Pin itTwo of Branson's strongest courses, a dinner show, and two nights at the area's integrated golf resort.
3 Days
Long Weekend
$800–$1400/person
2
Moderate
The trip for golfers who want the strongest courses Branson offers without taking a full week away. Two nights at Thousand Hills Golf Resort, two rounds at the area's top layouts, and an evening at Dolly Parton's Stampede deliver a complete Ozarks experience across a long weekend. The format works particularly well for the drive market: leave Friday morning from Springfield (1 hour), Tulsa (3.
Branson & the Ozarks, Missouri, Missouri
Trip at a Glance
Arrive in Branson by midday, either by air through Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) with an hour's drive south, or by car from the regional drive market. Check into Thousand Hills Golf Resort, where the condo and cabin units offer more space than a hotel room and a kitchen that handles breakfast and casual meals.
Morning tee time at Branson Hills Golf Club. Chuck Smith's 2009 design is the longest course in the area at 7,324 yards from the tips, though the forward tees bring the yardage into a manageable range after a day of Ozark elevation.
Check out of Thousand Hills and head for the airport or start the drive home. With a later departure, you have several morning options: a quick round on the Thousand Hills par-64 course in three hours or less, a visit to Top of the Rock for the Lost Canyon Cave trail and museum, or a walk through Branson Landing for shopping and lakefront scenery without a time commitment.
Trip Logistics
Plan the Practicalities
Thousand Hills Golf Resort is the recommended base. On-site lodging at $80 to $160 per night provides condo and cabin units that fit a foursome comfortably, and the kitchens reduce dining costs. The resort's own course is available for a bonus round at roughly half off the standard green fee, adding a third round for $20 to $45.
Ledgestone in Branson West and Branson Hills to the south are each 15 to 25 minutes from Thousand Hills. A rental car is necessary, with daily rates of $40 to $55 for a midsize. A foursome splitting the car pays roughly $10 to $14 per person per day.
The $800 to $1,400 per person range tracks accommodation choice and season. The lower bound assumes a two-bedroom condo split four ways during the shoulder months (April, May, September, October) at weekday green fee pricing. The upper bound reflects peak rates with Chateau on the Lake substituted for Thousand Hills. For golfers who want the two strongest Branson courses with minimal time invested, this trip leaves nothing important behind.
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