Wonderful weather, annual hat special on deck at Black Butte Ranch

The view Wednesday morning from Big Meadow could not have been better.

Black Butte Ranch will begin one of its best deals of the season on Friday, and boy, it could not have come at a better time.

Through the month of April, a golfer can play unlimited golf at Black Butte Ranch for $44 (cart is an additional $10 per person). In addition, golfers will receive a free Black Butte Ranch golf cap with a paid green fee.

Better than an excellent bargain, the warm, dry Central Oregon sun will make its first real appearance of the season. The forecast for the weekend calls for clear blue skies and high temperatures hovering near 70 degrees.

With Big Meadow open for the season, great weather on deck and a popular deal to take advantage of, it seems like the perfect weekend to jumpstart the 2016 golf season.

“We’re expecting to be busy this weekend with this weather,” says Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf. “The whole course is open and in terrific shape.

“It’s just great to see golfers out here again.”

The difference in atmosphere was noticeable on Wednesday morning. The mild weather had golfers out in short sleeves. The sound of the maintenance crew — a leaf blower and lawn mower worked away off in the distance — was a call to spring.

Suddenly, Big Meadow was beginning to buzz with the sounds of golf, and what could be sweeter to those who love the game?

For Central Oregon, the early start to the season comes just in time. The Masters is but a week away. And as any golfer knows, there is nothing like the vision of blooming azaleas at Augusta National to fuel a player to get back to the course.