SLIPPERY ROCK — Oakview Golf Club co-owner Darrin Coulson refers to the golf course as “a hidden gem.”

And he wants the secret out.

The former Armco Park Golf Club — the course carrying that name from 1957 to 2004 — was sold to ACC Holdings LP in 2004 and renamed Oakview Golf Club.

“It's been 15 years now and a lot of people still think we're a private club,” said Coulson, co-owner of the facility with Joel Adams. “We are semi-private and anyone is welcome to play here.”

Oakview still offers club memberships. When Armco Steel bought the facility in 1957, its intent was to provide recreational opportunity for its employees.

Oakview general manager Jesse Horner said that roughly 25 percent of the golf club's current membership is still connected to Armco employees and their families.

“Some of that membership has been passed down to the next generation,” Horner said. “Another portion is dying off. Membership at this golf course has so many benefits the general public simply isn't aware of.”

Oakview currently has a special offer of $795 for a single membership this year. The price is $345 for ages 13-26. Anyone under age 13 who has a parent as a member can golf at Oakview free.

Membership benefits include unlimited greens fees, unrestricted walking of the course all year, discounted cart fees, ability to schedule tee times 30 days in advance, member events and reduced greens fees for guests.

Members can play in the Oakview club championship tourney as well as member-member and member-guest events scattered throughout the season.

“We had 369 members last year,” Horner said. “Right now, we're at 307. Our goal is to get that number up to 375 or 400 this year.”

Because the club is semi-private, the general public may play there as well. Non-members may call and book a tee time up to seven days in advance.

Horner emphasized that the course is “extremely walkable and we do not force anyone to use a cart.

“Golfers can walk this course at any time of day and many of them do,” he said.

The golf course originally opened in 1928. Wynn Tredway bought the facility in 1945, designed and put in the back nine holes that are still there today.

Greens fees to walk the course this month are $22 for 18 holes, $11 for nine holes. That same rate applies May through September from 3 to 7 p.m.

Fees to walk for 18 and nine holes May through September are $42 and $21 from 7 to 10:50 a.m., $32 and $16 from 11 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Cart rentals are $18 for 18 holes, $9 for nine. Pull-carts are $5 all day.

“We're doing everything we can to keep this a golf course to be enjoyed by the community, for members and non-members,” Coulson said.

Horner has been a PGA professional for 25 years and is in his 10th year at Oakview. Former Butler Country Club pro Rob McClellan has joined the Oakview staff this year as well.

“Rob will help improve our golf operations,” Horner said. “He will assist with club fittings, lessons ... He's heavily involved in youth sports and will be a big plus to us in that regard as well.”

Oakview will field a PGA Junior League team for the first time this season. The golf course hosts a pair of U.S. Kids Tour events each year.

“This course is playable to all levels of golfers, walking or with a cart,” Horner said. “It's one of the most versatile courses around.”

For more information on Oakview, visit www.oakviewgolfclub.com.