Big Cedar Lodge – Buffalo Ridge
Plan your round at Big Cedar Lodge – Buffalo Ridge
Buffalo Ridge is a par 71 Tom Fazio design at Big Cedar Lodge near Hollister, Missouri, built on the site of the former Branson Creek Golf Club. A herd of bison grazes alongside the fairways, and the Ozark terrain brings elevated tees, ravines, quarry water and caves into play. It plays 7,036 yards from the back tees (74.0 rating, 134 slope) and has been listed in Golf Digest's Top 100. All 18 greens were resodded and every greenside bunker redesigned in 2025.
- Resort
- 18 holes
- Par 71
- Designed by Tom Fazio
- Opened 2000
Course strategy
Read the card before you play it
Hole by hole
Walk the course
Hole 1
497
yds ·White
Par 5 that plays downhill, with bison grazing to the left and bunkers guarding the green.
Hole 2
390
yds ·White
Slight dogleg left with a cave on the left side. A bunker protects the green. It is the number 1 handicap hole.
Hole 3
333
yds ·White
Straight par 4 with bunkers around the green and a sharp falloff behind it.
Hole 4
139
yds ·White
Par 3 that needs a high, soft shot. There is a hazard left and a bank to the right.
Hole 5
369
yds ·White
Elevated tee with quarry water down the right side and a well-protected green.
Hole 6
294
yds ·White
The shortest par 4 on the course, with fairway bunkers and an elevated green complex.
Hole 7
195
yds ·White
Par 3 with water right and long. Missing left leaves a difficult recovery.
Hole 8
456
yds ·White
Par 5 with a water feature on the left, an uphill approach and a slight false front on the green.
Hole 9
143
yds ·White
Uphill par 3 to a large, undulating green. The bailout is front right.
Hole 10
318
yds ·White
Aim a draw down the right side, with bunkers left and deep bunkers around the green.
Hole 11
122
yds ·White
Par 3 carved from a hillside, with bunkers left and short right.
Hole 12
418
yds ·White
Long second shot to a green with a cavernous drop-off on the left. Bison are often in the distance.
Hole 13
401
yds ·White
Fairway bunkers on both sides, a ravine, and a long, deep green.
Hole 14
537
yds ·White
Par 5 with a creek down the right that also crosses in front of the green. A table rock feature sits nearby, and it is the longest hole on the card.
Hole 15
309
yds ·White
Elevated tee with bunkers left and a stream right. The green has a false front and two tiers.
Hole 16
326
yds ·White
Bunkers on both sides of the fairway and an elevated, three-tier green.
Hole 17
124
yds ·White
Elevated tee to a par 3 with a cave and water behind and beside the green.
Hole 18
510
yds ·White
Par 5 with a long tee shot over Ozark terrain, a narrow layup area and a sloped green.
ScorecardView the full scorecard
Distances in yards
| Hole | Par | Hcp | Buffalo | Blue | White | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 | 578 | 547 | 497 | 460 |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | 471 | 458 | 390 | 276 |
| 3 | 4 | 9 | 405 | 385 | 333 | 300 |
| 4 | 3 | 17 | 195 | 177 | 139 | 132 |
| 5 | 4 | 7 | 449 | 418 | 369 | 296 |
| 6 | 4 | 13 | 353 | 328 | 294 | 280 |
| 7 | 3 | 11 | 245 | 224 | 195 | 170 |
| 8 | 5 | 3 | 524 | 505 | 456 | 378 |
| 9 | 3 | 15 | 198 | 179 | 143 | 126 |
| Out | 35 | 3,418 | 3,221 | 2,816 | 2,418 | |
| 10 | 4 | 12 | 377 | 356 | 318 | 281 |
| 11 | 3 | 18 | 158 | 148 | 122 | 110 |
| 12 | 4 | 4 | 477 | 454 | 418 | 325 |
| 13 | 4 | 8 | 462 | 435 | 401 | 273 |
| 14 | 5 | 2 | 615 | 576 | 537 | 500 |
| 15 | 4 | 14 | 366 | 348 | 309 | 268 |
| 16 | 4 | 10 | 425 | 379 | 326 | 270 |
| 17 | 3 | 16 | 165 | 151 | 124 | 108 |
| 18 | 5 | 6 | 573 | 548 | 510 | 451 |
| In | 36 | 3,618 | 3,395 | 3,065 | 2,586 | |
| Total | 71 | 7,036 | 6,616 | 5,881 | 5,004 | |
| Rating / Slope | 74.0 / 134 | 72.0 / 132 | 68.1 / 126 | 64.2 / 113 | ||
| Women's rating / slope | — | — | 74.2 / 132 | 69.1 / 120 | ||
Before you go
Everything to know on arrival
Know before you go
- Wear a collared shirt and soft spikes
- Book your tee time through Big Cedar early and join the waitlist if full
- Check the aeration schedule before you travel
- Allow about 4.5 hours for your round
- Bring a photo ID to borrow a free rangefinder
- Stay out of the bison areas
- Warm up at the Buffalo Ridge Practice Facility
- Watch for cart-path-only holes marked on the scorecard
- Bring your own bag or reserve rental clubs
- No outside alcohol on the course
Dress code
Collared shirts and proper golf attire are required for men over 12. Women should wear proper golf attire, with no bathing suits or tank tops. Soft spikes are required and tennis shoes are allowed, but metal spikes are not.
Carts & walking
All carts have built-in GPS, and some holes are cart path only, as marked on the scorecard. Forecaddies are available March through November for a per-bag fee plus a suggested cash gratuity, booked through the Caddie Manager. Non-playing riders pay a rider fee. Digital rangefinders can be checked out free at the pro shop with a photo ID.
Practice facilities
The Buffalo Ridge Practice Facility is open daily to Buffalo Ridge and Top of the Rock guests and to the public. It has zoysia and rye hitting surfaces, practice bunkers, room for pitching and two putting greens. Golf lessons are available through Big Cedar.
Rentals & pro shop
TaylorMade rental clubs are available and include two sleeves of balls. Players must use their own bag. Golf gear is sold in the pro shop and online at the Big Cedar shop.
Food & drink
Mountain Top Grill is the clubhouse restaurant, open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tall Tales Bar & Grill near the Bass Pro Angler's Lodge in Hollister is open to the public in the evenings on weekdays and from late morning on weekends. Beverages are sold in the pro shop.
Pace of play
The course asks for 4.5 hours or less per 18 holes, and the site lists the average round at about 4 hours 30 minutes. Course guides circulate to help keep groups moving. Greens run about 9.5 to 11 on the Stimpmeter.
Policies
Groups are limited to four players, and groups of two or three are allowed. Outside alcohol is not permitted. Do not enter the bison areas. Fairways are typically dormant from late October through March, and aeration closures are scheduled each spring and fall, so check the site for dates. Check with the shop for resort guest access and cancellation terms.
Info last reviewed October 20, 2026. Policies change — confirm with the course before your round.
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