When people think of great golf destinations, I doubt that Montana is among those that immediately spring to mind. But in the sleepy town of Anaconda, Jack Nicklaus was given a piece of land that most designers would have thought twice about sculpting into a championship golf course. The Old Works Golf Club was designed by Jack Nicklaus and is his only signature design located in the state of Montana. The golf course sits on the site of a former copper mine and is the only golf course built on an EPA Superfund site.

The Old Works Golf Club is very long from the back tees, measuring over 7,800 yards. The most distinctive aspect of this golf course can be found in the sand bunkers. Instead of the typical white beach sand the bunkers have been filled with black slag which is a by-product of the copper smelting process. This slag is much heavier and denser than regular sand, making it very rare to find your ball plugged or buried. This makes bunker play a little bit easier, but they still recommend a sand wedge that has a lower degree of bounce on the flange.

The golf course starts out very hard with a 451 yards par-4. Not only is this hole long, but there is a creek that runs down the entire left-hand side of the fairway. Fortunately most golfers tend to miss the ball to the right so this creek will not be threat. The best position off the tee is down the right side of the fairway. The green on this hole is small and guarded by a bunker on the left.

Most players will be left with a mid to long iron into this green. Be sure to take enough club to carry the bunker in front of the green. The greens on this golf course tend to have lots of undulations and require high lofted shots in order to hole them. This type of design is pretty standard for a golf course built by Jack Nicklaus.

As you make your way around this golf course you will see remnants of the copper smelting mine that used to occupy the land. On hole #4 you will see the partial remains of flue #5 which was used to expel gases into the air from the copper smelting process. This type of artifact can be found on many of the holes and adds a unique quality to this already interesting golf course.

The most difficult hole on the golf course is the par-4 16th hole. This hole is called Silver Mill and is 471 yards from the farthest tee. This hole has a slight dogleg to the right and the best tee shot is toward the Silver Mill that is in the distance. The right side of this hole is guarded by both a bunker and a pond. The tee shot must carry over the pond to reach the fairway and, considering the length of the hole driver, is the only choice. There is no laying up or hitting a bump shot down the fairway.

The second shot on this hole will be played to a small green that is protected by a bunker on the right-hand side. Most players will be hitting a long iron into this green which is long and has several tiers on it. Aim for the middle of the green and pray that the wind is not blowing. Par on this hole is a great score and will give you confidence as you head into the final two holes.

The Old Works Golf Club is unique - not only for the design but also for the dramatic steps that were needed to make this golf course possible. The golf course was originally opened for play in 1997 and is one of the least expensive golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus. The golf course is in great condition, which one would expect from a Nicklaus design, and green fees top out at about $50 depending on the time of year.

The history and black sand makes this one of the most special golf courses anywhere in the United States. If you are looking for some great golf in Montana, be sure to take a side trip to the Old Works Golf Club.