SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Not leagues, but groups. Not a round of golf, but a well-rounded day.

The above is par for the course at Oakview Golf Club.

“I probably put in as much time on the porch here as I do on the golf course,” said Jay Frederick, who has been a regular at Oakview since 1957.

Bill Uram has been playing golf at Oakview since 1952 and joins Frederick in a Thursday morning golf “group” that includes approximately 70 people now.

“We’re not a league because a league implies a weekly commitment,” Uram said. “Guys come and play when they can and everybody knows each other.

“No golf course is like that besides this one.”

The Thursday morning group includes golfers of all skill level, “from 0-handicap to 30-handicap,” Frederick said.

“No matter the match-ups or pairings on a given day, you know you’ll be playing with a good guy. There’s never any skirmishes ... not on this course.”

Oakview is a semi-private club that has 210 regular members. It offers junior memberships, along with “second club” memberships at half-price for golfers who are members of golf clubs elsewhere.

Its total membership approximates 350. Non-members are welcome to play the course as well.

Joel Adams and Darrin Coulson are in their 11th year as owners of the facility. Jesse Horner is in his fifth year as general manager.

“When Armco had it, there were more than 1,000 members here at one time,” Horner said. “This is where employees and their families came to play.

“That type of camaraderie is still here.”

Golfers are befriended at Oakview. The facility hosts member tournaments once a month and has a club championship. Member-guest events are held along with numerous outings.

Members are paired with golfers they haven’t played with before.

“Eventually, everybody meets everybody. There are simply good people here,” Frederick said.

He related a story about Reid Beatch, a California resident whose daughter had a baby locally. Beatch and his wife came to Butler County to spend a year and help with the baby.

Beatch went looking for a golf course to call home while he was here.

“He was offered opportunities to play in leagues at other places, but they all started in late afternoon or evening and he wanted to play with people during the day,” Frederick said.

“The man came to Oakview, instantly became a member and he’s fit right in with everybody. Now they’re planning on staying here.”

Oakview has a mixed couples group that plays on Saturdays. Uram plays three times a week at the facility.

For non-members looking to find an open course to play a round, Oakview is rarely backed up.

“We encourage anyone to come out and give us a try,” Horner said.

The Oakview Grille is open from mid-April through September, with second-year chef Jeff Cowoski doing the cooking and catering.

“He does the catering at our banquets and other gatherings and does a fabulous job,” Horner said.

Oakview has numerous golfers who have been playing the course since the 1950’s. Its list of alumni is impressive, including former U.S. Women’s Open champion Janet Anderson, Butler Country Club pro Rob McClellan, Ryan Prokay, Marissa DeCola, Brett and Jenna Rinker.

Adam Schultz is the course superintendent and added senior tees recently.

Rob Voltz holds the course record with a 62.

“The course plays fair and it’s open, but it’s challenging at the same time,” Horner said. “Nobody comes in and tears it up out there.”

Tee times can be booked a week in advance by visiting www.oakviewgolfclub.com.

Uram said the only time Oakview loses a member is when “somebody passes away or health issues prevent them from playing.

“Nobody just ups and leaves here.”

Horner isn’t surprised by that.

“The personal relationships that develop here ... They’re real. They’re genuine,” he said.