Since Black Butte Ranch first opened 45 years ago, golf has been a crucial component to its development as a resort. And the Ranch is far from alone.
One needs only to take a golf trip to Black Butte Ranch, enjoy Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow, and then venture out to any one of 28 other Central Oregon golf courses to figure out the impact of golf.
But how important is golf really? Well, pretty important it turns out, even compared with some of Oregon’s most notable industries.
According to the Golf Alliance of Oregon’s Oregon Economic Impact Study, which was recently released, golf generated some $2 billion in economic impact throughout the state in 2013. More than that, the size of Oregon’s direct golf economy was $1.3 billion and the industry supported 21,000 jobs with $576.4 million of wage income.
That seems almost unfathomable until you realize that Oregon is home to 190 golf facilities and some of the world’s best-known golf equipment and apparel manufacturers, such as Nike Golf, Adidas and Columbia Sportswear. Golf also generates tourism, new residential construction, generates retail sales, and creates demand for a myriad of goods and services, according to the report.
To put the scope of the golf industry into some perspective, Oregon’s direct golf economy was similar to software publishing in the state and more than greenhouses/nurseries. And the revenues of Oregon’s golf facilities generated $336.4 million in revenues, comparable “to the combined revenues of all other spectator sports — football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer, etc.,” according to the report.
That is a significant impact, particularly here in Central Oregon.
“The last decade has seen substantial investment in the Central Oregon golf industry and it has enhanced the region’s reputation as one of the top golf destinations in the country,” says Scott Huntsman, Black Butte Ranch’s President. “While we are blessed to have an incredibly diversity of recreational activities here in Central Oregon, golf is one of the more significant economic drivers for tourism in the region.”
Black Butte Ranch is among those facilities that have fully embraced the importance of golf to this region and beyond. It is why Black Butte Ranch and its homeowners invested $3.75 million to renovate Glaze Meadow, which reopened in 2012 to much fanfare. It is also why Black Butte Ranch continues to work diligently to continually improve the quality of both Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow.
Such investment is not inexpensive and the work will never end. But Black Butte Ranch believes that golf will continue to be a driving factor in the health of Central Oregon’s economy and be a critical component to its own success as a family-friendly resort.
“Golf has always been, and always will be, a major economic driver for Black Butte Ranch,” Huntsman says. “Even as we grow the diversity of our recreational offerings, we recognize the importance of the financial and experiential impact that our golf operations have on the Ranch.”
And we should not forget, golf also happens to remain a wonderful game.
Book a tee time online, or call 855-210-5305 or the Golf Shop at 541-595-1545.