ANACONDA -- The Old Works Golf Course has succeeded as a recreational asset, but has failed as a redevelopment epicenter, officials said this week.

"The golf course was going to be the catalyst to turn the county around," said Jim Kuipers, Superfund technical adviser for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. "The county has yet to see that turnaround."

He spoke at a gathering of local, federal and ARCO officials aimed at identifying Superfund redevelopment roadblocks and mapping forward motion.

Discussions kicked off with redevelopment expectations versus realities, with the Old Works as the example.

At groundbreaking in 1994, the Jack Nicklaus-designed course -- built atop centuries of copper smelting contamination -- was held up as an icon for redevelopment possibilities and a new economic era for Anaconda. It was expected to rapidly create 120 jobs, spur neighboring development and host 30,000 annual rounds of golf.

But today, the course provides about 10 full-time jobs, hosts 20,000 rounds a year and surrounding lots remain undeveloped, Kuipers said.

"The Old Works Golf Course has not lived up to expectations in terms of driving redevelopment," he said.

Also, financial risk attached to the course is the center of confusion.

ARCO is responsible for maintaining remedies to contaminated sites; in the Old Works case the company "capped" contaminated soil. But the county is responsible for maintaining the course, which is atop the cap. Who pays for what in the event of a natural disaster damaging the course or cap is fuzzy.

"It's not as straightforward as one might imagine because there are so many agreements in place," said Susan Callaghan, deputy county attorney.

Officials need to clarify those boundaries, explore ways to make the course a stronger redevelopment tool and reconsider county ownership, Kuipers said.

Golf Course Authority Board members acknowledged Old Works has fallen behind some projections, but said its value is up to par.

"The economic value to the community itself is probably difficult to measure," board member Bill Finnegan said.

The course is consistently busy with golfers from near and far. But initial revenue projections are out of reach with a short playing season and the need to balance profits with locally accessible prices, member Mike King said.

"The course tends to cover its expenses every year," he said. "There have not been substantial revenues left over. Golf courses always struggle to break even. It's the real estate sales around it that generate" growth.

The course may not be flanked by cafes, hotels and homes, but it's part of an alluring local recreation package, Finnegan said.

"You can't quantify that," he said.

County Chief Executive Becky Guay agreed.

"We are seeing spin-offs," she said. "You are seeing some of these people come to the area, see the golf course and say 'Wow, this is a nice place to live.' It's just not at the level projected in the 1990s."