To play or not to play at Big Cedar?

[Abh159]

On 1/24/2023 at 11:55 AM, Ryan1414 said:

Headed to Big Cedar May 31st - June 4th, 2023. 
 

We have a group of 8 guys and have already booked an AirBnB. 
 

Seems like this was a big mistake!

 

Called Big Cedar and the tee time representative told me it’s “unlikely” we will get tee times with the 30-day booking window for those not staying at the resort. 
 

Hoping someone on this forum has some experience with this!

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

I think best case scenario you might get one tee time, or you might get a few single/twosome cancellations and some people from your group could join other groups. However, like geauxtigers said the chances of you being able to book two foursomes for your group are slim to none, especially during the summer.

 

Honestly, your best bet would be to cancel your AirBnB and try to book a room at the resort and get tee times now (if they even have some available).

[Hawkeye77]

Resort gets priority so they are being honest about that.  

 

I was in the process of booking at that resort a couple of weeks ago, the folks I talked with were nice, but room selection was already pretty limited for what we wanted and the reviews of the place aren't all that great in terms of issues they may be having with staff and simply not being able to handle the numbers of guests they have.  Looked like larger groups might still have found one of their golf cottages but we weren't looking in May/June. 

 

It's a popular place.  We're headed to Kohler instead - but same scenario, not staying there lessens your chances of getting tee times.  So of course we are staying there and looking forward to it.

[Stai]

We're thinking of doing Big Cedar Lodge for a golf trip for 8 in the next few years. Anyone with any advice on best time of year? Is July/August too hot? 

[ND2005]

15 hours ago, Stai said:

We're thinking of doing Big Cedar Lodge for a golf trip for 8 in the next few years. Anyone with any advice on best time of year? Is July/August too hot? 

 

July and August extremely hot and humid. Average high temperature 90 or so. Big Cedar is heavy on carts, so you've got that at least. All depends on your heat tolerance. 

[Stai]

Thanks! Is there an option to walk or is it carts only? So May/June or Sept/Oct would be better times weather wise? 

[ND2005]

23 minutes ago, Stai said:

Thanks! Is there an option to walk or is it carts only? So May/June or Sept/Oct would be better times weather wise? 

Payne’s valley no walking. The others I think you can. But they don’t have a caddie program and I didn’t see a single person walking when I visited, it’s a cart culture kind of place (that and the average customer there doesn’t look capable of walking 18…)

 

If I were going back I’d go in the fall when the leaves turn and the temps cool. 

 

[vernon]

Heading down to Table Rock with my brother on Friday for our annual spring fishing and golf trip.

 

Had been checking on tee times at Payne's Valley and just noticed that it is now $450.

 

We've played there three times previously during the aerification recovery period but were willing to pay full boat next week when we thought it would still be $350.

 

I think Johnny has officially priced us out of the market.

 

Good for him though as it's obviously still not more than the market can bear since tee times appear to be as scarce as ever.

 

Had thought about springing for the $200 at Buffalo Ridge but last September their greens were horrible and don't know if they will have recovered by now.

 

Might stick with Branson Hills a couple times ($139) and head up to River Cut for an afternoon round.

[tim_harris]

On 3/18/2023 at 10:05 AM, Stai said:

Thanks! Is there an option to walk or is it carts only? So May/June or Sept/Oct would be better times weather wise? 

 

Mountain top which is their 13 hole par 3 course is walking only.  Don't know that I've ever seen a walker on the other courses nor would I want to as there would be some long walks between greens and next tee.

[tim_harris]

On 5/7/2023 at 9:51 AM, vernon said:

 

 

Had thought about springing for the $200 at Buffalo Ridge but last September their greens were horrible and don't know if they will have recovered by now.

 

Might stick with Branson Hills a couple times ($139) and head up to River Cut for an afternoon round.

 

Supposedly greens are doing better but I've not played it this year.  Another good option in the area that is more budget friendly is Ledgestone.

[vernon]

14 hours ago, tim_harris said:

 

Supposedly greens are doing better but I've not played it this year.  Another good option in the area that is more budget friendly is Ledgestone.

Yeah we used to play Ledgestone at least once a year but haven't been over now for probably three seasons or so.  Might give it a shot this trip.

 

The greens at Ridge were so bad last September that I can't hardly imagine them being back to normal yet.  Every green had multiple large patches that were literally dirt.  Paying full price and having nobody in the shop say a word about it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth too.

 

Had we known I wouldn't have paid even fifty bucks it was so bad.  

 

When we got to thirteen a crew of about a dozen guys waited for us to finish and then started installing huge sections of sod.