Deep discounts at Big Meadow on some of golf’s most popular brands of apparel and equipment

For those who frequent the fairways of Black Butte Ranch, there may be no better weekend than Memorial Day. The weather has turned, the golf courses are entering peak condition, and the rates are fantastic.

For many, though, the favorite draw of Memorial Day is Black Butte Ranch’s Memorial Day Demo Day & Tent Sale, the highlight golf event of the weekend and unquestionably one of the most popular events of the year.

Set for Big Meadow on Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27, the Demo Day & Tent Sale draws golfers from all over who want to to get hands-on with the latest and greatest golf equipment and take advantage of some of Black Butte Ranch’s best deals on gear.

Makers such as Bridgestone, Callaway, Cobra, Mizuno, Ping, and TaylorMade, all will be on hand for any and all to come and test out the newest innovations. And with this comes a rare opportunity for golfers to make a true evaluation of the equipment in your bag.

“Demo days are a fantastic way to get a feel for all that is out there,” said Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf. “Perhaps you need a new driver, or perhaps not. Maybe that wedge has worn down. Maybe you can get another year out of it. By testing all the new equipment, it makes it easier to gauge your needs. By the end of the day you should know if it’s time to upgrade certain equipment.”

So much should go into deciding what a golfer should carry in their bag, but so often we assume that we have the right combination of clubs and rarely give a second thought about it. This is a mistake.

Demo days are like a buffet in which you can try just a little bit of everything to get a real feel for what you want. But the best part is that the atmosphere at a good demo day is hardly intimidating.

Not sure what kind of iron is the best fits for your game? You have the freedom to try just about any kind of iron imaginable, from blades to the most forgiving game-improvement irons. Golfers often carry woods that they struggle to hit, but at a demo day it’s easy to try a less conventional 4- or 5-wood or test out a driver with a more forgiving length and loft.

Because demo days are staffed with representatives of each manufacturer, expert advice is not only at your disposal, it is also free. For instance, if you never fully grasped the benefits of custom club fitting, demo days offer a chance to be fitted to a club without a commitment to buy. Or if you’re one of those golfers who never knew that different wedges have different bounce angles — much less know what bounce is best for your game — then a demo day is just the spot to get a better feel for your own game.

And if you hit paydirt at a demo day and find the perfect clubs, then those representatives can custom fit a set that will forever match your body type and golf swing.

“You shouldn’t fit to your golf clubs, the golf clubs should fit to you,” Fought said. “Golfers have to adjust their swings to fight a fade or a draw. You shouldn’t have to adjust anything if the golf club fits you. And when you hit down through the ball, it’s like a fingerprint. You can swing a million different ways, but most golfers have a distinct marker at impact.”

Of course, Memorial Day is not just about demo days at Black Butte Ranch. The Tent Sale — in addition to the Sidewalk Sale at Glaze Meadow from Friday through Monday — will offer discounts on everything from golf balls to clubs, and from golf bags to the latest apparel. Much of the clubs, balls, and Black Butte Ranch logo apparel that have been stocking the golf shop shelves at Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow will be offered at well below retail.

“Memorial Day always represents some of our best deals of the year,” Fought said. “It’s a big reason why the event is always so popular.”

The demo day will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the tent sale will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and the Sidewalk Sale will be held 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Monday.

Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

For more information or to play Glaze Meadow or Big Meadow, call 855-210-5305 or the Golf Shop at 541-595-1545 or book a tee time online.