Payne's Valley

[Night train]

Payne's Valley at Big Cedar in Branson

https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2019/11/07/tiger-woods-first-us-golf-course-you-can-play-is-awesome/#582630747b42

[Smitty1304]

They announced a "soft" opening for the next month or so with weather permitting. After calling Big Cedar, it is $195 to play 10 holes of Payne's Valley + receive a voucher to play Mountain Top. Seems pretty steep already and can see it fetching $250+ a round once it's fully open next year.

[Argonne69]

I played Mountain Top today, and got a decent view of PV. MT is $25 to play if you've played one of the other courses, so you're not getting much of a break on PV.

 


 


 

 

[Jfergus7]

Planning vacation for next year to Big Cedar to play all the courses! Can’t wait. I saw Payne’s Valley being built last summer when I went with the boat for a fishing trip

[jkinger89]

It'll be interesting to see how many rounds they get this coming year. $250 is steep for that area, but the quality of play looks great. Can't wait to get down there.

[SpacklersEdge]

I've got a trip to Big Cedar planned for end of March.  Has anyone actually played Payne's Valley.  It seems odd the tees go from 6133 yards (Green) to 6876 yards (Blue).  6876 can be long for some of the guys I am going with.  Are there a lot of downhill tee shots, and so the 6876 plays more like 6600 flat?  6133 is way too short though.

 

If anyone has played it, let me know your thoughts.

[bvan]

On 2/10/2021 at 12:02 PM, SpacklersEdge said:

I've got a trip to Big Cedar planned for end of March.  Has anyone actually played Payne's Valley.  It seems odd the tees go from 6133 yards (Green) to 6876 yards (Blue).  6876 can be long for some of the guys I am going with.  Are there a lot of downhill tee shots, and so the 6876 plays more like 6600 flat?  6133 is way too short though.

 

If anyone has played it, let me know your thoughts.

Have a group in Aug that I am setting up. Same issue....As a group we play 6500ish....

 

 

[SpacklersEdge]

2 minutes ago, bvan said:

Have a group in Aug that I am setting up. Same issue....As a group we play 6500ish....

 

 

Well I will let you know about 25 days lol. 

From a lot of the looking I have done, I think the fairways will still be dormant when I am there, so not sure how soft it will play.  I think I'll ask the clubhouse for some advice based on handicap, our group is all 6-9 range.

[bvan]

I'll go with you guys next time...My guys are 14-25index

 

If you play ON or BR let me know as well please..

 

Thanks much

 

 

[SpacklersEdge]

Just now, bvan said:

I'll go with you guys next time...My guys are 14-25index

 

If you play ON or BR let me know as well please..

 

Thanks much

 

 

Will do, I'll post a complete report here.  Playing Mountain top 13 hole Par 3 afternoon 1, then 2 round back to back day 2 at BR, then ON on day 3 AM, and PV to cap if off that afternoon.

[bd59]

On 2/10/2021 at 12:02 PM, SpacklersEdge said:

I've got a trip to Big Cedar planned for end of March.  Has anyone actually played Payne's Valley.  It seems odd the tees go from 6133 yards (Green) to 6876 yards (Blue).  6876 can be long for some of the guys I am going with.  Are there a lot of downhill tee shots, and so the 6876 plays more like 6600 flat?  6133 is way too short though.

 

If anyone has played it, let me know your thoughts.

We played it last October and I played from the TW tees.  After getting over the "wow factor" and settling down, I found it to be very playable, even from the tips.  The par 3's are what make the TW tips a bit tough.  I believe there were 2 par 3's that were around 260 and 235 but both played downhill.  The days we were there it was also very windy, but overall very generous fairways and the rough wasn't very punishing at the time.  I'm not long at all off the tee 255-265 carry and I was very pleased with the TW tees and would play them again.  Many of the holes have elevated tees too, so the yardage isn't as bad as it may seem.  We had another trip scheduled this fall to go back, but Big Cedar has now changed their tee time policy on outside guests so it doesn't look like we will be heading back there this year.  

