Lions Municipal Golf Course is one of Texas’ most popular courses. It opened in 1924, making it the city’s first-ever public golf course.
Nicknamed Muny, Lions Municipal is situated at 2901 Enfield Road, Austin, Texas, occupying 141 acres of land in the city. It also retained the name “Lions Municipal” after the lease transfer to the city in 1937 as part of the Brackenridge Tract. This website
A Brief History
In 1924, the Austin Lions Club members built Lions Municipal Golf Course with a vision for an inclusive and modern municipal golf course. The course was the first public clubhouse and golf course in Austin.
B.F. Rowe, the Lions Club’s first member to propose the project, volunteered to oversee both the design and construction. Then, the heavily wooded tract was converted into a beautiful nine-hole golf course by the fall of 1924.
In September 1925, the construction of the back was completed. The course clubhouse was designed by Edwin Kreisle and opened in 1930. In May 1928, the golf team of the University of Texas competed in the Southwest Conference held at Lions Municipal.
The golf course remained as UT Golf Team’s favorite hometown course. The UT golfers vote to play their weekly challenge matches and home matches with other Southwest Conference schools at the Lions Municipal.
In December 1936, the Austin Municipal Gold and Amusement Association decided to transfer their lease for Lions Municipal to the city. After the association was dissolved in April 1938, the golf course was known by different names. But it is usually summarized with the “Muny” or “Lions Muny.” Related site
Ever since the lease from the golf course was assumed, the city initiated a series of improvements to the grounds and course from 1936 to 1939.
How to Get to Lions Municipal Golf Course
Visitors, golf enthusiasts, or serious golfers can get to Lions Municipal by public transportation.
Below are bus lines available to reach the golf course:
- Jasper/Lake Austin – Line 663
- Kermit/Jasper – Line 663
- Memphis/Kermit – Line 663
- Kermit/Lufkin – Line 663
Historic Golf Course in Austin, Texas
Lions Municipal Golf Course is one of the city’s most loved golf courses. This 6,000-yard golf course has a unique design, jammed into a distinct cedar and oak-covered terrain north of Town Lake. Track features include plenty of trees and several subtleties.
The colorful history of Lions Municipal is one of the reasons thousands of people visit the course every year. In the 1950s, the historic team-up of Ben Hogan and Harvey Penick was held at this golf course for an exhibition match against Morris Williams, Jr. and Ed Hopkins.
During the match, Hogan stood on the daunting 7th hole’s tee box (currently no.16) and asked, “where’s the fairway?” It is said that the golf course architect Albert Warren Tillighast has emboldened the 7th hole by moving the green up a hill. Then, a space for a water hazard was added.
The architect started a national golf course tour in 1935 as a Professional Golfer’s Association of American consultants. In December 1936, he consulted at Muny, praising it as a very prettily situated. He also suggested some changes to greens and tees on the 3rd, 7th, and 8th holes. Ben Hogan went on to birdie this Par 4, famously known as “Hogan’s Hole.” After the match, he signed a few autographs and commented that Lions Municipal Golf Course was “so good, it makes you think you’re not in Texas.”
A Very Playable Golf Course
Since 1924, Lions Municipal Golf Course has been serving its citizens and has been one of Austin’s most famous golf courses. It has hosted notable golfers, such as Bryan Nelson, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, and Ben Hogan.
While the Lions Municipal has changed over the years, it is still a very playable golf course. The course is considered short by today’s standard, but it has small greens and narrow tree-lined fairways, providing a great challenge among the longest hitters.
Popular attractions near the Lions Municipal Golf Course include Lake Travis Boat Rentals and Lake Austin Boat Rentals (17-minute walk), Lake Austin (16-minute walk), Red Bud Isle Park (15-minute walk), and Tom Miller Dam (15-minute walk). So, visitors can enjoy more activities after exploring the golf course.
Important Information About Lions Municipal Golf Course
- Address: 2901 Enfield Rd, Austin, TX 78703
- Phone: +1 512-477-6963
- Business Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM