Big Cedar
Ozarks National
Ridge-top strategic golf
Ozarks National is the smart golfer's answer. It has the best architecture, the cleanest long-term replay case, and the strongest argument for being the top course at Big Cedar. If your group cares more about golf than photo ops, this is the round to protect.
Course gallery
3 photos
The take
Ozarks National is the smart golfer's answer. It has the best architecture, the cleanest long-term replay case, and the strongest argument for being the top course at Big Cedar. If your group cares more about golf than photo ops, this is the round to protect.
Best for
Serious golfers and architecture fans
Watch out
Being underrated next to Payne's marketing machine
How to play it
Must play
Course intelligence
What you need to know
Strengths
- Best architecture on property
- Coore-Crenshaw strategy
- Ridge-top variety
- Real replay value
Watch-outs
- Less famous than Payne's
- Fewer cheap thrills
- Wind and angles punish sloppy decisions
Signature holes
2, 6, 13, 18
Book it right
Cost, access, and timing
Green fees
2026 published starting rates: $275 resort guest / $350 public peak; $190 / $215 shoulder.
Best season
Best window: April-May and September-October Summer reality: Hot, humid, storm risk, and premium family-resort demand Winter: Possible, but not the full Big Cedar golf
Caddies / walking
Big Cedar publishes 2026 caddie rates of $50 per bag plus suggested $30 gratuity for forecaddies, and $100 per bag plus gratuity for bag-carry
Replay priority
Highest
Booking move
Secure Ozarks National, Payne's Valley, and Buffalo Ridge first, then layer in Cliffhangers, Mountain Top, Top of the Rock, lodging, and dinners. For non-resort
Weather read
Pick the right window.
Best window: April-May and September-October Summer reality: Hot, humid, storm risk, and premium family-resort demand Winter: Possible, but not the full Big Cedar golf experience Shoulder
Jan
45F / 25F
Sun Mixed; rain Medium
Feb
50F / 29F
Sun Mixed; rain Medium
Mar
60F / 38F
Sun Good; rain Medium
Apr
70F / 48F
Sun Good; rain High
May
78F / 58F
Sun Good; rain High
Jun
86F / 67F
Sun Hot; rain Medium
Google review
4/5 - 7 months ago
Ozark National was a beautiful course and a great stop on our trip, but I’d give it 4 stars instead of 5. The layout is fantastic, with dramatic elevation changes, sweeping views of the Ozarks, and a really fun variety of holes that kept our group of 16 entertained. It’s a challe
Ozark National was a beautiful course and a great stop on our trip, but I’d give it 4 stars instead of 5. The layout is fantastic, with dramatic elevation changes, sweeping views of the Ozarks, and a really fun variety of holes that kept our group of 16 entertained. It’s a challe
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Google review
5/5 - 7 months ago
Ozarks national is a beautiful but extremely challenging course. I played it with a group of friends and we’re all average golfers from eight handicap to 20. My advice play at FORWARD and play 6000 yards or less. I know you wanna bang the drives, but it’s hard to see where they’r
Ozarks national is a beautiful but extremely challenging course. I played it with a group of friends and we’re all average golfers from eight handicap to 20. My advice play at FORWARD and play 6000 yards or less. I know you wanna bang the drives, but it’s hard to see where they’r
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Google review
5/5 - 6 months ago
Beautiful, challenging course in Branson, Missouri. Always seems to be windy on top of these peaks, but pay attention to pheasant & deer that like to cross your path somewhere on the course.
Beautiful, challenging course in Branson, Missouri. Always seems to be windy on top of these peaks, but pay attention to pheasant & deer that like to cross your path somewhere on the course.
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Keep planning
What should you do next?
Use Ozarks National as one piece of the Big Cedar trip. Build the routing, compare the destination, or ask how it fits your group.
Keep exploring Big Cedar
Other courses in the same trip.
Must play
Payne's Valley
Payne's Valley is the show.
Strong play
Buffalo Ridge
Buffalo Ridge is scenic, fun, and very much part of the Big Cedar identity.
Strong play
Mountain Top
Mountain Top is exactly what a short course should be: quick, scenic, social, and more fun than the itinerary spreadsheet makes it
Strong play
Cliffhangers
Cliffhangers is Big Cedar being Big Cedar.
Strong play
Top of the Rock
Top of the Rock is an experience.
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