{"id":1171,"date":"2011-08-09T03:12:34","date_gmt":"2011-08-09T03:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janinajacobs.com\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2011-08-09T03:12:34","modified_gmt":"2011-08-09T03:12:34","slug":"branson-golf-who-knew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/golf\/1171\/branson-golf-who-knew","title":{"rendered":"Branson Golf………Who Knew???"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Missouri's top rated Branson Creek's 15th from the green.....with Murder Rock clubhouse in the distance, center.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mention Branson, Missouri, and immediately eyes begin to roll.\u00a0 At first, mine did…..but not for long.<\/p>\n

Once\u00a0considered a poor man’s Las Vegas down in the rumored ‘redneck’ lands of the Ozarks in southern Missouri, one would be wrong on all three assumptions:\u00a0 it is not <\/em>a poor man’s anything, it is not <\/em>like Las Vegas, and the streets are not<\/em> plastered with junk cars and battered trailers.\u00a0 And, while Las Vegas made an ill-fated attempt at fashioning a family friendly image a few years ago, Branson<\/a> succeeds.\u00a0 Every attraction is suitable for the sandwich generations of grandparents to great-grandkids.\u00a0 Centrally located in southern Missouri, Branson is a about a one-day drive for half of the U.S.<\/p>\n

In fact, Branson is so surprising, so refreshing, that sooner – rather than later – it will likely become the<\/em> next hot destination for golf, entertainment, dining, shopping, boating, and other outdoor sports.\u00a0 While Branson does resemble Vegas in its offering of high quality show productions, the range of performances outshines the artificial lights of Vegas itself.\u00a0 Over 45 theatres with 59,000-plus seats offering 150 live shows are on display at any given time, all of them quality productions and extremely well done.\u00a0 New York and Las Vegas combined<\/em> cannot top this.\u00a0\u00a0 A number of performers have purchased their own theaters and thus, have a vested interest in continued success here.\u00a0 Many artists play golf; a perfect scenario for any entertainer: fabulous golf during the day and adoring crowds at night.\u00a0\u00a0 Branson favorites Shoji Tabuchi, a Master Japanese fiddler and top-selling performer, country music performer Buck Trent, and members of the Baldknobbers Jamboree Show happily joined us for golf at various locales.<\/p>\n

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"Oh yeah!!" Country performer Buck Trent and JJ, thumbs up at the Payne Stewart GC......<\/p><\/div>\n

For outdoor activities – especially golf – weather is near optimal in Branson, with average highs of 56 in the fringe months of March and November and from 70 to 88 for the months in between.\u00a0 I was there in October and enjoyed five days of\u00a0sunny skies and temps in the mid-80’s.\u00a0 Even in the winter months of December through February, the average high is 42-45 degrees, certainly warm enough for northern golfers who are snow-weary and tired of winter.\u00a0 Many golf courses are open all year.<\/p>\n

Golf offerings in Branson are expanding so quickly it is tough to keep up with all the new courses joining the fray.\u00a0 I’ve played four of them, Ledgestone, Branson Creek, Payne Stewart, and Murder Rock, and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite.<\/p>\n

Ledgestone Golf Club<\/a>, a semi-private club with an elegant feel and rolling Zoysia fairways, was an appealing mix of really tough holes along with easier ones, which often came about the time you needed to catch your breath.\u00a0 As you make the turn, holes 10 and 11 are perfect examples of this:\u00a0 the tough 448-yard par-4 10th (341 from the Forward Tees) plays almost as a par-5 since it is slightly uphill and position is paramount when teeing off rather than a booming drive, which could take a wrong bounce and feed down the hill into a right-side creek….or worse.\u00a0 At 288-yards (178 from the Forward Tees), the drivable par-4 11th is a pleasant enough thought, but visions of eagle may vanish quickly after you contemplate\u00a0the bunkers guarding the green, along with the mammoth and hilly putting surface.\u00a0 Yes, you may hit the green, as I did, but unless your yardage calculations are spot-on, you’ll be faced with loooonnnng putts even Tiger wouldn’t sink in his prime.\u00a0 Yes, I 3-putted…..darn.\u00a0 Do make sure your putter is working:\u00a0 large, undulating greens on most holes along with tricky pin placements will test your greens reading ability.\u00a0 Water comes into play on many holes, but especially so on finishing holes 15 through 18, a collection as good as you’ll find anywhere.\u00a0 The par-3 ‘postcard’ quality 15th ‘Quarry” with its 100-foot drop;\u00a0 ‘The Big Chill’ 16th, another elevated par-4 with water all along the right side, and hindering an approach to the green;\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 picture-perfect par-3 17th, ‘Gamblers Revenge’ which will terrify right-handers who are prone to pulling or hooking long irons or fairway woods;\u00a0 and finally, at 544-yards (448 from the Forward Tees) the 18th is a 3-shot dogleg right par-5, considering entry to the peninsular green is either over water or via isthmus on the far right side, all the right ingredients\u00a0for a superb finishing hole.<\/p>\n

