Old Works GC - Montana

[Bubba_13]

Have any of you golfed this course? http://www.oldworks.org

I am starting to plan for a road trip this fall and this is one of the tracks that caught my eye. I am thinking of driving from Calgary, Ab. down through Idaho and across to Montana before heading home. If there are any suggestions as to what courses I should take a look at please post.

Once I hit Idaho the route would be south on the 95 then east on the 90 making my way towards Anaconda then returning home on the 15 up through Helena and Great Falls Mt.
Any slight detours for the right course would be a must.

Thanks in advance.

[drglew]

Haven't played it...looks gorgeous. However, my home course, Bear's Best, is a Nicklaus "greatest Hits" collection and includes a hole from Old Works--they even imported the black sand used there. Maybe it's mental, but I have a much harder time getting out of those bunkers. Visually very striking though.

In general, I really like the various Nicklaus-designed courses I've played. Usually very fair off the tee, but with lots of risk/reward decisions and well-protected greens.

[Fourputt]

It's a great course at a very good price. Just over $50 on a weekday for 18 with cart for a Jack Nicklaus course? How do you beat that? I played it 3 times with my brother last year and we will be up there again in a week and a half for 3 more rounds. We'll be driving up from his home in Idaho Falls.

[Bubba_13]

Old Works will be the final destination and I will adjust the trip accordingly depending on what other courses I find along the way. The black sand is very intriguing, and like Fourputt mentioned

Just over $50 on a weekday for 18 with cart for a Jack Nicklaus course? How do you beat that?

[Fourputt]

Old Works will be the final destination and I will adjust the trip accordingly depending on what other courses I find along the way. The black sand is very intriguing, and like Fourputt mentioned

The black slag bunkers are different. They aren't sand, but slag left over from the copper refinery. They have a mountain of the stuff - enough to last the course about 100,000 years. It took us most of one round to get used to hitting out of them. I don't know if they are that much different, or if it was just the appearance that psyched me out, but hit some of the worst bunker shots in memory that first round last year. If they have a practice bunker, I'm going to hit that before we play this year. 9 days and counting.

[Bubba_13]

From their website it looks like the course is only open until September 5th. I emailed them to confirm their closing date. I would have expected the season to be a little longer. I am going to have to alter my 'fall' trip to a late summer trip. Now to find other courses that peak my interest.

[Shiznitto]

If you are going through Montana, make sure you go play Eagle Bend. It is located in Big Fork, Montana and on the north side of Flathead Lake.

[Bubba_13]

If you are going through Montana, make sure you go play Eagle Bend. It is located in Big Fork, Montana and on the north side of Flathead Lake.

Thanks. I will check out thier website.

[plugged]

Old Works is a beautiful course and very difficult IMO. I have played it several times. The black sand is not played as an official bunker - you are allowed to ground your club.

Be prepared for nasty weather at all times.

[Fourputt]

Old Works is a beautiful course and very difficult IMO. I have played it several times.

This is not true. Some of the sand is waste area (you can ground your club in a waste areas as it is not considered to be a hazard), some is bunker (you can tell by whether there are rakes provided - rakes are only provided for the bunkers), and like any other bunker you can't ground your club in a hazard.

Just got back from my trip. Played The Old Works 3 rounds from the middle tees. 6776 yards from the mids makes for a long golf course. Shot 88 first round then twice in the 90's. The afternoon round on the first day was interrupted by a couple of thunderstorms. The course is in great shape.

From their website it looks like the course is only open until September 5th. I emailed them to confirm their closing date. I would have expected the season to be a little longer. I am going to have to alter my 'fall' trip to a late summer trip. Now to find other courses that peak my interest.

The course does not close on September 5. In fact the price goes down in September, but as far as I could find out, it's still open the whole month, weather permitting.

[plugged]

This is not true. Some of the sand is waste area (you can ground your club in a waste areas as it is not considered to be a hazard), some is bunker (you can tell by whether there are rakes provided - rakes are only provided for the bunkers), and like any other bunker you can't ground your club in a hazard.

You are right. I forgot about that.