[SpacklersEdge]

9 minutes ago, bd59 said:

We played it last October and I played from the TW tees.  After getting over the "wow factor" and settling down, I found it to be very playable, even from the tips.  The par 3's are what make the TW tips a bit tough.  I believe there were 2 par 3's that were around 260 and 235 but both played downhill.  The days we were there it was also very windy, but overall very generous fairways and the rough wasn't very punishing at the time.  I'm not long at all off the tee 255-265 carry and I was very pleased with the TW tees and would play them again.  Many of the holes have elevated tees too, so the yardage isn't as bad as it may seem.  We had another trip scheduled this fall to go back, but Big Cedar has now changed their tee time policy on outside guests so it doesn't look like we will be heading back there this year.  

Thanks for the reply appreciate it!  Did you play any of the other courses there as well?

[bd59]

We played Branson Hills, Ozark National, Buffalo Ridge and Mountain Top. 

[SpacklersEdge]

19 minutes ago, bd59 said:

We played Branson Hills, Ozark National, Buffalo Ridge and Mountain Top. 

Annnnnnddddddd.....any insights on those you could share?  🙂

[bd59]

59 minutes ago, SpacklersEdge said:

Annnnnnddddddd.....any insights on those you could share?  🙂

Lol....sorry was in my car and couldn't give any info.  They all were great in my opinion as far as course shape goes.  Branson Hills was the more difficult course by far, but was very enjoyable.  The greens were firm and I found myself short-sided on every green I missed.   Ozark and Buffalo were both very good.  Ozark was a bit more links style and more wide open.  We had high winds all 4 days when we were there so Ozark was a brute on that day.  Buffalo was the last course we played and it was the groups 2nd favorite after Payne's Valley obviously.  Mountain Top was in great condition but my guys didn't care for the walking.  We have several in my group that are 60+.   I think we will try Top of the Rock next time just because they have carts available.   I definitely recommend playing them all if you can do it.  There wasn't a bad moment that I can recall.  Hope this helps!!

[SpacklersEdge]

Figured I would stop by again and give my trip report.

 

Showed up about 1 pm on Friday.  Went to the range at Buffalo Ridge, it was CPO that day since it had rained a LOT the night before.  No problem since were only playing Mountain Top par 3 this day anyway, but definitely hoping it would not be CPO the next day.

 

Had a 3:15 tee time at Mountain Top, very fun par 3, the ground took some getting used to, I am from Chicago area and we have all bentgrass fairways and soft ground around here mostly.  This was dormant Zoysia on hard ground.  Can really spin it off the tee here.  Amazing views as the Moutain Top course is right next to the PV clubhouse, you guessed it, on top of the Mountain.

 

Saturday we had 36 holes at BR.  When we showed up in the morning, they told us they were charging us $50 less that day that quoted in our package because they "were not satisfied with the progress form the aeration 13 days prior".  Hmmmmm...turned out we only even noticed the greens had been recently aerated on 2 holes.  Very classy of them to do that though.  BR is a fun course, once you come through the tunnel from 9 to 10, you get a view of Payne's Valley from across the valley that is spectacular.  The scenery on BR is like nothing else we have in my area.  Weather was 80 degrees this day and not much wind, really lucky.

 

Woke up sun for our 9 am at Ozarks National.  Was 45 degrees and blowing sustained 25 with gusts on the range at ON.  All of the ON holes are on top of the ridges, so this was a HELL of a round. 4 club wind in some areas, really beat us up good.  Got done there and went straight to Payne's Valley.  Decdied to play the 6200 yards vs. 6800 yards after just getting pummeled in the wind all day.  Payne's Valley is amazing, almost n rough anywhere, very cool design.  Very playable and w could have easily handled the longer yardage on a warm day with roll out.  The 19th hole was an amazing experience, more so the driving than the actual shot.  

 

Total cost on 3 nights room, MT Par 3, 2 rounds at Buffalo, 1 at ON, and 1 at PV was about $920 dollars (rates went up April 1).  Will probably do it again next year.

