Big Cedar Lodge

[macdavid60]

Any of you guys or gals ever done a trip to Big Cedar in the summer. Us Florida guys get ho in the summer, last few years we went to Bandon, Kohler and Cabot Links. I am trying to plan another trip and Big Cedar keeps popping up. I understand they have a new tourney course and some very nice tourney courses. We do fly private so we can go down in small airports if we need to. We will travel with 4 or 8 max.Will it compare to Whistling Straits and Bandon. Any ideas on a little 3 day swing of golf in a little cooler weather in July.

[ND2005]

49 minutes ago, macdavid60 said:

Any of you guys or gals ever done a trip to Big Cedar in the summer. Us Florida guys get ho in the summer, last few years we went to Bandon, Kohler and Cabot Links. I am trying to plan another trip and Big Cedar keeps popping up. I understand they have a new tourney course and some very nice tourney courses. We do fly private so we can go down in small airports if we need to. We will travel with 4 or 8 max.Will it compare to Whistling Straits and Bandon. Any ideas on a little 3 day swing of golf in a little cooler weather in July.

it’s a beautiful part of the country, but fair warning July in Branson still hits the 90s temp wise. 
 
it’s not Florida but it’s hot. 
 
flying private makes it more convenient as the closest major commercial airport is about an hour away. But big cedar itself is very spread out - the courses are like 20 miles from the main lodges/cabins 

 

with a group of 4-8 renting some of the bigger cabins would make sense (vs a bunch of lodge rooms), but I would be a little worried peak summer months are fully booked by now. 

[Tha Carter]

There’s another big cedar thread on here somewhere, but it won’t be any cooler there in July than it is in Florida.  Airport is basically next to the courses though. 

[vernon]

40 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

it’s a beautiful part of the country, but fair warning July in Branson still hits the 90s temp wise. 
 
it’s not Florida but it’s hot. 
 
flying private makes it more convenient as the closest major commercial airport is about an hour away. But big cedar itself is very spread out - the courses are like 20 miles from the main lodges/cabins 

 

with a group of 4-8 renting some of the bigger cabins would make sense (vs a bunch of lodge rooms), but I would be a little worried peak summer months are fully booked by now. 

Actually closer to ten miles and Top of the Rock is on site at Big Cedar.  In fact Mapquest indicates 11 miles from the Branson Airport to Big Cedar.  

 

Ten to fifteen minute drive tops to Buffalo Ridge, Ozark National, Mountain Top and Payne's Valley from Big Cedar.

 

Regarding weather, it is typically flat out miserable in the Ozarks in July and August as well as the first part of September.  Temperatures in the 90's with very high humidity. 

 

There's typically very little wind/breeze that time of year as well.  You get back in the trees on some of those golf courses and you can hardly breathe.

 

For what it's worth Branson Hills (formerly Payne Stewart Golf Course) is also a great track and I think more challenging than any of the Big Cedar courses (and cheaper) but might be the hottest of them all.  LOTS of trees and not much air moving around.  Love the golf course though - just not in mid summer.

[sabram]

I played in Branson last week of July, 2017. The heat and humidity was almost the same as Florida (i.e. pretty brutal).  For a fantastic summer trip, I'd recommend Northern Michigan, particularly if you can fly private into Traverse City. For a fantastic three day summer golf trip I'd recommend the following: Stay in Traverse City. Do one day at Arcadia Bluffs (36 holes),One day at the Kingsley Club. (It's private but they do allow a limited amount of guest play and it is a great course) and one day at either Bay Harbor or Forest Dunes, where you can play the original course and whichever version of the Loop that is open that day. It requires some driving, but is worth it. Click on an image to link to phot tour of the course.

 

Buffalo Ridge in Branson

 

Top of the Rock in Branson

 

Arcadia Bluffs

 

Kingsley Club

 

Bay Harbor Links course

 

Bay Harbor Quarry Course

 

The Loop Black

 

The Loop Red

 

Forest Dunes

Edited February 13, 2021 by sabram
to correct typos

[jchungum]

On 2/13/2021 at 11:10 AM, macdavid60 said:

Any of you guys or gals ever done a trip to Big Cedar in the summer. Us Florida guys get ho in the summer, last few years we went to Bandon, Kohler and Cabot Links. I am trying to plan another trip and Big Cedar keeps popping up. I understand they have a new tourney course and some very nice tourney courses. We do fly private so we can go down in small airports if we need to. We will travel with 4 or 8 max.Will it compare to Whistling Straits and Bandon. Any ideas on a little 3 day swing of golf in a little cooler weather in July.

Played Big Cedar this past summer the first week of August.  Yes it was hot, but you aren't walking like Bandon, Cabot, Straits course.  Played all four resorts you referenced, and I wouldn't rank Big Cedar in that group, but I did not play Tiger's new course.  They only had 13 or 14 holes open for play at that time, but it looked amazing.  This resort just doesn't have the same feel as the others, but hopefully they get there.  You are also comparing links based golf to mountain golf.  The elevation changes are pretty sweet, and the conditions are above average.  Just didn't have the wow factor that Bandon/Cabot have for me.  Northern Michigan is just meh IMO...I'm from there and play there every year though.  

[CDM]

Played the courses first of July few years ago. Yes warm and humid but as noted your in a cart so easy to handle.  Plus you have Table Rock lake to hang at which was fun.

 

As to meeting the standards of the other resorts noted but those are golf driven.  Big Cedar Lodge is setup for for family more so then true golfers.  It has been in the last few years they really started to pump up the golf.  So if your wanting more then golf you will get it at Big Cedar, but a pure golf aspect it is not in the same league.  The courses are really really good though.

[Tim_Gavrich]

I've been to Big Cedar in April, September and October and would say September is the best of those three times. If you're looking to escape the Florida heat, Michigan is a great option as others have mentioned.

 

You should also look into going back to Wisconsin, but to Sand Valley since you've done Kohler.

 

Coeur d'Alene would be awfully nice that time of year, especially if people in your group can arrange golf at any of the private clubs up there like Gozzer Ranch.

 

North Carolina Mountains, same thing - if you have private club connections, there are a lot of exciting possibilities.

 

The Greenbrier, in the West Virginia mountains, is another excellent option. I love it there.

 

 

[Schley]

Tim good recommendations. The summer months, particularly July/August in the midwest can be brutal with humidity as we all know. Sept/Oct is a wonderful time to play in the Midwest as the weather doesn't have the humidity and not sweltering sun to beat you down. October you can even see the trees turning which is wonderful scenery as well.

[ND2005]

4 hours ago, Schley said:

Tim good recommendations. The summer months, particularly July/August in the midwest can be brutal with humidity as we all know. Sept/Oct is a wonderful time to play in the Midwest as the weather doesn't have the humidity and not sweltering sun to beat you down. October you can even see the trees turning which is wonderful scenery as well.

 

Last time I visited Branson was for work in October. But snuck in two rounds at Branson Hills. It was absolutely beautiful with the trees turning.