Buffalo Ridge Golf Course
10.02.2019 - Bucket Golfer - ~6 Minutes
Rated the #1 public golf course in Missouri, Buffalo Ridge Springs did not disappoint in regards to the quality of golf. Originally designed by Tom Fazio and called Branson Creek, Johnny Morris acquired the property and added his touch to it. He brought back Fazio to give the course its current look and feel, and I must say the course is perhaps the most picturesque 18 hole championship course in Missouri. Massive elevation changes, roaring waterfalls, caves, and unique in-play rock formations all add up to some very impressive golf. The course is quite fair giving golfers different options off the tee with many holes enticing the golfer to cut corners and water features. The beauty of this course has a cost besides the moderately high greens fee ($140): pace of play. We’ll get to the pace of play in a little.
Driving up to the club house bag drop off area, we were greeted with the sign “Welcome fishermen, golfers and other liars”. If you’re familiar with other Bass Pro Shops’ properties, Johnny Morris, Bass Pro’s founder, likes to keep the tone fun and inviting. Bass Pro Shop’s Big Cedar Lodge, arguably the top rated wilderness resort in the Midwest if not the entire United States, is the home of Buffalo Ridge Springs and a handful of other amazing courses (Ozarks National – Coore/Crenshaw, Mountain Top – Player, Top of the Rock – Nicklaus, and Payne’s Valley – Woods). From the club house, the buffalo inspiration hits you; there’s a ridge with buffalo (bison) just to the left of the first hole. The club house is very Bass Pro / Big Cedar Lodge-esque with its outdoors cabin chic. It isn’t as impressive as the Mountain Top club house from an amenities or grandeur standpoint but gets the job done. Key essentials such as golf balls, merch, and a bar are all available.
Right after slinging our clubs on the cart, we had to make a decision: tips or no tips. The decision was made for us as the back tees used buffalo skeleton heads as the markers. Of course we had to play the buffalo tees, right? In all fairness, due to the majority of the tees being elevated, the course does not play the full 7,036 yards. Case-in-point: hole #1. It is a 578 yard par 5. Prior to hitting off of the tee, I was not even dreaming about reaching the green in 2. But with an elevated tee and a slight tailwind, 578 yards played closer to 500 yards. #5, a 449 par 4, has you hitting off of a massive hill down into a valley with perhaps my new favorite on-course snack bar. The course isn’t entirely bombsville as you do eventually have to go uphill on some holes and there are a few pars 3 that are very legit. #7 is a 245 yard par 3 protected by sand and water. #8, an uphill 520 yard par 5, teases you off of the tee with a multi-tier waterfall feature on the left with no-man’s land on the right. And then #9, a 200 yard par 3, has a plaque on the tee box that says “THE INTIMIDATOR”. It is mildy intimidating with water left and a rock formation short and right that looks as though it would rather ricochet the ball back at your face than keep it.
The back nine was filled with as much if not more wonder than the front nine. #10 is a short par 4 that entices you to go for it, or at least cut off a huge swath of the fairway. Yours truly bailed out with an iron while my long time golfing buddy went for it and was mildly rewarded. Each hole on the back seems to get more and more scenic starting with hole #12. While #9 gets the title “THE INTIMIDATOR”, #14, a 615 yard par 5, is deserving of being titled “YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE” or “NOT IN YOUR DREAMS”. It is my favorite hole at Buffalo Ridge Springs, with water off to the right and in front of the green. I smoked my drive, my second shot, and had about 75 yards for my 3rd. Long story short, bogey. #15 is perhaps the most picturesque par 4 on the course, with an elevated tee. The hole calls for a Bubba style cut but I felt the desire to play dangerously hitting a draw over the waterfalls. #18 is a great finishing hole. I wholeheartedly agree with architects that choose to make the last hole a par 5. It gives one last chance at a birdie to redeem yourself from sins past. Once you get past the tee shot, it isn’t an overly complicated or difficult finishing hole…until you get to the green. The green, like many at Buffalo Ridge Springs, is tiered, so be cautious about the pin placement.
So let’s talk about the pace of play. Our tee time was at 2:30 PM in early September. We barely finished #18 in the light. Over 5 hours later, we make it back to our vehicles. 5 hours. Perhaps I’m spoiled with the pace of play at my local muni (not being sarcastic), but 5 hours is at least 30 minutes too long. I knew we might be getting ourselves in trouble right out of the gate: on the back of the scorecard, the first bullet point is “Please maintain a Pace of Play of 4 1/2hours or less per 18 holes”. I wish I could offer advice on how to resolve the pace of play issue at Buffalo Ridge. After talking with several staff, the course sees north of 140+ rounds every day during peak season. In addition, many of the holes warrant site-seeing and photo-taking. Totally understandable. My only real complaint was that we paid full price for a 2:30 PM tee time just to barely finish 18. We finished, so I guess I can’t complain too much.
Overall, Buffalo Ridge Springs lives up to its #1 public golf course ranking. I feel that its crown is in jeopardy though with Ozarks National and Payne’s Valley nearby. It is very possible that Big Cedar Lodge will have the #1, #2, and #3 ranked public courses in the coming years solidifying itself as one of the great golf destinations in the United States.