Ranch breaks clubhouse ground

An exuberant crowd of about 50 Black Butte Ranch (BBR) homeowners and friends witnessed groundbreaking ceremonies last Friday evening, July 20, at Big Meadow Golf course.

Under sunny skies the group heard Loy Helmly, BBR manager, describe plans for the new clubhouse facility. Helmly also thanked all who had participated in bringing this project to fruition.

BBR directors broke ground on a new clubhouse.

The project has been a long time in development.

"This is the first new project since the association (homeowners) took over BBR in the 1980s," said Board of Directors chairman Rick Pay.

"This project is way overdue and I'm looking forward to using the new clubhouse facility," commented BBR resident Russ Fetrow.

The new clubhouse, with 7,150 square feet of floor space will be three-and-a-half times larger than the old facility. According to Helmly, it will offer several new services including an expanded pro shop, a new restaurant, a small cocktail lounge and a small meeting room.

"The new facility will offer a place where people can really enjoy themselves," said the ranch manager. "Views from the new clubhouse will look out at the Sisters Mountains, Mt. Washington and Three Fingered Jack."

Bill Miller, a BBR resident since 1973 (and a golfer), thought the new clubhouse was a "good idea."

Standing in the now-empty old Big Meadow clubhouse he mused nostalgically about times past.

"I remember when Bunny Mason was golf pro here," Miller said. "He developed the Glaze Meadow course at BBR and was an avid fly fisherman. He also set up the nesting boxes for geese here at the ranch which has led to interesting present day consequences."

Noted golf course designer Robert Muir Graves created the Big Meadow course in the 1970s.

Ankrom Moison Associates from Portland is the clubhouse project architect. Their stated goal was "To design a new building that would complement those buildings already in use on the Ranch. In this way, it would appear to be an integral part of the ranch, rather than an addition to it."

Glenn Miller, from Sisters, will be the builder.

Toward the end of this month a demolition crew will take down the old clubhouse; foundation, walls and roof for the new structure will be started by September on the same site.

During construction of the new clubhouse a temporary trailer building will handle signups for golfers and other needs.

The official opening of the new $1.4 million Big Meadow clubhouse is scheduled for Spring 2002.