TUCK-INS, TASTES AND TUNES
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Branson is big-time golf getaway material. With millions of visitors driving in year-round from Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and parts in between — and many more thousands catching regional jets into Springfield then shuttling an hour south — Branson hits all the right chords for a winning golf vacation. If you love country music and barbecue to boot, well, all y’all are closer to heaven yet.
So where to stay, dine and settle in for some sweet songcraft?
If you’re looking for a strong golf excursion HQ, head for either the mid-level Branson Hilton Promenade or the larger, more upscale Hilton Branson Convention Center at the heart of Branson Landing, a sleek planned “resort community” rife with national shopping outlets, dining options ranging from fast-grab to high-end. For solid pub-comfort fare and a wealth of big-screen sports you can’t go wrong with Big Whiskey in the Promenade, while the Convention hotel’s Level 2 Steakhouse is the place to go for that multi-course, burn-the-plastic meal that you’ll be talking about until your next visit. Just down the street, south of the (of course) Bass Pro Shop, is White River Fish House, where deep-fried and grilled seafood is the name of the post-round game. If like me you can’t live without a dose of down-home barbecue, the brilliantly named, family-owned Getting Basted gets the nod for its ribs and brisket alone.
A few stop lights west of the Landing is Branson’s original downtown core, with yet more shops, attractions (don’t miss the Branson Centennial Museum) and eateries. For the type of no-frills locals’ joint breakfast that should be required on any golf junket, check out the Farmhouse or Clockers, and for a gut-busting lunch laced with classic country and oldies tunes crooned by singing waitpeople, you’ve gotta get to Mel’s Hard Luck Diner, located in the heart of the town’s bustling theater district, otherwise known as The Strip. There’s nothing like watching a guy or gal grab a tray’s worth of burgers, sandwiches, monster salads and just-like-mom-made entrees while showing off their trained chops on “Crazy” or “Jolene.” If you’re jonesing for authentic Mexican (in Missouri?), venture back up to Arnie’s Barn at the Top of the Rock for chorizo nachos, wood baked queso, carnitas, fish tacos and more. Why Arnie’s Barn? Because Johnny Morris actually located a 150-year-old barn from the King’s Pennsylvania childhood home, had it dismantled, trucked to his own kingdom and reassembled board by board into a restaurant and pro shop. That’s what a stack o’ Bass Pro Shop cash will do for ya.
Finally, no trip to Branson is complete without taking in a live show or two at one of the city’s many theaters, most of which seat several hundred or more. In the popular retro revue “Million Dollar Quartet,” which is based on the Tony-winning Broadway show, four über-talented performers pay deep tribute to Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and the other King — Elvis — in a rousing 90 minutes of piano-pounding, guitar-slinging fun.
The summer months bring outdoor music festivals into the Ozarks picture, and Branson also offers several amusement and adventure parks, plus water sports, hiking, target shooting and, yes, hunting and fishing. And if you get a hankering to visit for the holiday season, the town does it up right, decorating to the nines and staging special Christmas shows. Most courses are open year-round, weather permitting, so there’s nothing stopping you from being Branson bound anytime.
For reservations and tee times:
