Perfect your golf game in Sisters
By Joseph Duerrmeyer

From the championship-caliber courses of Sisters you can view snow-capped mountains and hear the strains of high country breezes play in the trees.

There are three 18 hole golf courses within the immediate Sisters area with a number of other fine courses only a short driving distance away.

Closest to Sisters is Aspen Lakes, an Audubon Signature course that features the unique use of red volcanic “sand” in the bunkers. Aspen Lakes has won numerous awards on a variety of fronts. There are spectacular views of the the Cascades from several locations on the course. Fairways are generous and the course is very playable by golfers of varying skill levels.

Aspen Lakes is installing the GPS navigation system in its golf carts for this year. The system provides not only the customary distance to greens, bunkers and other critical information for golfers but also a host of other features. For groups or tournaments there will be a real-time leader board viewable in the clubhouse.

The GPS system allows golfers to pull up a menu from the café. You can place your order and have it delivered to your location. Black Butte Ranch, located eight miles west of Sisters, has two 18 hole golf courses. They are known as the Big Meadow Course and the Glaze Meadow Course. The Big Meadow Course has been completely renovated during the last two years and has won critical acclaim for keeping true to its original design while being updated to modern standards.

The Big Meadow Course is a parkland course that is surrounded by trees yet is open. The trees rarely come into play. There is some water on the course, but it also does not come into play for most players.

The Glaze Meadow Course is a real player’s course. With good course management it is possible to shoot a low number, but, if you let your concentration lapse for only a moment, the course will eat you alive.

The Glaze Meadow Course is in a gated portion of the Black Butte Ranch community and it is necessary to obtain a gate pass from the access office in order to get to the course. This only takes a minute or two. The course, however, is about a 10-minute drive into the development once the gate is passed. So, it is important to remember to allow for some extra minutes when scheduling tee times.

Tee times for Aspen Lakes may be made by calling 541-549-4653. Tee times for both Black Butte Ranch courses may be made by calling 541-595-1500.