Big Cedar Lodge: Buffalo Ridge
Hollister, MO • Public
NO. 92 Off-season rates of just over $100 make Tom Fazio’s Buffalo Ridge a compelling option. Photograph courtesy of Buffalo Ridge
Derek Duncan
Overview
This Tom Fazio design was the first course built at what is now Big Cedar Lodge, the ever-expandning recreational resort in southern Missouri from Bass Pro Shop founder Johnny Morris. Typical of Team Fazio, the design is strong on visual flair, with long views of the surrounding Ozarks as backdrops for holes cut through the site's exposed limestone outcroppings. The first nine is more up and down, situated on a higher section of land, and the second nine loops around the perimeter of a bluff that shows off the surrounding ridges and ravines. Networks of burbling artificial streams and rocky waterscapes accompany golfers around the course, leading to a big fiive-hole finish that starts at the par-5 14th playing through a valley toward a green set on a bluff above a section of creek.
About
Awards
100 Greatest Public: Ranked from 2003-'10, 2015-'16, 2023-'24.
Highest ranking: No. 59, 2005-'06.
Previous ranking: Not ranked 2017-'22.
Current ranking: 92nd.
Best in State: Ranked inside the top five, 2001-'03. Ranked eighth, 2015-'18. Ranked ninth, 2011-'12, 2019-'24. Ranked 10th, 2013-'14. Ranked inside the top 10 since 2005.
Current ranking: Ninth.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Front & back have different feel… front holes seem more open and connected; back feels secluded. Great water features... creates most of the challenge and risk/reward elements."
Read More2024
Review
“Buffalo Ridge, Panes Valley, and Ozarks National - not inexpensive. However, you'll play three great golf courses. Buffalo ridge is a great combination of impressive visual vistas, open fairways as well as some challenging target golf. At the end of the round you'll feel you've played a tough but fun course."
Read More2024
Review
“This is a great layout. You will enjoy the entire experience. Great course, multiple sets of trees so u can all enjoy and a very nice layout with something nest on most every hole."
Read More2023
Review
“One of my favorite all time courses. Very fun to play"
Read More2023
Review
“Beautiful setting for a course. Enjoy the sccenery and a very good course."
Read More2023
Review
“Shot options: Most of the non par 3's gave mult options off the tee (holes that require specific shots incl 2/7/13, all of which I think a good ones). ; Challenge: The tee shots aren't as demanding for the most part, but irons have to hit in the right part of the green to score. ; Layout variety: Has a good balance of hole lengths, doglegs and usage of elevation. ; Aesthetics: My first emotional reaction was that this has Outstanding aesthetics, but after thinking through it carefully, I thought it was between Very Good and Excellent, as a few holes were only Good. ; Conditioning: I played it in wet conditions so its hard to know how firm it could be, but the greens rolled true; Character: Its not quire "Excellent" Character, but close. ; Fun: My wife and I both had lots of fun with this course."
Read More2022
Review
“Great par 3s. Scenic and natural. Bunkers great shape. Difficult but gives options to score"
Read More2022
Review
“Buffalo Ridge is a solid golf course -- Big Cedar Lodge does a nice job making the day special at each of their courses. They are all worth playing while there."
Read More2021
Review
“A typical very playable Fazio design with pleasant esthetics."
Read More2020
Review
“Best public course in MO. Great variety, great views, and easy to play."
Read More2019
Readers
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