Golfweek released its annual “25 Best Public Access Short Courses in the U.S.” compilation and two Branson Golf Destination courses shone, earning top 10 status – Top of the Rock (No. 3) and Mountain Top (No. 8).
The development of short courses has been one of the greatest trends in golf over the past decade. Par-3 layouts have been around for decades, but the recent proliferation of new ones is providing golfers with more options, ones that cost less and take less time to play than traditional length 18-hole courses.
Branson is an ideal golf destination because it has a robust mix of regulation courses (eight) and short courses (two, with a third scheduled to be completed later this year). That allows players to mix and match choices to their heart’s desire. A popular approach for golfers traveling to the destination is to play an 18-hole regulation course in the morning, followed by a short course in the afternoon. Or they may opt to play short courses in the morning and then spend the rest of the day with the family experiencing the destination’s may other attractions.
“Golf visitors to our destination have been growing increasingly the past several years thanks to our collection of courses,” said Heather Hermen, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Explore Branson. “With a new 18-hole short course currently under construction, we expect that trend to continue growing.”
Top of the Rock is a 9-hole layout designed by Jack Nicklaus, while Gary Player-designed Mountain Top has 13 holes and is walking only with club trolleys. All holes are par-3s, making them fun and more accessible for all levels of player, not just golfers who play regularly.
Both of those short courses are amenities of Big Cedar, the acclaimed wilderness resort founded by Johnny Morris, which is building a third short course called Cliffhangers. It will be an 18-hole, par-3 layout that is adjacent to the Tiger Woods-designed Payne’s Valley course.
All 10 courses in the destination are located near one another as well as hundreds of restaurants, scores of lodging options, and after-golf things to see and do. Branson is the No. 3 rated tourism destination in America, according to Trip Advisor. For more information about Branson Golf, visit www.explorebranson.com/golf.
