What's in a name? A lot, if you're a marketer who wants to use John Daly's name

You’d expect a golf course with the name: “John Daly’s Murder Rock Golf and Country Club” to be a handful, wouldn’t you?

It isn’t.

It’s a good course, definitely, but it’s no John Daly-sized back-breaker.

Daly had nothing to do with the design, and the name “Murder Rock” comes from a Civil War-era bushwacker who used to ambush travelers under a nearby rock.

So, with that out of the way, Murder Rock is worth a visit when in the Branson, Missouri area. It’s situated on the highest point in Taney County, 300 feet above its superb neighbor, Branson Creek; both are located in the expensive Branson Creek development outside Branson.

The front nine at Murder Rock plays down in a valley through the hills, while the back nine climbs along a high, spiny ridge with views seemingly into infinity; the Ozarks are all around you, and below you. The back nine has the more dramatic holes, as well as views.

Aside from the misleading marketing, this is a fine golf course. It isn’t in the same league with Branson Creek, but Murder Rock has its own charms, one of which is substantially lower green fees.

The greens are excellent. They’re Crenshaw bentgrass and have a very lush look and feel. Though slower and smaller than Branson Creek, the greens at Murder Rock have enough slope and undulation, but not too much, to make putting on them a pleasure.

Look for the full review coming soon.