The Old Works

Just returned from an annual golf trip to Butte, Montana. You ask, how could anyone take a golf trip to Butte? In fact, just 20 minutes west of Butte is the home of "The Old Works" golf course. This Jack Nicklaus designed course is a real treat. It is eminently playable, very inexpensive and run by a happy staff, who aim to please.

The Old Guy at the Old Works, 2007.

We arrived on Wednesday evening with plans to play 18 holes on Thursday, possibly 36 on Friday with 18 on Saturday and then a return home. On the way to Montana, 7 of us stopped and played at Cardston's Lee Creek Golf Course, an excellent credit to that community.

After playing 18 holes in almost perfect weather on Thursday, it was a no-brainer that we re-play in the afternoon. The whole day cost $91, 2 rounds of golf with cart. The hamburgers are world class, order the pepperjack cheese. Friday was a repeat of Thursday and Saturday was, as planned, 18 holes and a return to reality.

Old Works is built on an old Foundry. During the 1980's the U.S. government enacted a law to clean up environmental problems. Called the "Superfund", the government imposed a tariff on industry that was to assist with the clean up. Anaconda, Montana had a huge foundry that had processed all the ore in the Butte area. (You probably remember the huge open-pit mines in the community.) They contracted with Jack Nicklaus' company to build a course.

The Four of us Have Been Taking Golf Trips for 10 years.
Leron Crapo, The Old Guy, Dennis Locking and Kipp Craig.

The course features black shavings in all the bunkers and all the rough. It is spectacular.

It is a long way to travel. This was our 7th year. I want to make the trip again but, particularly want to do so with my sons. (As many of them as can make the trip.)

This year's cast, left to right; Ethan Craig, Simon Kelly,
Trevor Locking, Mike Parker (back), Dennis, Kipp (back),
Sean Smith (Joe Sport's son and my golf partner on the last day),
Chris Law (back), Sean Crapo, Leron (back), Stan, Frank Stanford.

Keep it in the fairway. Until next time.......