March 2015 - Black Butte Ranch

31 03, 2015

Glaze Meadow opening paves way for Big Meadow bunker project
Glaze Meadow opening paves way for Big Meadow bunker project

Glaze Meadow opening paves way for Big Meadow bunker project

Glaze Meadow is set to open the season on Friday. Certainly welcome news to any golfer who has fallen in love with the John Fought redesign —and there are plenty of us — now in its third full season. On the same day, Big Meadow will be closing until around the end of April. Call it good news, bad news if you must. But in reality, it is all positive for the long-term health of Black Butte Ranch’s two championship golf courses. Big Meadow is closing for two very specific reasons. One, the Black Butte Ranch maintenance staff is [...]

24 03, 2015

Big Meadow’s 13th green on track

Big Meadow’s 13th green is on the mend. Fear not, though. The putting surface should be rolling in perfect condition well before summer. For those who have taken advantage of Big Meadow’s early opening, it comes as no surprise that the green for the uphill, 185-yard par 3 has been out of action so far. Instead, players have been forced to play to a temporary green. Black Butte Ranch’s maintenance staff performed a soil profile test earlier this month to figure out the best course of action to improve the drainage of the putting surface. That test yielded relatively [...]

19 03, 2015

Rain a blessing this time of year

Rain might get a golfer down. But a superintendent? Not so much. In fact, Phil Lagao, Black Butte Ranch’s award-winning superintendent, is almost hesitant to get too optimistic about the run of ideal weather. “Knock on wood,” Lagao warns with a laugh. “It can turn, but right now the 10-day forecast looks great.” Yes, a warm, dry winter has Big Meadow Course and Glaze Meadow Course springing back to life far earlier than anyone could have expected. That is certainly positive enough news for golf lovers. But there is more. The light, relatively warm rain that fell on Black [...]

16 03, 2015

Getting ready for golf, March 16, 2015

What is a golfer to do? You ended last season playing the best golf of the year. Since then, though, enough rust has collected on that golf swing that you feel like a Wizard of Oz character. Such is the cycle of a golfer in the Pacific Northwest. As the golf season begins to fire up, now is the time to apply a little oil to that creaky swing. But just what should a golfer be doing to get the most out of the preseason? George Mack Jr., Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf instruction, has some simple suggestions. [...]

13 03, 2015

Central Oregon Shootout fast approaching

Itching to feel the thrill of competitive golf again? No need to wait for the summer golf season. From April 23-26, Glaze Meadow at Black Butte Ranch will be among three hosts of the 13th Annual Central Oregon Shootout, one of Central Oregon’s most popular amateur golf events. As is seemingly always the case, the field is filling fast and is expected to be full by the time the tournament tees off. What is that makes the Central Oregon Shootout so popular? For one, the 54-hole tournament owns a unique format. The two-golfer team tournament features one round of [...]

10 03, 2015

Black Butte Sunny weekend, March 9, 2015
Black Butte Sunny weekend, March 9, 2015

Black Butte Sunny weekend, March 9, 2015

Bright blue sky. Greening grass. Sunscreen. Close to 70 degrees. Even sprinklers doing their jobs. Sounds like a nice May day at Black Butte Ranch. Well, this is March, though a golfer would never guess it by playing a round at Big Meadow. All 18 holes are open at Big Meadow, and the course is in surprisingly good condition considering we are just a week into March. In fact, Big Meadow was teeming on Monday with golfers looking to catch an early season round to break in the golf season. This writer included. You almost had to remind yourself [...]

6 03, 2015

Black Butte Ranch shaping up early

Black Butte Ranch shaping up early Sure, Big Meadow is open far earlier than anyone could expect. But what kind of shape is the course actually in after so many long winter months? As it turns out, Big Meadow is looking pretty good for being so early in the season. Credit an unseasonably warm, dry stretch that hit Central Oregon in January and February for setting a stage that already has Big Meadow showing its greener side. Good news for golfers beyond just an early opening. Black Butte Ranch’s maintenance staff, led by head superintendent Phil Lagao, has already [...]

2 03, 2015

Season Opens
Season Opens

Season Opens

Sure, Big Meadow is open far earlier than anyone could expect. But what kind of shape is the course actually in after so many long winter months? As it turns out, Big Meadow is looking pretty good for being so early in the season. Credit an unseasonably warm, dry stretch that hit Central Oregon in January and February for setting a stage that already has Big Meadow showing its greener side. Good news for golfers beyond just an early opening. Black Butte Ranch’s maintenance staff, led by head superintendent Phil Lagao, has already begun the work of getting Big [...]