlooks Table Rock Lake, has an island green on the 6th, and is played with carts. Big Cedar lists an average pace of 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Mountain Top: 13 par 3s designed by Gary Player, opened in September 2018. It is walking only (push carts are allowed, golf carts are not), with under two miles of walking through limestone rock formations. Big Cedar lists an average pace of about 2 hours.
Quick pick: choose Top of the Rock if you want lake views and a cart; choose Mountain Top if your group likes to walk and wants a few more holes.
Which Big Cedar courses should you play on a 2- or 3-day trip?
- One round only: Payne's Valley.
- Two days: Payne's Valley and Ozarks National, with a par-3 round on arrival day if you get in early.
- Three days: Payne's Valley, Ozarks National and Buffalo Ridge, plus Top of the Rock or Mountain Top as a warm-up or a farewell round.
Some groups pair a Big Cedar round or two with a few days of golf in Northwest Arkansas. See our Bella Vista golf packages (Ozark Weekender from $449/golfer for 12+ golfers, $479 for 8–11) and the NWA golf course guide.
How far ahead can you book Big Cedar tee times?
This is the part that trips groups up. As of early October 2026, Big Cedar's tee time page lists these windows for non-resort guests:
- Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers: up to 14 days ahead for tee times from mid-April through late October, and up to 30 days ahead for late October through mid-April.
- Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge, Top of the Rock and Mountain Top: up to 30 days ahead, or 60 days ahead for tee times between June 15 and August 15.
- Groups: the page states that groups must be staying at Big Cedar Lodge to book more than 30 days in advance.
Resort guests book by phone through Big Cedar's reservations team. These policies can change, so confirm on Big Cedar's tee time page before you set dates.
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 help with a Big Cedar trip?
Branson and Big Cedar trips are custom quoted; there is no fixed package price. You tell us your dates, group size and the courses you want, and we build one plan:
- Course and tee time requests as each window opens
- Lodging options for the group
- Club rental or club shipping (optional)
- Custom logo gear for the group (optional)
- One itinerary on your phone
- One point of contact
Start on our Branson golf trips page, or if your crew is driving in, see golf trips from Kansas City and golf trips from Dallas.
Questions
Which Big Cedar golf course is the best?
It depends on the group. Payne's Valley is the most famous and the one most first-timers want. Ozarks National is the favorite of golfers who care most about course design. Buffalo Ridge is a scenic, cart-friendly round with a bison herd beside the fairways.
Can the public play Big Cedar Lodge golf courses?
Yes. The courses are open to the public, but non-resort guests can only book inside a limited advance window and resort guests get priority. Check Big Cedar's tee time page for the current windows.
How many golf courses does Big Cedar Lodge have?
The five best known are Payne's Valley, Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge, Top of the Rock and Mountain Top. Big Cedar's golf page also lists Cliffhangers, an 18-hole par-3 course.
How many days do we need to play the Big Cedar courses?
Three days is comfortable for the three 18-hole courses plus one or two par-3 rounds on arrival or departure day.
Tell us which courses. We'll build the trip.
Send your dates, group size and course wish list. You'll get a custom Branson itinerary and quote within 24 hours.
Plan my Branson trip or call/text (479) 259-2491