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Ledgestone's 'Gamblers Revenge' par-3 17th, from behind the green. Don't miss left.<\/p><\/div>\n

Branson Creek<\/a>, designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio and operated by Troon Golf, boasts many Golf Digest and Golf Magazine \u2018Best Of\u2019 kudos, including \u2018#1 Best Public Course in Missouri\u2019 for over ten consecutive years.\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s saying something.\u00a0 Branson Creek has wide open fairways on expansive property, and is deserving of its reputation, as well as being a truly fun course to play.\u00a0 Beginning with the opening hole, a downhill sweeping par-5, and ending with a superb dogleg resembling the par-5 18th<\/sup> at Pebble Beach – without the ocean (some things you just can\u2019t duplicate), every hole in between offered enough difficulty to keep it interesting while maintaining ample playability and optional paths to the greens, certainly encouraging return visits.<\/p>\n

This is not a course where you\u2019ll lose a myriad of golf balls \u2013 except perhaps on the difficult par-5 14th<\/sup> and par-4 15th.\u00a0 The 14th<\/sup>, <\/sup>\u2018Long Creek\u2019, is 615 yards from the Blacks and even 500 from the Forward Jade tees, perhaps a bit much for the ladies.\u00a0 The creek meanders along the entire right side and appears in front of the slightly elevated green, creating the one instance where rolling the ball up to the green is not possible.<\/p>\n

No. 15 tee is right behind the 14th<\/sup> green, providing Branson entertainment of a different sort, with groans from golfers finding the water or cracking shots off the trees which back the green, safely sheltering the teebox.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great thought since golfers will want to stay for awhile:\u00a0 the view from the elevated 15th tee is breathtaking as the fairway sweeps down into a valley framed by rock walls left and waterfalls, right, hence the namesake of the course Founder, \u2018Bill\u2019s Falls\u2019.\u00a0 The hole then heads back uphill to a multi-tiered green.<\/p>\n

You probably won\u2019t lose any golf balls on the charming, 17th<\/sup>, a par-3 which ranges from 165-yards to 108-yards at the Jade Tee, that is, unless you fly it into the cave that was uncovered as more land was excavated to complete the hole.\u00a0 The day I played, I was demonstrating focus techniques to my teammates for getting a hole-in-one.\u00a0 Perhaps they were skeptical, but not after my ballmark was discovered six inches behind the hole\u2026.how it didn\u2019t hit the flagstick I\u2019ll never know, but the resulting 6-foot putt was knocked in for birdie.<\/p>\n

While playing Branson Creek, you\u2019re afforded an almost mystical glimpse of the Murder Rock<\/a> clubhouse, which sits atop the pinnacle of the course, about a mile or two away.\u00a0 The club got its name from a legend that bandits or \u2018bushwhackers\u2019 would hide in the brush behind big rocks, waiting for stagecoaches and other hapless travelers to pass through the hills.\u00a0 They would then rob and murder the unsuspecting passengers and dispose of their victims in the brush.\u00a0\u00a0 Murder Rock is almost two courses in one:\u00a0 one nine up in the hills, the other in the valley.\u00a0 Almost all of the holes have elevation changes, with heavy brush bordering most<\/p>\n

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Do not miss the green, right, on the challenging par-3 13th at Murder Rock.<\/p><\/div>\n

fairways, close enough to lose a lot of golf balls if your aim is even a wee bit awry.\u00a0 There are some forced carries and playing the course more than once is in order\u2026..that way, course knowledge on some of the holes is definitely an advantage as you discover rolls and bounces that GPS information could not possibly provide.\u00a0\u00a0 However, without the cart GPS, a number of blind tee shots might result in some nasty surprises.\u00a0 The bent grass greens are fast and true and will provide enough challenge for even the best putter.<\/p>\n

A visit to the Payne Stewart Golf Club<\/a>, at Branson Hills Resort and Golf Club, is a must.\u00a0 Who can forget the tragic \u2018ghost\u2019 plane mishap\u00a0that took Payne\u2019s life only weeks after his U.S. Open victory at Pinehurst in 1999?\u00a0 To honor Stewart, a native of nearby Springfield, a partnership between HCW and Stonegate Realty culminated in the development of the legacy course fashioned and named in Stewart\u2019s honor.\u00a0 Close family friend and fellow tour professional Bobby Clampett offered his expertise in designing the course, with the blessing of Stewart\u2019s wife, Tracey.<\/p>\n

