Three Crowns Golf Club, Casper, Wyoming - a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Golf Course, Built Atop an Old Oil Refinery

Three Crowns Golf Club has a fairly unique distinction of being built atop the site of a former oil refinery, and it takes its name and logo from the BP Amoco symbol of crowns of gold, white and red. The land below is said to still contain millions of gallons of refinery product, which is scheduled for recovery over the next two decades.

Because of that fact, course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. removed 3,000 miles of pipe and 400,000 cubic yards of concrete, then capped the soil with six feet of clean dirt. Lakes were also dug out, and the excavated earth was used to build mounds and other course features that separate the holes from each other. Native grasses, which turn the color of wheat in summer, were then planted atop the mounds.

Jones also created a series of raised wetlands that sit above the course to help purify the water. The course also features eight lakes, which come into play on 14 of the 18 holes. There are also 84 sand bunkers that punctuate the layout.

The par-72 course, which opened in 2005, plays to 7,065 from the longest tees, and covers 110 acres of manicured turf and 45 acres of native grasses. Kentucky Bluegrass is used for the tees, fairways and roughs, while A-1 Bentgrass is used for the greens, which were built to USGA standards. The course also features generous fairways, and the greens have been described as receptive.

Some of the most noteworthy holes include No. 2. This par-5 plays to 595 yards from the back tees and plays as a dogleg right around a lake. Fairway bunkers guard the landing area off the tee, while mounding protects the left side of the fairway. The fairway narrows considerably on this hole as it approaches the green, which is tucked behind the water and guarded by bunkers to the left and at the rear.

Hole No. 4 is one of the most picturesque and challenging holes on the course. This par-3 plays to 210 yards from the tips, with water surrounding the green as it pushes out into the hazard.

The finishing hole at Three Crowns is both picturesque and intimidating. This par-4 hole plays to 415 yards from the longest tees, and like many other holes, tracks a body of water all the way to the green. This hole doglegs right around the hazard, and also features a bunker right in the middle of the fairway. Approach shots must then find a long, narrow green tucked right up against the water and guarded by bunkers in the front and rear.

Three Crowns also features a clubhouse which is home to a golf shop and restaurant.