Black Butte Ranch Golf Archives - Page 4 of 4

13 07, 2015

Golf swings are mysterious things.

It seems that everything could feel right. Then suddenly, a presumably well-struck golf ball flies uncontrollably toward towering pines that are sure to jail the next shot. The feeling can be a helpless one for a golfer, especially if he or she cannot detect the flaw that led to such a wayward shot. All of a sudden second guesses turn those confident golf swings into tentative movements. Before you know it, you are this guy. A golfer’s natural instinct is often to blame something with the swing movement. But before you go Tin Cup, you might be best served by [...]

6 07, 2015

Conditions: Courses fine-tuned while flourishing through the heat of July
Conditions: Courses fine-tuned while flourishing through the heat of July

Conditions: Courses fine-tuned while flourishing through the heat of July

A golfer might not notice it at first glance of either Big Meadow or Glaze Meadow. But through a round, one can’t help but pay attention to the subtle details that make Black Butte Ranch’s two championship golf courses so eye-catching this time of year. With a full maintenance staff and much of the spring cleanup long behind, Black Butte Ranch finally has the freedom to spend painstaking attention to the presentation of the golf courses. And now it shows as the peak of the golf season hits full swing. “Instead of trying to do the basics, we are [...]

17 06, 2015

The beauty of Glaze Meadow in bloom
The beauty of Glaze Meadow in bloom

The beauty of Glaze Meadow in bloom

The John Fought redesign of Black Butte Ranch’s Glaze Meadow, which opened in 2012, has certainly been well received.The praise comes for myriad reasons, including improved playability and better consistency throughout Glaze Meadow’s 18 holes. That is great for golfers. But perhaps the underrated improvement of the redesign is the aesthetic enhancements, particularly to Glaze Meadow’s opening five holes.Once choked off from an overgrowth of ponderosa pines, the meadow from which the golf course’s name is derived, has been opened up. That has improved the meadow’s health over the years, and made the opening holes spectacularly beautiful.And if you want [...]

12 06, 2015

Conditions update: Glaze Meadow, Big Meadow transition to summer

Those warm, sunny Central Oregon days are back, with temperatures this weekend set to reach into the 80s. Yes, summer weather appears to finally be here at Black Butte Ranch.For golfers, there can be no sweeter time than summer. The sun stays suspended in the blue sky to produce days that go on forever, warming us all while casting shadows from the towering ponderosa pines across the lush green turf.During summer, not much can stop a motivated golfer.Black Butte Ranch is ready for the long days ahead. And Glaze Meadow and Big Meadow begin the peak of the golf season [...]

11 06, 2015

Black Butte Ranch pros enjoying chance to compete at Oregon Open
Black Butte Ranch pros enjoying chance to compete at Oregon Open

Black Butte Ranch pros enjoying chance to compete at Oregon Open

Black Butte Ranch professionals Tom Baker (right) and George Mack Jr. (left) warm up Tuesday before teeing off at Crosswater Club in Sunriver for the first round of the Oregon Open Invitational. It might sound counterintuitive, but Black Butte Ranch’s staff of PGA golf professionals do not often get a chance to play during the peak of the golf season. During the golf season pros are often far too busy making sure that guests are enjoying their time or that students are perfectly honing their golf skills to get too many competitive golf rounds in. But every so often [...]

26 05, 2015

Practice putting with purpose by using two easy drills

Nothing is more frustrating when enjoying a round at Black Butte Ranch than missing an easy putt, turning a par into bogey, a bogey into a double bogey or worse.Yet many golfers do not spend nearly as much time as they should practicing their putting. Or if they do spend time on the practice green, golfers often do not know who to get the most out of their practice session.Our staff of PGA professionals does have some suggestions on how to get better.“Practicing your putting is one of the most important things you can do,” says Jeff Fought, Black Butte [...]

21 05, 2015

Big Meadow’s 13th green ready for golfers

Big Meadow is finally back to being whole. The 13th green, which was reseeded earlier this year to repair damaged turf from last season, opened to golfers on Wednesday for the first time this year. Previously, Big Meadow golfers were forced to play to a temporary green on the par 3. So how does the green look? Well, if you did not know better it you might think that the 13th never had an issue at all. Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf took his first view on Wednesday morning. His reaction told the story. “Oh my gosh, [...]

21 05, 2015

Finding the best bargain takes strategy
Finding the best bargain takes strategy

Finding the best bargain takes strategy

A secret this is not: the best deals on golf equipment often come during demo days and tent sales such as the one on Saturday and Sunday at Black Butte Ranch. Black Butte Ranch’s tent sale on the Big Meadow driving range will offer discounts of as much as 70 percent. From golf balls to clubs, and from golf bags to the latest apparel, “pretty much everything we have will be on sale,” says Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf. Most of the major manufacturers will be represented, too. There is a reason that the two-day festival [...]

3 04, 2015

Glaze Meadow back in action
Glaze Meadow back in action

Glaze Meadow back in action

There is no question that John Fought redesigned Glaze Meadow into one of Central Oregon’s true gems since the $3.75 million renovation was completed in 2012. Now Glaze Meadow is set to tee off its fourth season on Sunday, and it appears the course is better than ever. “Everything came out of winter so nice,” says Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf and the brother of the famed architect who redesigned Glaze Meadow. Certainly good news for those of us who have been waiting all winter for another crack at the 7,000-yard course. Of course, any golfer [...]