Big Meadow is back … again. After a weeks-long hiatus that allowed Black Butte Ranch’s maintenance staff to perform some much-needed work, Big Meadow is ready to challenge golfers for the rest of the golf season. What’s changed in the nearly three weeks since anyone teed it up at Big Meadow? Plenty. The bunkers on the front nine have been freshened up with new sand, the edges have been sharpened, and in some traps new drainage has been added. In addition, superintendent Phil Lagao and his staff have repaired a handful of irrigation breaks and leaks. And any damage [...]

This is no secret. Black Butte Ranch boasts an exceptional group of golf professionals. Still, signing up for golf lessons can be intimidating for some. We do understand. Which is why the Ranch has put so much effort into crafting group lessons that help ease that intimidation factor. Black Butte Ranch has among the largest instructional programs in Central Oregon, offering an almost endless selection of classes and clinics, each tailored for a specific purpose. That includes our three-day Spring Tune Up classes (dates are May 4-6, May 11-13 and May 18-20). For $105, students spend three days in [...]

Getting out of the winter doldrums and getting back on course can be daunting. Golfers often have not touched a club in months and that swing feels rustier than an abandoned Ford Pinto. But every golfer has to start somewhere. Where best to begin to get that golf game in shape? Jeff Fought, our director of golf, has some advice: start with the short game and let the rest follow. That includes concentrated work on chipping, long neglected by golfers everywhere. Fought’s drill is simple enough. Drop three piles of practice balls 10 feet apart around a short-game practice [...]