 

 

[Austincountyag]

any advice on booking tee times for payne's valley? Last summer we were booked to go and handle to cancel because a family member had the covid. We rebooked for this summer, but when I called to book a time they said they only do 30 days out now for guests not staying at Big Cedar?

 

 

Whatever, so I looked online at tee times and it seems all the courses are booked solid for the week were are planning on going. Surely the golf courses aren't that slammed pack with resort guests are they?

[KC4441]

On 4/15/2021 at 3:00 PM, Austincountyag said:

any advice on booking tee times for payne's valley? Last summer we were booked to go and handle to cancel because a family member had the covid. We rebooked for this summer, but when I called to book a time they said they only do 30 days out now for guests not staying at Big Cedar?

 

 

Whatever, so I looked online at tee times and it seems all the courses are booked solid for the week were are planning on going. Surely the golf courses aren't that slammed pack with resort guests are they?

I’ve been lucky to grab a single tee time here and there, but they are slammed busy I know.  There was a last minute cancellation at Payne’s Valley today so I switched from Ozarks to Payne’s.  

Edited May 8, 2021 by KC4441

[KC4441]

 

Well done Tiger is all I have to say.  One of the top courses I’ve ever played, blessed to have had the opportunity.  Played from the 6900 green tees, played one of my best rounds of the year. -2 70 with 4 birdies and 2 bogies.  Pared all of the Par 5’s with some near misses or it could have been better.   

[tim_harris]

Played Paynes a few weeks ago.  I would put it up there as one of my favorite courses ever. I’m local and only 30 minutes away so I just book as a single and go play.  If you are bringing a group you almost have to stay on property.  Online I don’t remember the last time I saw anything but singles for Paynes or ON.

[TinkerGolfMan]

Played Payne's Valley and Buffalo Ridge a couple of weeks ago: 

 

 

[TinkerGolfMan]

https://www.sandyparclub.com/news-sandy-par-club/sandy-par-club-paynes-valley

[Schley]

I saw 150 bucks to play 9 holes on the par 3 course???  Top of the Rock. I know they played an event there, but WTF????  75 bucks for junior to go with you.

[Argonne69]

17 hours ago, Schley said:

I saw 150 bucks to play 9 holes on the par 3 course???  Top of the Rock. I know they played an event there, but WTF????  75 bucks for junior to go with you.

 

Top of the Rock isn't your typical nine hole course. 

 

It can be played for $100 at the replay rate when you play one of the other three championship courses. Off season rates are a bit cheaper.

 

Edited September 2, 2021 by Argonne69

[garyt]

On 9/1/2021 at 1:30 PM, Schley said:

I saw 150 bucks to play 9 holes on the par 3 course???  Top of the Rock. I know they played an event there, but WTF????  75 bucks for junior to go with you.

That's crazy

[bd59]

Yes, unfortunately they are pricing themselves out of the game soon.  Right now everyone will pay whatever to get on and play it, but once the new wears off I assume they will lower the rates eventually.  

[TK3]

On 3/10/2021 at 7:31 AM, bd59 said:

We played Branson Hills, Ozark National, Buffalo Ridge and Mountain Top. 

Buffalo Ridge is in my top 10 all time. Awesome Fazio design with Zoysia fairways & tees. A must play. 

Edited January 3, 2022 by TK3

[tim_harris]

On 9/2/2021 at 5:53 AM, Argonne69 said:

 

Top of the Rock isn't your typical nine hole course. 

 

It can be played for $100 at the replay rate when you play one of the other three championship courses. Off season rates are a bit cheaper.

 

 

 

Top of the Rock is worth playing once but would rank it last of all the courses on the property.  

[KC4441]

Really going to try and take a trip down to play all 3, Buffalo Ridge, Ozarks National and Payne’s Valley.  I’ve played them all at different times, but that would be an epic trip.  

[LBRMGR]

Looking into going here in 2022.  Any suggestions for time of the year to go?  Is it too hot in July-August?  Any tips for which courses to play?