Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda, Montana, is a public 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1997, spanning 6,770 yards with a par of 72, a rating of 72.8, and a slope of 133. Built on a historic copper smelter site, it features black slag bunkers, wide fairways, and views of the Anaconda Range, with remnants of industrial history integrated into the design. The course offers a pro shop, dining, and practice areas, earning praise from Golf Digest for its unique aesthetic and accessibility.
The course plays as a forgiving yet strategic layout, with generous fairways allowing for big drives but challenging approaches to large, undulating greens, like the par-5 5th with its slag bunkers. X users highlight the par-3 3rd for its scenic backdrop and tricky wind conditions. The course’s open design suits higher handicaps, but the bunkers and occasional water hazards, like on the par-4 18th, demand precision. Reviewers on X call it “a unique public gem,” playable for all but rewarding for those who avoid the black slag traps.