Branson/Lakes Area Courses Earn 'America’s Best Courses You Can Play' List Honors

(BRANSON, MISSOURI) – Branson Hills and Buffalo Ridge Springs earned two of five places in Golfweek’s 2016 “America’s Best Courses You Can Play” by state listing, determined by a panel of experts who canvass the country.

The media network deploys hundreds of raters each year to survey thousands of courses based on routing, shaping, management, natural setting, variety of golf holes, strength of conditioning and more.

Branson Hills (formerly named Payne Stewart) ranked No. 1 in Missouri, Buffalo Ridge Springs No. 3.

“This exposure for Branson/Lakes Area courses enables people to discover the high-quality playing options in our destination,” says Lynn Berry, Branson/Lakes Area CVB director of communications.

Branson Hills’ layout meshes water, hardwoods and undulating terrain into a scenic, memorable round. The clubhouse displays museum-like tributes to golfers who established their playing excellence in Missouri, including Payne Stewart and Tom Watson.

The course was designed by Chuck Smith with consultation from Bobby Clampett, currently playing on the PGA Champions Tour and commentating on CBS Sports golf broadcasts.

Along with the Jack Nicklaus-designed Top of the Rock – which Hall of Famer Gary Player calls the best par-3 golf course in the world – Buffalo Ridge Springs (formerly Branson Creek) is a host course for the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge (April 22-24, 2016).

A “Top 100 Public Course” in America upon its debut in 1999, Buffalo Ridge Springs re-opened in 2014 after a nuanced transformation guided by visionary conservationist and owner Johnny Morris with course architect Tom Fazio.  Adding new approaches, water features and bunkers, Morris and Fazio redesigned the layout to bring players in close contact with nature, including native grasses, rock outcroppings and free-ranging buffalo from nearby Dogwood Canyon Nature Park.

For more information about Branson/Lakes Area Golf, visit www.facebook.com/BransonGolf or www.explorebranson.com/golf.