ANACONDA — It’s unlikely the financially struggling Old Works Golf Course will close as negotiations continue on its future, a spokesman said Tuesday.
Carl Nyman, Superfund coordinator for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, said the Nov. 1 closure won’t happen because the course has cash reserves for several more weeks. He said two separate funding options are open to the facility – one from ARCO/BP and the other from the Environmental Protection Agency. He said the county is carefully weighing the pros and cons of each.
“I’m confident that we’ll secure an interim funding source for the golf course; therefore, the golf course is booking its holiday parties and gearing up for its annual pass-holder sale in January,” he said.
He said local leaders are “working diligently daily to reach a solution for the funding for golf course.’’
The golf course has struggled financially for several years. A few weeks ago the course’s authority board voted to close Old Works permanently if Atlantic Richfield Co./BP or the Environmental Protection Agency did not provide supplementary money. That money is needed to keep the facility running until a global Superfund settlement is reached between Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and ARCo.
Nyman said the global settlement negotiations could last another two years.
“However long they last, we want the interim funding for the golf course to run parallel.’’
Since the authority board’s vote, county representatives have met with officials from EPA and ARCo./BP to determine a way forward to keep the course open.
The 17-year-old facility serves as a protective cap on top of waste from Anaconda’s first smelting location.
Nyman added the course is planning to purchase several needed pieces of equipment in the spring.
“I believe it’s going to be business as usual,” he said.
