Big Cedar Golf adds award-winning instructor Megan Johnston
RIDGEDALE, Mo. – Before your group tackles the hills and swales of Ozarks National, Mountain Top, Payne’s Valley or Buffalo Ridge, make sure your game is ready.
Big Cedar Golf has hired highly decorated LPGA teaching professional Megan Johnston, a native of Northern Ireland who played collegiately at Missouri State in Springfield and has recently returned to the Ozarks to be the head golf instructor at the world class resort.
Johnston, whose popular teaching videos have generated an Instagram following of over 115,000 (@MeganJohnstonGolf) will help bring her students far and wide to the resort while being available to do individual or group lessons for travelers and set up teaching clinics for youth in the area. She comes to Big Cedar after much success building junior programs at Orange Country National in Winter Garden, Fla., where she was named to the 2025 Golf Digest Best Young Teachers list, as well as 2024 LPGA SE Teacher of the Year and recognition as a US Kids Top 50 Instructor.
Megan was named 2024 LPGA SE Teacher of the Year.Johnston said she is happy to be back in Missouri where she played collegiately from 2011 to 2015. Her husband’s family hails from St. Louis and she used to practice at Buffalo Ridge, then Branson Creek, in college. The transformation at Big Cedar in the years she was gone was stunning when she returned.
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“It’s just amazing what they’ve done here,” she said. “Getting out and playing all these courses was definitely first on my priority list when I came back last fall.”
Megan conducting a group lesson.“We are very grateful to welcome Megan to our team at Big Cedar Golf,” said Jeff Steen, Vice President of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge. “Megan’s passion and dedication to sharing her knowledge with golfers of all ages and skill levels is sure to enhance the experience for our guests.”
Adding golf clinics and having a dedicated teaching professional was the logical next step for Big Cedar Golf, according to Matt McQueary, director of golf sales and marketing.
“With us being a resort destination getting up there with the big names in teh space, it’s great to have the ability to offer lessons and clinics,” McQueary said. “Having Megan just kind of fall into our lap as she returned to this area is fantastic for us.”
McQueary said besides the connections for locals and resort guests, it could lead to other teachers bringing corporate schools to Big Cedar to do co-teaching clinics.
“This is a place where nature and golf come together in such a unique way,” said Johnston said, who has daughters ages 2 and 4. “I look forward to welcoming both new and returning clients from across the country to experience the magic of the Ozarks and nature golf.”
Johnston’s experience growing up in Northern Ireland and playing classic links courses such as Royal Portrush should help those looking for a few linksy shots to navigate the hilly terrain at Big Cedar.
For more information on Big Cedar Lodge’s golf programs, lessons or to book a tee time at any of Big Cedar’s award-winning courses, visit bigcedar.com/golf or call 800-225-6343. You can email Megan at mjohnston@big-cedar.com or check out her website at meganjohnstongolf.com.