Lions Municipal (Austin, TX)

I snuck out and played the pride of Austin golf, Lions Municipal. The lore of the players who have called this home include Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, John Bredemus and multiple others. The city leases the land from the University of Texas, and golf has been been played here since 1924. 

Lions is not architecturally significant, however, it is culturally. Not long ago, there was a big push to close the course down but the golfers who call this place home fought to keep it alive. The Muny Conservancy was created, and not only did it raise a lot of money, but it generated a groundswell of support. Lions Municipal is alive and well thanks to this, but also thanks to the everyday player who shows up and pays their green fee. Growing the game is catchphrase used by many however Lions Municipal is actually doing it. It’s in a great location which is available for everyone to enjoy. 

(The 367 yards downhill par four sixth plays to a front to back sloped green.) 

Lions is home to Texas’ oldest amateur golf tournament called The Firecracker Open. It’s held just after the Fourth of July. The course is on 141 acres of rolling terrain. Short scrubby trees line the fairways and the small greens are protected by the occasional bunker. Judging the amount of runout on the drives is the biggest difficulty. I played it in 102 degree weather and the greens were spongy at best. This seems to be an ever present problem with Texas golf, and not only a Lions issue. The heat is so intense that the putting surfaces suffer from a playability standpoint. That doesn’t stop the locals from showing up. It was packed the day I played it. (The ranger said two local courses lost their greens due to the heat, and this nearly doubled the players showing up at Lions) As a golf historian, and a self described muni rat, I find the story of Lions Municipal to be very intriguing. (It’s on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the earliest desegregated institutions in the South.) It’s in a really cool part of Austin, near Barton Springs and Congress Street, so a good choice if looking for a game. I give it a 3 (average) (worth driving 15-30 minutes to play). 

(Watch out for the ground sweeper Live Oak tree where a misguided ball will be stymied. This is the short 312 yard par four ninth. The hole doglegs drastically to the left and if you try to get too cute, then the ball just might finish under it.) 

(Lions Municipal is only 5,875 yards par 71. I’m loving these sub 6000 yard golf courses. They’re more fun, take less time, and result in better scores. The three gentlemen I played with were fantastic. I think these type of courses attract golfers who enjoy the game at the correct level.) 

(It’s been a long time since I’ve seen water jugs on a course.)