Played Saturday and expected pristine summer conditions and to use the special rate and the 2-1 offered 5 times with the west coast troon card. Troon golf manages the golf portion of the resort. Making my tee time at 12:01am Wednesday as soon as troon card rates became available. Failing to read the new fine print of the 2-1 offer changed this year. We did get the card rate but the 2 for is only after 11am any day and NOT applicable to any Saturday tee times. Still at $120 30% off the online rate. My fault not theirs.
Pro-shop said we were second out at 7:40 however we ended up third as the starter directed. The twosome who joined us skipped (10th) went on ahead of the foursome in front of us , and then later the 2-some who lead off. We stopped at the snack bar on way to the 10th tee discovering our other two were gone. We stayed in order as 2 on the back POP 4:35.
Course as expected in great condition through the green. Ample watering so some damp spots in some fairway areas and consistently in front of green approach openings. Requiring and adjustment for my bump and runs. Greens rolled great a few brown spots from ball marks. Finding the fairway a premium to gain some roll out. Rough sticky and beyond that the expected need to get lucky from the un-kept areas.
Some par 4's still cart path only and in those fairways two shades of green with seamless transition now from sod replacement (year of more ago?) Visual only. Oh my I did find and remove one weed growing from an unfilled divot in one fairway. Best carpet I play.
Range has had all grass removed from landing area. With artificial turf simulated greens and flags for targets.
Always look forward to playing here and service was great all around. The cart GPS accurate equaling the range finder.
Finish with some humor. I was wearing the heather clay color LINKSOUL polo and when the beverage cart made it's stop she says; "oh my, from afar it appeared you were playing shirtless as that color blended in with your skin tone." She was relived and I was surprised!

Was looking forward to playing golf in Oregon for a few years. Gleefully did so on the Glaze course at Black Butte Ranch last Thursday 7/20. First off worth mentioning is the length of driving time from the entrance to the Glaze Meadow course. Glaze GC is to the left coming in off Rt 20 and you need a security code or pass to get into this part of the resort, from there it is 10-15min at 25 mph winding through the forest past some of the 1200 houses. The Big Meadow course is to the right and much closer to the entrance. (5min) With more of the rental condos nearby.
A 3:45 tee time on a day over 90 degrees in Sisters I kept my score under the temperature. Reopened from renovation in 2012 and last reviewed by Nickesquire and dconnally in 2014. The course playing great in summer condition fast with roll-out and tight lies in the short grass. The rough manageable and the bunkers well kept with fluffy dry sand.
The greens were terrific. A few ball marks and a few patches of brown on a few back 9 holes. Rolled great med-fast held shots properly, released others. Very fair.
Beverage cart was out and made the last call early for me on #1 but the snack bar was open at the turn for another cold one. Slow pace in front yielded to much faster back 9 as some groups dropped out. 4.5 overall 2.75 / 1.75 back as 2-some.
I felt course played very fairly and has matured into a gem of what I'd describe as in the mountains with many views and through woods playing. No extreme elevation changes. Black Butte being the nearest and the three Sisters of the Cascades to the west view.
Glaze course has the "better" reputation among-st the golf purists and the pro-shop at Big Meadow mentioned the greens right now maybe a touch better at Glaze. I practiced in the morning at Big Meadow D-range and putted there very good shape imo. It also has a real grass putting course adjacent to the pro shop newly opened.
Lots of new and improved at the resort. This May a $20m banquet hall, meeting lodge, restaurant opened with mountain views over the lake and meadows. Wildflowers in bloom.
Check out the resort as a vacation destination. The golfers in the family can sneak out and get some golf in and rest of the family has plenty to keep them happy too.
Anxious to go back and play the Meadow course too.
It's just fun! (Birdies on #2 & 4 will do that!)

Last round of a three day tour of NorCal took us to Coyote Moon our favorite Sierra course. Tee time was third out (we usually are first) following two related groups appeared to be the men of a wedding party. Slowed our pace a little but a glorious day to play!
The vast majority of the play is from the white tees and they are showing it. Getting a bit beat up with divots but filled in with mix for the most part. We move up on a few holes and those tees as well as the blues see less action. Fairways are good not tight lies like valley high end venues. Good roll out ball sits up. Bunkers are in need of attention not machined and some wet many showing the under-layment liner in spots.
For me it's the greens. The practice green was consistent and faster speed than a couple weeks prior. The course greens all good but not as quick or consistent though the holes on speed. Hardly a ball mark to be found other than ours that's nice. They started to get a brown tinge on the back and the hand watering was starting. A warm mid-90's day at elevation. Like my score and be back soon when both will be lower?

Have been playing here for twenty years. To the "resort" part of the courses name. It maybe possible in the future, right now, just usual pro-shop and restaurant for amenities.
Weekday senior rate is $45 w/cart a good value. The course is at 3000 ft elevation and plays through evergreen and deciduous trees in a woods like setting. This time of year many wildflowers are in bloom along the edges and of course deer and the other critters of the forest.
To the course conditions. The greens are rolling smooth moderate pace holding shots. A few dark spots from ball marks. Many with interesting undulations and slopes. Above average summer conditions. Fairways good lies and drying out with many areas of spot watering. Rough is not too severe and was my friend a few times keeping ball in play.
Bunkers damp and packed others ok. Average for a course of this rate.
Cooler at the mountain and it was and is an enjoyable round.

