Buffalo Ridge – Played Spring 2026
- Rankings: Golf Magazine Public #88
- Location: 1001 Branson Creek Boulevard, Hollister, Missouri
- Year: 1999
- Architects: Tom Fazio & Beau Welling
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Buffalo: 7,036 yards, Par 71, 73.4 Rating/130 Slope
- Blue: 6,616 yards, Par 71, 71.4 Rating/127 Slope
- Blue/White Combo: 6,183 yards, Par 71, 69.5 Rating/125 Slope
- White: 5,881 yards, Par 71, 67.5 Rating/123 Slope (Men’s), 73.2 Rating/131 Slope (Women’s)
- White/Red Combo: 5,367 yards, Par 71, 65.7 Rating/118 Slope (Men’s), 71.1 Rating/125 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 5,004 yards, Par 71, 63.8 Rating/113 Slope (Men’s), 69.0 Rating/119 Slope (Women’s)
My tee time at Buffalo Ridge came about from my affinity for driving whenever I can. There was a golf trip with some new friends in Kansas that would take me through Branson if I drove. That makes it a pretty easy decision when it is a course that that is on my list.
The previous sentence brings up something that has been on my mind. I’ve always been wary of being labeled as a “list chaser” and I’m sure some people out there feel that way. However, I view lists as a good way to organize a goal. If you know me personally, that fits quite a bit with my personality. So yes, I’m trying to see all the courses on my list, but that is not the end all, be all for me in golf. I love to see new courses and meet new people all over the golf world. There isn’t a second that goes by that I don’t count have gratitude for all the cool experiences I’ve had in this game!
Now that I got that off my chest, let’s get into Buffalo Ridge. The course is part of the massive facility at Big Cedar Lodge that has restaurants, attractions, and other courses. It’s truly a sight to behold and you can look over it from a lot of the course.
There had been a lot of rain the day before, so we were restricted to cart path only and the course was soft. The sting of that was alleviated by getting paired with some real characters. Let’s get started with the tour.
Hole 1 – 547 yards – Par 5
The first tee stands high on the property and fittingly, bison are visible right away. This is a very generous landing area where you can let the driver fly.
The shallow green is flanked closely by bunkers. The creek behind should only come into play if you blade one.
Hole 2 – 390 yards – Par 4
From the longer tees, this is more of a dogleg left. From these tees, it plays pretty straight. Approaches from the right side of the fairway have the best angle into the green. Left misses are no good for the entire length of this hole.
Hole 3 – 385 yards – Par 4
If you keep your drive between the rocks and the sand, you will be rewarded with a great look at the green. Once you get to the fairway, the hole opens up to expose the large green.
Hole 4 – 139 yards – Par 3
This hole is straightforward and you clearly do not want to miss left. On drier days, misses to the right can collect onto the green.
Hole 5 – 369 yards – Par 4
This is a majestic view from the elevated tee box. For the actual shots, you’ll want to know some distances. Knowing all the carry numbers will help you with club selection and aim. The further up the left you can go, the less of the water you have to deal with on your approach.
Hole 6 – 328 yards – Par 4
This is the shortest par four at Buffalo Ridge. It’s also one of the tighter landing areas, so driver might not be the play. As long as you can stay out of the bunkers, the approach should be a green light to attack the pin.
Hole 7 – 195 yards – Par 3
This is a longer shot but the green is a big target. Short is by far the preferable miss. Shots to the left make for a very difficult up and down. Shots long and right will most likely find the water. Once you get on the putting surface, the slopes are muted and you can make some putts.
Hole 8 – 456 yards – Par 5
This is a birdie opportunity for sure. The hole plays severely uphill but it is still reachable. You must fit your drive between the creek and the trees to have a shot at it. Longer hitters can challenge more of the creek and have a wider landing area.
You’ll want some height on the approach shot.
The green has a big slope in the front section, so be sure to control your spin.
Hole 9 – 179 yards – Par 3
Take note of the pin position here. It will be a much harder hole if it is on the shelf in the back right section. The front right pin seen below allows you to utilize the slope as a backstop and get one close.
Hole 10 – 356 yards – Par 4
This hole will fit your eye quite nicely if you draw the ball. On dry days, you can get the ball slinging down the fairway.
left and long misses are no good here. You can see the severe right-to-left slope of the green from the fairway.
Hole 11 – 148 yards – Par 3
With how this hole is carved into the land, the natural drop-offs sit to the left and behind the green. Favoring the right side of the green is understandable.
From this angle, you can see the slope in the green that is not as visible from the front.
Hole 12 – 418 yards – Par 4
Keep your aim just to the right of the bunkers and blast driver. Good drives will set you up with an approach to a large green where the only defense is the surrounding bunkers.
Hole 13 – 401 yards – Par 4
This tee shot must navigate the bunkers to set you up with a good approach shot. Once you are in the fairway, the second shot has similar obstacles with a heavily bunkered green.
Short is the preferable miss here but the bunker on the right is not too bad.
Hole 14 – 537 yards – Par 5
This par five has one of the tighter fairways at Buffalo Ridge. That is exacerbated by the heavy left-to-right slope. The hole turns slightly right to a tucked green site that is fronted by the hazard you can see below.
If you are off, you might play some pinball with all the exposed rocks.
Hole 15 – 348 yards – Par 4
With the slope, this hole plays longer than the yardage. The water feature may be pretty, but you’ll want to stay far away from it. On the approach, be aware of the green’s false front. Anything coming up short will be sent back down the fairway.
Hole 16 – 326 yards – Par 4
Driver isn’t needed from this tee which makes the fairway much easier to hit. Two methodical shots can set you up for a birdie on this green that slopes from back to front.
Hole 17 – 151 yards – Par 3
The rocks and cave will likely be the first thing you notice on this hole. Once you take that in and focus on the green, you should still be interested. There is a lot of noticeable slope which requires specific shot placement to have a good look at birdie.
Hole 18 – 510 yards – Par 5
The final hole at Buffalo Ridge features a fairway set at an angle to the tee. This makes aim and shot shape important because you can run out of room up the right side and the danger to the left is self explanatory.
If you’ve negotiated the tee shot well, your next task is to stay out of the bunkers on the left. From the fairway, you can go for this pin and try to finish the round with a bang.
Buffalo Ridge sits on quite an expansive property and I hope that has come through in the photos. I’d love to see it on a day where the ball was bouncing. Even if you aren’t the biggest golfer, the views make for quite the day. If you find yourself in Branson, check it out!