Golf Course Review: Ozarks National | 9.2 Score
Location: Hollister, Mo.
Course architects: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
Opened: 2018
Par: 71
Tee — Yardage | Rating / Slope
Men
Ozarks — 7,036 | 73.9 / 131
Gold — 6,510 | 71.3 / 126
White — 5,903 | 68.6 / 118
Red — 5,025 | 64.6 / 112
Women
Gold — 6,510 | 77.4 / 132
White — 5,903 | 74.0 / 128
Red — 5,025 | 69.2 / 117
Saturday morning green fee: $$$$ - $$$ [November:Preview play, $150; replay, $100. December: Preview play, $125; replay, $85. The course will close for the winter months on Dec. 15.]
Caddie service: Yes
Walker friendly: Yes
Fairways: Zoysia
Greens: Bentgrass
THE REVIEW
Starter: From a golf perspective, big things have been happening in the Missouri Ozarks and the opening of Ozarks National in early November is the most recent. Payne’s Valley, a Tiger Woods design, is scheduled to open in fall 2019 right next door. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have teamed to become one of the most respected architectural teams in the world and any of their creations merits attention. Ozarks National is open for preview play through Dec. 15 and then will close for the winter months.
Play because ...: Though no official announcement has been made, Ozarks National is expected to be one of the courses used in the PGA Tour Champions' Legends of Golf event in April, replacing neighbor Buffalo Ridge Springs. Grand opening festivities at Ozarks National are planned to coincide with the Legends of Golf. Without question, though, this course will be one of the most talked about in 2019.
Takeaway: The course is in a gorgeous setting with beautiful vistas and not much water. It has an unusually diverse collection of holes, and they’ll keep a golfer's attention throughout. Though the course is ready for play, many more things are still to be done. A spacious clubhouse is expected to be ready sometime next spring and a 15-acre practice range, a putting course and two additional practice greens will also be added eventually.
THE RATINGS [1 to 10 scale; 10 being the highest]
Food | Beverage: 8.0
Pro shop: 8.0
Clubhouse: 9.0 [Note: The current Mountain Top clubhouse, that is part of the Gary Player-designed 13-hole par-3 course, is being used for Ozarks National guests until a new clubhouse is completed in the spring.]
Difficulty: 8.0
Pace of play: 10.0
THE COURSE | Scorecard
Best par 3: No. 12 [254 | 213 | 175 | 133]
Rarely will a par-3 be the No. 2 handicap hole on any course, but this one merits that distinction. This hole will take its place among the best long par-3s in the country. The small, uphill green is protected by a ravine on the left and trees on the right. There’s very little room for error here.
Best par 4: No. 5 [352 | 306 | 248 | 161]
This is a hole to behold, a true short par 4 that’s reachable for all levels of players if they use the proper tee. There are tougher par-4 holes on the layout, but this one perfectly fits what this course is all about — a fun, but still meaningful, challenge that you’ll remember once the round is over.
Best par 5: No. 9 [597 | 549 | 516 | 452]
The course’s No. 1 handicap hole comes right after somewhat of a breather at the par-3 eighth. That dramatic transition may accentuate the difficulty of the longer hole. Still, this winding hole is the longest on the course — definitely a three-shotter.
INFO
Phone:417.339.5420
Website:www.golfbigcedar.com
Facebook:@BigCedarLodgeGolf
Instagram:@golfbigcedar
Twitter:@GolfBigCedar