Big Meadow at Black Butter Ranch

Big Meadow occupies the original eighteen holes at Black Butte Ranch, a central Oregon resort community situated near Sisters at the base of the Cascade Range. Robert Muir Graves designed the course in the early 1970s as part of the ranch's initial development, routing it through ponderosa pine forests and across high-desert meadowland at roughly 3,200 feet elevation. The layout takes advantage of the property's natural openness in places and tree-lined corridors in others, with views toward the Three Sisters peaks and other Cascade summits providing dramatic backdrops throughout the round.

The course reflects Graves's approach to mountain resort design during that era, emphasizing playability for a range of skill levels while incorporating the native landscape. Fairways move through stands of mature pines, and several holes cross or play alongside meadow areas that give the course its name. Water comes into play on a handful of holes, and the high-desert climate means firm, fast conditions are common during summer months. Elevation changes are generally modest, though the terrain provides enough movement to create variety in lies and shot requirements.

Black Butte Ranch operates as a private recreational community with lodging and amenities available to guests, and Big Meadow serves as one of two courses on the property. The setting remains relatively remote and quiet, with the surrounding national forest and volcanic landscape defining the experience as much as the golf itself.