Ranch announces major golf renovation

Black Butte Ranch's homeowners have approved a $3.5 million renovation project for the community's Glaze Meadow Golf Course.

Scott Huntsman, president and chief executive officer of Black Butte Ranch, said property owners "overwhelmingly approved plans for the renovation project" which will begin in September of this year and culminate with the opening of the new course in May of 2012.

John Fought, president of John Fought Design and one of the country's foremost golf course architects, has been selected to lead the design efforts for the project.

"Our homeowners and management team are excited about the renovation of the Glaze Meadow Course," Huntsman said. "With the stable financial picture of the Ranch, we now feel it is the perfect time to update the 35-year-old course to restore shots values, improve its playability, and lengthen it to make it more challenging given today's new golf technology. The new design will also enhance the owner and guest experience at the Ranch, and provide us with two high-quality championship golf courses."

Plans call for a comprehensive renovation of the Glaze Meadow Course, including a new irrigation system, the re-construction and repositioning of tee boxes, reshaping of and the addition of several fairway and greenside bunkers, resurfacing and rerouting of cart paths, and the thinning of some trees that have started to encroach on play over the past few years.

The project also will include the re-design and re-construction of several new green complexes, and the conversion of the existing 514-yard, par 5 first hole into a 395-yard, par 4, and the lengthening of the 401-yard, par 4 second hole into a

553-yard par 5.

In addition, Fought and his architectural team will also make several major improvements to Glaze Meadow's practice facility, including the rebuilding of the existing practice tee, the addition of several new target greens, the construction of a new back tee for private lessons, and the creation of a new nursery. Currently measuring 6,574 yards from the championship tees, the renovated Glaze Meadow Course will be lengthened to approximately 7,000 yards and play to a par of 72, providing a stern test for players of all levels.

Glaze Meadow's new design will feature five teeing areas, including a set of junior tees measuring 5,014 yards.

Fought - the 1977 U.S. Amateur Champion and a two-time winner on the PGA Tour - has designed or re-designed more than 50 projects during his 20 years in the golf architecture business. He gained national recognition for his restoration of Pine Needles Golf Club, a Donald Ross design, in Southern Pines, North Carolina. The renovation project was singled out by Golf Digest as the United States' "Best New Remodel" for 2005.

Fought's design work also includes The Gallery South Course in Tucson, Arizona; The Player's Course at Indian Wells Golf Club in Palm Desert, California; and Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Oregon - all of which have hosted PGA or LPGA tour events.

Fought - who will work with his company's senior designer Mike Gogel on the project - said he is "excited about embarking on the re-design of Glaze Meadow. The course's original design offers us a tremendous opportunity to bring to the Northwest a true Donald Ross/Dr. Alister MacKenzie-type golf experience - similar in many ways to our work at Pine Needles. The renovation of Glaze Meadow will require a minimum of earthmoving, and involve a 'refinement' of the course's original layout, taking advantage of its scenic views and playing corridors through the majestic ponderosa pines and aspens."

Black Butte Ranch's Big Meadow Course will remain open during the re-construction of the Glaze Meadow project, Huntsman said.