Anaconda, Montana
No course in the Rockies looks—or plays—like Old Works. Nicklaus’s vision turned an industrial wasteland into a singular championship experience: rumbling black slag bunkers, bruising length, and unforgettable mining-heritage vistas make this a regional must-play.
Old Works stands as a singular fusion of industrial history and championship golf: Jack Nicklaus took the haunting, scarred Superfund site of Anaconda’s old copper smelter and created a strategic, visually unforgettable routing. Black bunkers made from fused slag, hulking relic structures, and broad, shifting fairways craft an identity unique in American golf. Each hole slides between historic ruins and sweeping views, while Nicklaus’s signature attentiveness to angles, layups, and approach strategies shines throughout the design. It’s not just great golf—it’s reclamation artistry.
Nicklaus transformed environmental tragedy into an original, masterfully strategic public test revered by architects and avid players.
A 600-yard three-shot epic, sweeping downhill past relics and black-heaped bunkers. Precision off the tee and a savvy layup set up a testing approach crosswind.
Play for placement—resist the urge to bite off too much on your second. Angles and fairway width shift with every shot.
Stray left and the mining waste areas or deep black bunkers turn birdie dreams into doubles.
Well-maintained mountain turf, fast fairways, and sharply edged black bunkers
Full championship round—expect 4.5 hours plus on busy days
Relaxed yet competitive; a pilgrimage for Montana golf fans
Bring your long-game; multiple 200+ yard par 3s and lengthy par 5s punish poor contact.
The black-slag sand plays differently—practice bunker distances before the round.
Prepare for a spread-out property—walking is possible, but carts make for a less taxing experience given the course’s sheer scale.
Wind can shift sharply off the mountains—get a feel on the range, and stay nimble with club selection.
Site cleanup and construction began on former smelter grounds
Old Works Golf Club officially opened with Jack Nicklaus exhibition
Ranked #1 in Montana by Golf Digest
Host of U.S. Senior Amateur and multiple U.S. Open qualifiers
Peak national ranking: #67, Golf Digest America’s Best Public
Reappeared in top 100 U.S. public lists
Extensive clubhouse renovation completed
When Jack Nicklaus stepped onto the contaminated ruins of Anaconda’s smelter, few believed world-class golf could emerge. Today, the same black slag remnants that once scarred the earth shape the most visually arresting bunkers in American golf.
To christen Old Works, Nicklaus played an exhibition match for the people of Anaconda, showcasing not just the championship challenge but the community’s pride in their remade landscape.
Every summer, Montana’s best amateurs and aspiring pros descend on Old Works for regional titles and U.S. Open dreams. The mine-tailings and black bunkers don’t care who’s swinging—they test everyone.
In 2023, the newly reconstructed clubhouse opened its doors, drawing both history buffs and players with its striking mining-inspired architecture and new amenities.
The black bunker 'sand' is actually reprocessed copper-smelter slag—not sand at all.
Old Works is the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course built on a Superfund cleanup site.
The routing features original smelter flue stacks and mining structures as visual targets.
Golf Magazine once rated Old Works among America’s ‘top 10 golf bargains.’
Nicklaus himself played the opening match surrounded by crowds of awestruck locals.
Fun, scenic resort option with thermal pools steps from the finish
Easygoing, accessible local round—relaxed follow-up to Old Works
Classic regional private club if you secure guest access
Quiet, traditional track—locals’ favorite if you’re invited
Anaconda for ultimate convenience; Butte for more lodging and dining options
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Spyglass Hill Golf Course's own setting.
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge — a familiar feeling, expressed in WindRiver Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: If Old Works Golf Club is your kind of course, Tatanka Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Community Sentiment
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