Black Butte Ranch's Glaze Meadow Golf Course Readies to Reopen

Front nine of newly renovated layout to be unveiled Memorial Day weekend

(BLACK BUTTE RANCH, Ore.) - Though full-scale golf course renovations are rare in today's landscape, Black Butte Ranch in central Oregon is on the verge of reopening its Glaze Meadow Golf Course in the wake of a dramatic $3.75 million renovation carried out on the 30-year-old layout by noted architect John Fought.

Closed since September 2010, the "new" Glaze Meadow Golf Course will reopen in two phases: the front nine will be ready for play beginning Memorial Day weekend, while all 18 holes will be available to the public on June 30.

"We are unequivocally thrilled with the renovation, and we've heard from a lot of people who are pining for the opportunity to again play Glaze Meadow," said Scott Huntsman, president and chief executive officer of Black Butte Ranch, a 1,800-acre destination family resort community located 30 miles northwest of Bend. "We salute John Fought for a job well done - the shot values have been restored, the playability has been greatly improved and the course has been sufficiently lengthened to adapt to today's technology."

At 7,007 yards and set amidst striking strands of Ponderosa Pines and Aspen forests, Glaze Meadow will play longer by more than 400 yards and will feature many striking changes, including the rebuilding of all 18 greens and tee boxes and greatly improved sightlines and shotmaking options. Following the renovation, the course will feature five tee boxes, including one for juniors built forward to encourage youngsters to play the course along with the adults.

With slightly elevated greens, square tee boxes and deep, grass-faced bunkers, the course's new characteristics are reminiscent of the Donald Ross era. Fought, president of John Fought Design in Scottsdale, Ariz. and a native of Oregon, received national acclaim for the restoration of Pine Needles, a Ross classic in Southern Pines, N.C. Fought's brother, Jeff, is the director of golf at Black Butte Ranch.

Glaze Meadow was originally designed in 1982 by Pacific Northwest legend, Gene "Bunny" Mason.

During the renovation, Black Butte Ranch's 7,002-yard Big Meadow Course, a popular layout that has played host to numerous Oregon golf championships, remained open for play. The course, originally designed by Robert Muir Graves in 1970 and renovated by Damian Pascuzzo four years ago, is scheduled to open for the season on April 1.

Black Butte Ranch is currently offering an "Unlimited Golf Package," with rates starting as low as $99 per person, and includes unlimited golf on both Glaze Meadow and Big Meadow. The package is available April 1 through season's end.

For overnight guests, there are nearly 115 lodging properties at Black Butte Ranch to choose from, ranging from two-person hotel-style rooms to luxurious six-bedroom residences.

For more information on golf at Black Butte Ranch, call 541/595-1500 or visit www.blackbutteranch.com.

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