Black Butte Ranch shines like the Central Oregon sun
For more than 50 years, Black Butte Ranch has been the heart of Central Oregon. Set at the base of the Cascade Range on 1,800 scenic acres near Sisters, this destination resort brings together stunning mountain views, towering ponderosa pines, and wide-open meadows with a golf experience that includes 36 holes of championship golf and a fun-for-all 12-hole putting course.
The gateway to Central Oregon golf, Black Butte Ranch offers an easy-to-access experience that everyone in your group will love.
Big Meadow is better than ever
A favorable winter and meticulous agronomy have Big Meadow in peak condition long before the peak season. The 7,002-yard layout by legendary architect Robert Muir Graves has received a subtle facelift, too, thanks to a recently completed bunker renovation.
All of the course’s cape-and-bay bunkers have been rebuilt with crisp edges, modern liners, and bright white sand, restoring Graves’ original vision while improving playability for golfers of all skill levels. Broad fairways, panoramic Cascade views, and thoughtfully contoured greens create a layout that rewards strategy without overwhelming the everyday player. No wonder it’s been a Northwest favorite for so long.
Glaze Meadow hits its stride
In 2012, John Fought’s redesign turned Glaze Meadow into one of the region’s most enjoyable strategic layouts. Now fully mature and in its prime, Glaze Meadow still offers an homage to the “Golden Era” of golf design with grass-faced bunkers, broad approaches, and turtleback green complexes that reward creativity and smart angles more than brute force.
By Memorial Day, the conditioning at Glaze Meadow is typically at its finest, with firm fairways and fast greens that are receptive to players of any level. The walkable design and player-friendly setup also make it ideal for buddy trips, couples’ golf vacations, and multi-generational groups looking for memorable rounds without intimidation.
One of the Ranch’s biggest draws is that it has been family-friendly from the beginning, and that extends to its golf experience. Little Meadow, the 12-hole putting course designed by Fought, has become a summertime gathering spot where families, kids, and competitive foursomes alike enjoy the game in a way that feels fresh.
That relaxed atmosphere is part of what separates Black Butte Ranch from many destination golf resorts. Golfers can spend the morning on the course, cool off at the pool in the afternoon, then gather for dinner and another loop around Little Meadow as the sun drops behind the Cascades.
And while golf may be the centerpiece for many, the Ranch’s location puts visitors within easy reach of everything that defines a Central Oregon summer: hiking, horseback riding, fly fishing, mountain biking, paddleboarding, craft breweries, and the small-town charm of nearby Sisters.
A Central Oregon summer tradition
Black Butte Ranch has long occupied a unique place in Northwest golf culture. It delivers championship-caliber golf without pretension, scenic beauty without isolation, and a family-friendly atmosphere that welcomes both serious players and casual vacationers.
As peak golf season arrives in Central Oregon, the Ranch once again offers exactly what summer golf should feel like: time with friends, mountain air, unforgettable natural beauty, and a relaxed pace that keeps golfers returning year after year.