Payne Stewart\u2019s memory is everywhere \u2013 from photos and memorabilia in the clubhouse to names and plaques on every hole which commemorate Payne\u2019s accomplishments, stellar shots, or significant quotes.\u00a0\u00a0 Each hole is named based on a characteristic or \u2018Payne-ism\u2019 of Stewart\u2019s too few years on tour.\u00a0 Check out the Men\u2019s Locker Room for an especially \u2018cheeky\u2019 picture of Payne with some Tour friends.\u00a0 Don\u2019t ask me how I know.<\/p>\n

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Payne Stewart Golf Club....every fairway beautifully contoured, making great use of elevation opportunities.<\/p><\/div>\n

This course is as pleasurable to look at and admire as it is to play.\u00a0 With elevation changes everywhere, each hole creates a visual picture to be admired \u2013 if only for a few moments to maintain pace of play \u2013 before actually teeing off.\u00a0 Depending on the time of day, trees surrounding the masterfully contoured fairways provide such a vivid contrast of shadows to sun that it is magical to watch\u2026\u2026almost as if Payne is there to guide your experience.\u00a0\u00a0 The club’s website has superbly detailed information on the course and each hole and is worth a read.<\/p>\n

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Course conditions at all of\u00a0the Branson destination\u00a0clubs were excellent, an indication of the prime climate with a long growing season;\u00a0even the newest courses were in surprisingly great shape.\u00a0 This should prove to be a great reason for golfers to add\u00a0Branson to their list of places to play.<\/p>\n

Four courses I haven\u2019t played but am looking forward to are certainly worth a mention here, given the quality of golf I\u2019ve seen so far and also based on website look-sees: Pointe Royale<\/a>, offers plenty of challenges for the average golfer.\u00a0 Water hole fans will love the fact that 12 out of 18 holes have some type of\u00a0liquid hazard on them.\u00a0 Recently renovated, the 6501-yard par-70 layout has rolling Bermuda fairways meandering among mature hardwoods.\u00a0 Bent grass greens assure players of a firm and true roll.<\/p>\n

Thousand Hills<\/a> Golf Resort\u00a0is located right in the heart of the city of Branson so you can easily schedule a tee time and a show time without rushing from one to the other.\u00a0 Even better, the par-64 5,111-yard course should be a quick and enjoyable play with\u00a09 par-3’s, 8 par-4’s and only one par-5.\u00a0 Many proponents of faster playing times in golf have suggested course designs exactly like this.\u00a0 With so many things to do in Branson,\u00a0speedy play on a beautiful course should be high up on\u00a0your\u00a0list.\u00a0 Don’t let the short yardage fool you though:\u00a0 the Robert E. Cupp design, Michael Riley’s architectural touches, selection\u00a0of zoysia fairways – where lies are always<\/em> good, fescue roughs, and Crenshaw bent grass greens should prove to be a first class experience.\u00a0\u00a0 Call 1.888.809.9875 for more information.<\/p>\n

Holiday Hills<\/a> Resort and Golf Club has quite a history:\u00a0 Chicago golf professional Don Gardner and his multi-talented wife Jill founded the Golf Ranch Country Club back in 1938.\u00a0 After the war came and went, the couple settled in Branson and created the kind of place that stars and regular folks alike could enjoy.\u00a0 There were many firsts here: the enterprising pro hitched a trailer to his tractor so he could haul students back and forth to golf lessons; wife Jill, an author, lecturer, radio broadcaster, musician, and world traveler demonstrated her culinary artistry\u00a0by frying \u00a0up chicken and baking pies to feed hungy golfers; a\u00a0landing strip was available for private planes delivering anxious golfers and pupils;\u00a0 murals of Don’s life were painted in the Golf Ranch hallways and are still\u00a0there today.\u00a0 The Gardners sold the club in 1964, though Don remained as\u00a0a teaching professional for many years.\u00a0 Recently, a multi-million dollar renovation has spruced up the resort facilities and\u00a0the course, which plays to a comfortable 5800 yards.\u00a0 Hybrid bermuda fairways and bent grass greens, many of them two-tiered, and 50 bunkers offer playable yet challenging conditions.<\/p>\n

