Short answer: A Big Cedar Lodge golf trip cost comes down to which courses you play, when you go, and whether you stay at the resort. Using Big Cedar's published 2026 rates, three rounds at Payne's Valley, Ozarks National and Buffalo Ridge run about $630 per golfer as a resort guest in shoulder season and from $975 in peak season, before lodging, food and travel.
Ozark Golf Getaways is an independent trip planner. We are not affiliated with Big Cedar Lodge or any course or resort.
What does each Big Cedar golf course cost in 2026?
These are per-round rates from Big Cedar Lodge's golf page as of October 2026. Peak-season figures are listed as "starting at" for the four big courses (some tee times cost more).
| Course | Peak: guest / public | Shoulder: guest / public | Off-season: guest / public |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payne's Valley | from $425 / from $525 | $250 / $275 | $200 / $215 |
| Ozarks National | from $275 / from $350 | $190 / $215 | Closed |
| Buffalo Ridge | from $275 / from $350 | $190 / $215 | Closed |
| Cliffhangers | from $225 / from $275 | $170 / $200 | $145 / $185 |
| Top of the Rock | $135 / $150 | $115 / $130 | $90 / $100 |
| Mountain Top | $100 / $120 | $70 / $80 | $55 / $65 |
2026 seasons: peak April 13 to October 25, shoulder March 6 to April 12 and October 26 to December 6, off-season January 1 to March 5 and December 7 to 31. A non-playing rider pays $45 plus tax at the four big courses and $30 plus tax at Top of the Rock.
Source: bigcedar.com/golf rates, October 2026. Rates change, so check current rates before you book.
How do you build a per-golfer budget for Big Cedar?
Add up five lines, then divide shared costs by the number of golfers:
- Golf: the green fee for each round from the table above, plus any tax.
- Lodging: the total for the stay, including taxes and fees, split by the group. Big Cedar room and cabin rates vary by season, day and size, so check current rates.
- Caddies: forecaddies are available on request. Ask the fee when you book and add a tip.
- Food and drinks: a daily number per person.
- Travel: gas, or flights plus a rental car.
Here is the golf line alone for three popular trip shapes, per golfer, from the published rates:
| Trip shape (golf only) | Resort guest | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Payne's Valley + Ozarks National + Buffalo Ridge, peak | from $975 | from $1,225 |
| Same three courses, shoulder season | $630 | $705 |
| Add Top of the Rock on arrival day, shoulder | +$115 | +$130 |
| Payne's Valley only, off-season | $200 | $215 |
A common way to keep the total down is one bucket-list Big Cedar round plus value rounds at other Branson-area public courses. Our Branson golf vacation packages guide covers those courses, and Big Cedar golf courses compared helps you pick which Big Cedar rounds are worth it.
Is it cheaper to stay at Big Cedar Lodge?
For golf, the resort guest rate is lower on every course. In peak season the gap on those three courses is $250 per golfer across three rounds; in shoulder season it is $75. Staying also changes how you book:
- Resort guests book tee times by phone with Big Cedar's reservations team, at resort rates.
- Groups must be staying at Big Cedar Lodge to book tee times more than 30 days ahead.
Whether staying saves money overall depends on the lodging rate and how many golfers share it, so price both ways.
How far ahead can you book Big Cedar tee times?
For non-resort guests, Big Cedar's golf page lists these windows as of October 2026:
- Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers: up to 14 days ahead for tee times in peak season (mid-April to late October), and up to 30 days ahead from October 28 to April 14.
- Ozarks National, Buffalo Ridge, Top of the Rock and Mountain Top: up to 30 days ahead, or 60 days ahead for tee times from June 15 to August 15.
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.
When is the cheapest time for a Big Cedar golf trip?
- Shoulder season: October 26 to December 6 and March 6 to April 12 in 2026. Payne's Valley drops from a peak start of $425 to $250 for resort guests, and the public booking window for Payne's Valley widens to 30 days from October 28.
- Off-season: the lowest rates, but Buffalo Ridge and Ozarks National are closed, and the weather is less predictable.
How does Ozark Golf Getaways price a Big Cedar trip?
Branson and Big Cedar trips are custom quoted, from $799 per golfer. Send your dates, group size and must-play courses, and we send one plan and an all-in price within 24 hours:
- Course and tee-time requests as each booking window opens
- Lodging found and booked for your 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), with the Bella Vista Stay & Play from $749. See how stay and play golf packages work.
Questions
How much does a Big Cedar Lodge golf trip cost?
For three rounds at Payne's Valley, Ozarks National and Buffalo Ridge, Big Cedar's published 2026 rates add up to about $630 per golfer as a resort guest in shoulder season and from $975 in peak season, or $705 and from $1,225 at public rates. Lodging, food, travel, caddie tips and any taxes are extra, so check current rates before you budget.
Is it cheaper to stay at Big Cedar Lodge to play golf?
On green fees, yes. Big Cedar publishes lower resort guest rates than public rates on every course, for example Payne's Valley starts at $425 for guests and $525 for the public in peak season. Guests also book by phone at resort rates, and groups must be staying at Big Cedar to book tee times more than 30 days ahead. Weigh that against the cost of the room or cabin.
When is the cheapest time to golf at Big Cedar Lodge?
Shoulder season (March 6 to April 12 and October 26 to December 6 in 2026) cuts peak rates sharply, for example Payne's Valley drops to $250 for resort guests. Off-season rates in January, February and December are lower still, but Buffalo Ridge and Ozarks National are closed then.
Do you need a caddie at Big Cedar Lodge?
Big Cedar's golf page says forecaddies are available on request through the caddie manager. It does not list a caddie fee, so ask when you book and budget a tip for the caddie as well.
Does Ozark Golf Getaways sell Big Cedar Lodge golf packages?
We plan custom Branson and Big Cedar trips, quoted from $799 per golfer. Ozark Golf Getaways is an independent planner, not affiliated with Big Cedar Lodge or any course. Send your dates, group size and must-play courses and you get a plan and price within 24 hours.
Tell us your dates. We'll price your Big Cedar trip.
Send your group size (4–24 golfers), dates and must-play courses. 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