Big Cedar Lodge, located in Ridgedale, Missouri near the Arkansas border, is one of the most ambitious public golf resorts in the United States—featuring six courses designed by six legendary architects. Set in the heart of the Ozark Mountains and perched above Table Rock Lake, the resort is a scenic, high-end golf retreat that combines rugged topography with elite design pedigree.
From short-course showpieces like Cliffhangers and Top of the Rock to full-length challenges like Payne’s Valley and Ozarks National, Big Cedar promises variety, drama, and beauty in every round. Add in polished accommodations, a full-service spa, on-site restaurants, and lakefront excursions, and it becomes more than just a golf trip—it’s a golf experience.
For a $2,145 price tag over a 4-day trip, is it worth it?
Golf
This isn’t just one course—it’s a full-scale golf destination with six distinct courses, including some of the most scenic and architecturally ambitious layouts in the Midwest:
- Cliffhangers (13 holes, est. 45 acres, 1,850 yards): A cliffside par-3 course with designs by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Elevated tees, bold green contours, and panoramic lake views make this the visual signature of the resort.
- Mountain Top (13 holes, ~50 acres, approx. 1,900 yards): Coore & Crenshaw-style minimalism across a granite plateau. Encourages a relaxed, walking-friendly rhythm with ample shotmaking creativity.
- Top of the Rock (9 holes, ~60 acres, approx. 2,200 yards): Arnold Palmer’s waterfall-and-cave showpiece. More of a luxury experience than a traditional course, but undeniably photogenic and fun.
- Payne’s Valley (18 holes, 200+ acres, 7,370 yards): A Tiger Woods design with a dramatic finish on the walkable 19th “Big Rock” hole. It’s wide, scenic, and meant to be enjoyed more than conquered. The back nine features a mix of exposed rock shelves, creeks, and long strategic par 4s.
- Ozarks National (18 holes, ~200 acres, 7,036 yards): Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, this course features dramatic elevation changes, native grasses, and minimalist shaping. Routed along a ridge, it delivers sweeping views and tough green surrounds.
- Buffalo Ridge (18 holes, ~210 acres, 7,036 yards): Originally by Tom Fazio and later updated by Johnny Morris. Routed through limestone valleys, streams, and forest edges, it’s the most traditional parkland layout of the six and often the toughest test.
Together, Big Cedar delivers a rare blend: six courses by six design legends in one natural setting. Whether you’re chasing scorecards or sunsets, it’s hard to imagine a more comprehensive 4-day menu of public-access golf in the Midwest.
Scene
Big Cedar Lodge is a full-on Ozarks retreat—crafted to feel like a cross between a national park lodge and a sporting club for families, fishermen, and golfers alike. Once on property, everything is seamlessly integrated: log cabin accommodations, sweeping lake views, five restaurants, spa services, fire pits, and stone-lined clubhouses.
Dining options include Devil’s Pool for rustic meals and resort breakfast, Arnie’s Barn for smoked meats and cocktails with a panoramic bluff view, and Osage for elevated dinner service with a full wine list. Grab-and-go and tavern-style options are available near Top of the Rock.
Non-golf amenities are extensive. The Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum is far better than you’d expect, with artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the region. Cedar Creek Spa offers full-service treatments in a woodland setting. Table Rock Lake provides fishing, canoeing, and boat excursions. For adventure seekers, there’s also a shooting academy, cave tours, a bowling alley, and hiking trails winding through the ridges and forests.
It’s a destination that allows for high-activity days or deep relaxation—equally suited for buddy trips or mixed-group retreats. And the lodge-style rooms with exposed beams and stone fireplaces keep your group comfortably together without feeling cramped.
Cost
Here’s a sample itinerary for a Thursday-to-Sunday trip based on a group of four golfers.
- Fly out of JFK on Thursday morning and arrive in Springfield, Missouri by early afternoon. From there, take a shared Uber to Big Cedar Lodge (~60 miles). After checking into a lodge room with two queens or a pull-out setup, enjoy dinner and drinks at Devil’s Pool and get settled in.
- Friday starts strong with a morning round at Mountain Top, followed by lunch at Arnie’s Barn and an afternoon round at Cliffhangers. Wrap the evening with a visit to the Ancient Ozarks Museum or a lakeside dinner.
- Saturday is for full-length courses: open with Ozarks National or Buffalo Ridge, then take a break before an optional evening 9 at Top of the Rock.
- Sunday morning, play the signature Payne’s Valley, including the dramatic 19th hole carved through rock. After lunch and a final drink, Uber back to SGF and fly home in time for Monday.
| Category | Cost (Per Person) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | $500 | Nonstop JFK → Springfield, MO (SGF) |
| Uber Transfers | $50 | Roundtrip to/from Big Cedar (~60 miles) |
| Lodging | $495 | 3 nights, shared room at the lodge |
| Golf | $725 | 5 rounds: Mountain Top ($80), Cliffhangers ($125), Ozarks or Buffalo Ridge ($150), Top of the Rock ($135), Payne’s Valley ($235) |
| Food & Drinks | $375 | Resort meals, drinks, and snacks over 4 days |
| Total | $2,145 | Per golfer, assuming shared lodging and rides |
Final Word
Would I go? Absolutely. When stacked up against other elite Midwest golf destinations like Sand Valley in Wisconsin or The Prairie Club in Nebraska, Big Cedar Lodge holds its own and then some.
Sand Valley is known for its firm, sandy fescue terrain and minimalist design ethos, offering courses like Coore & Crenshaw’s Sand Valley, David McLay Kidd’s Mammoth Dunes, the 17-hole Sandbox par-3, and the ultra-exclusive Lido replica. The resort is beloved by architecture buffs and serious walkers, and while it offers a deeply immersive experience, it can also feel more spartan and golf-centric with fewer off-course diversions. Travel to central Wisconsin takes more effort, and a typical 3-night, 4-round stay costs around $2,000–$2,200 per person.
The Prairie Club is more remote, built on the edge of the Nebraska Sandhills, and offers massive scale and solitude. Its Dunes Course and Pines Course are big, bold experiences, and the 10-hole Horse Course invites creative match play. While it’s a purist’s dream for sunrise-to-sunset golf, getting there requires flights into Rapid City or North Platte and long drives across the plains. A full trip there still comes in around $1,850–$2,050 per person.
Big Cedar, by comparison, wins not just on quality of golf, but on versatility and ease. It offers six courses by six different architects—Nicklaus, Player, Palmer, Woods, Crenshaw, and Fazio—in one lakeside mountain setting. You can play short courses and full-length tracks, enjoy cliffside tee shots or creek-crossing par 5s, all while staying in a resort that caters equally to golfers, families, and outdoor adventurers. Add in the museum, spa, lake, and dining, and you’ve got a trip that feels complete even if you only play 3–4 rounds.
For a group of golfers flying out of the NYC area, Big Cedar Lodge is a destination that balances travel convenience, architectural variety, and off-course charm better than almost any other in its class. For me, it definitely seems worth it.
David is an avid golfer who loves walking Connecticut’s courses and playing alongside his family. He’s passionate about golf course architecture and one day hopes to play at Pebble Beach.
This place looks amazing from the videos. For those lucky enough to go, try to get a hole in one on the last hole!