Played Friday as the "filling" of our three day sandwich of 60th b-day golf with my friend.
Standing out above the other two pieces of bread. (those great pieces in themselves)
Wente Vineyards a semi-private course in Livermore. Greg Norman design and coincidently I wore my shark shirt. Golf seems to be the focus here for the members. We played with a delightful lady, a member, who certainly added to our experience.
Course is not tight with the exception of the second hole. Elevation changes and some sidehill challenges as you can see in the photos. Otherwise many holes no visual obstructions wide open go for it feeling.
Greens the best and quickest of our three days three courses. Rolled out fast so touch was vital. Held high shots in well. Very fair and challenging.
Find your appropriate tees and bang away, and find some birdies!
Bunkers great machined and fluffy. Too nice for me, I was lost hitting it underneath most.
Rough was tricky. Went under a few attempts, popped up short, with a good looking lie you think you can whack.
Management was great and accommodated us fairly on our rate as they had a tournament booked on the day we preferred and extended us the courtesy to early out next day.
Hits all the boxes for a great experience. Fits my eye and worth the two hour drive from home. Matched with good rate, conditions and company as we did this round high ratings. 4th time for me and want to return soon.
Landslide over the winter took out the 16th tee plays short temporarily currently.
The last three par 4's will test everyone pro to senior like me. Tips 454 453 472 all of it right in front you vineyards to the right coming home. A great final test of your ball striking.

Since playing the Goat in Oceanside was not feasible. I donned my Link Soul gear and headed to a local course with a bovid name.
Short par 58 and the greens are great smooth and few marks to negotiate. Have been playing courses with consistent speeds lately (stimp 9ish?!) Have the pace down at various places. Fast pop as twosomes and the temperature pleasant with the delta breeze providing early cloud cover.
Kept the ball in play and noticed that holes 3-7 require repetitive shots of similar distances to various green & surround styles. 7 irons to wedges from the blues for me. Flushed one on 6th to 6" nice! 8-9 longer and the big dog can hunt here.
Through the green course is well kept and lush right now. kept up We had to pause briefly on 8 for the green to be mowed.
Lots of reasons to like this venue and a great value at their rack rate walking anytime.

Quick update. It's all systems go at the regulation 9 hole course. Greens are rolling nice. As good or better than courses of double the green fee in the area. Rest of the course in good shape and cleaned up from a couple weeks ago. Bunkers have been machined worked and have too much sand in bottom for my one time visit.
Delayed on the 8th tee by a shotgun tournament (we were first tee time of the day) no one behind us so we putted extra and waited for them to clear. Still under 1 3/4 hr POP
Ownership and staff doing good things here.
The tourney put a target in the 8th fairway. I hit to 20 ft from about 200 yards marked my spot and signed off as "me". It's just fun!

Played early on a weekday. A cool start with the marine layer intact and a breeze from the west. We finished in three hours following local singles. That was the highlight of the round POP. The conditions are not up to par and the preceding review is more critical than mine here.
The fairways are shaggy and many varieties of weeds infested throughout. The rough is lengthy and grabby. Tee boxes shaggy some un-level. Bunkers mostly wet firm and un-kept.
The greens slow with decent growth and coverage.
Overall the course is a step or more back from it's prior conditions. Seems to be trending towards less than more. It's a challenging layout with length variety of holes.
Still enjoyed the round, it's golf mind you. As I was playing and looking things over, it seems the maintenance staff is lacking numbers and resources. Many workers out there early but too much work needs to be done in order to get the course conditions to match the rack rate green fees.

Played 7/1 early and warm for Truckee (54) start. Was anxious to play for the first time this season and was pleasantly surprised with the good conditions.
Greens were a little slower than normal and once I got accustomed to that they rolled mostly smooth and true. Tee boxes had been large plugged awhile back good coverage. And the bunkers have been machine groomed. Mowers were out doing tees and the surrounds.
I thought given the huge snow this year the course came through great.
It was busy and still busy when I went back yesterday for some putting on the very large practice green. Monday before the 4th and the tee sheet was full, starter busy at 5pm and after for $50 twilight rate as many as you can get before sunset.
Recommend always.

Early start Sunday as we prefer, in the 2nd spot as 3 behind a 4-some. If we switched order from the start instead of at the turn POP would have been better. One of the 4 took a a break on the front, sitting down while waiting to putt out one hole.
Course is in ok shape but I have to report that it has not matured through the spring as expected. The routing and design is not matching up with great conditions expected at this price point. The on-line booked rate at $70 senior was changed to $65 at check-in. Not sure if it was the troon advantage (not a troon tee time) or a condition adjustment.
Primary reason for my lower rating in this report the greens.
They have not healed and come around to pristine as expected. In fact the first few have areas on the fringes of turf replacement. Sadly, it's been noticeable to me the last six months or more since the fall aeration processes. Rolling with speed and break but not the smoothness and excellence of past years.
Irrigation has a couple spots over watered soggy in the fairways. Everywhere else in good shape. Last week multiple tournament play days reported by the local single who joined us.

Raised the weekday rate = to weekend $17 to walk 9 holes.
Greens ok medium speed still see aeration holes here and there.
Most noticeable through the green was the areas you don't want to be and shouldn't for the average player a little shaggy taller than normal grass. And the course is wet. Seems a controlled or not irrigation of almost too much water in areas. . Many drainage areas damp and or muddy as well as a few tee boxes. It was hot last week. Cooler this week. Formula to grow green grass the layman thinketh. See how this theory works out next week. We showed up late for our time. (third guy long distance) and were accommodated behind the periwinkle Sr. group. That was ok pace for our group of three FUN! 2.25 POP

Sunday for a quick early out 18 and home for the PGA.
Checks all the boxes for a short course. Fair and good greeens cold beer and the clubhouse improvements with a re-visit to confirm my previous review.
It's all that it should be. And for our Sacramento area the driving range is almost always hit off the grass not mats. I think that's important for those who use a practice range extensively.