Opening soon will be the long awaited Jack Nicklaus designed\u00a0Top of the Rock\u00a0golf course.\u00a0 Situated at\u00a0the breathtakingly beautiful and rustic\u00a0Big Cedar Lodge<\/a>,\u00a0this little 1330-yard par-3\u00a0gem, complete with waterfalls and gardens, overlooks Table Rock Lake.\u00a0 Nicklaus rival Arnold Palmer has his magic hands in this facility as well: he’s created a specialized practice range which includes 8 to 10 target greens, elevated tees, and lighting for nighttime practice.\u00a0 Big Cedar Lodge and Bass Pro Shops owner ‘Johnny’ Morris obviously likes things done right.\u00a0 With its\u00a0one-of-a-kind backdrop, Top of the Rock goes an extra step further and has attained the status of an Audubon Signature Cooperative Sanctuary Program, only one of eleven in the U.S.\u00a0 Turf on the practice range is ‘Tour Turf’ similar to what is used at football stadiums, so no chemicals are necessary to maintain conditions. To read more about Audubon Signature programs, see my article, The\u00a0Nature of the Game<\/a>.\u00a0 If you’re hungry, both inside and outside dining options are available.\u00a0 Now, doesn’t a wood-fired pizza, al fresco-style, sound terrific as the waning light reflects off of Table Rock Lake?<\/p>\n

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Hubcap pancakes at Billy Gail's Cafe.<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking of dining,\u00a0 Branson restaurants are appealing whether you’re looking for gourmet cuisine or down-home food.\u00a0 Either way, your culinary wishes will be satisfied.\u00a0 For a filling golfers’ breakfast, don’t miss Billy Gail’s Cafe for the hubcap-sizedpancakes.\u00a0 Their tagline ‘We do breakfast best’ is right on target.\u00a0 Many places boasting the biggest anything may not include quality as part of the equation, but that doesn’t apply here.\u00a0 I did order their signature hubcap blueberry pancake, never thinking I’d eat the whole thing.\u00a0 And yes, they really are <\/em>that big but the made-from-scratch ‘secret’ recipe batter is so light and thin, almost 49-er flapjack-style, that you’ll be able to finish it.\u00a0 Thankfully, you can order one, two, or three pancakes.\u00a0 One was plenty for me.\u00a0 Billy Gails is located\u00a0 1\/3 mile south of Hwy. 76 on Hwy 265, or call 417.338.8883.<\/p>\n

For a very memorable dinner experience,\u00a0make reservations at\u00a0the Level 2 Steakhouse<\/a>, located in the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.\u00a0\u00a0 Choices include 28-day aged Midwestern Corn-fed beef, fresh seafood flown in from Hawaii, Heritage Missouri pork, locally raised produce, and housemade desserts, featuring\u00a0the local and decadent Missouri Butter Cake with caramel\u00a0sauce.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So many special touches add to the experience, including a special method of cooking steaks:\u00a0 the kitchen boasts a 1600-degree infrared broiler which sears the meat and speeds up the cooking process, yielding a moist and tender steak no matter what doneness you order.\u00a0 Presentation and service is unsurpassed by any other top-level steakhouse in the country.\u00a0 Level 2\u00a0also has an extraordinary eating implement program:\u00a0 The Cut Club<\/em> allows frequent patrons to have their names engraved on preferred custom knives.\u00a0 New guests should not despair;\u00a0 you get to use one of five signature knives chosen according to your dinner entree, that is, if you’ll even need one to cut the ever-so-tender steaks.\u00a0\u00a0 Level 2 also offers an outstanding brunch;\u00a0 allow a little extra time so you can savor all of your breakfast favorites.<\/p>\n

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Branson Landing promenade.....where fireshows and water mix well.<\/p><\/div>\n

Lodging choices are many in Branson, but to be in the center of all things shopping and entertaining, the Hilton Promenade<\/a> at Branson Landing<\/a> is a great choice with its premium offerings.\u00a0\u00a0 An arm\u00a0of Lake Taneycomo stretches alongside the promenade, providing a\u00a0scenic backdrop for the hotel,\u00a0lakeside amphitheater,\u00a0water and fire shows which erupt periodically,\u00a0dozens of shops including anchor stores\u00a0Bass Pro Shops and Belk Department Store, and restaurants galore.\u00a0\u00a0 The White River Fish House and Cantina Laredo, where excellent hand-crafted cocktails play a starring role, are popular dining spots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mention Branson, Missouri, and immediately eyes begin to roll.\u00a0 At first, mine did…..but not for long. Once\u00a0considered a poor man’s… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":1208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9,17],"tags":[94915,6817,6822,1234,6821,6827,113042,113400],"class_list":["post-1171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-golf","category-courses-and-travel","tag-golf-2","tag-branson","tag-branson-creek","tag-payne-stewart","tag-murder-rock","tag-ledgestone","tag-shoji-tabuchi","tag-baldknobbers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2011\/08\/Ledgestone-GC-par-3-Branson.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1171"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1466,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1171\/revisions\/1466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}