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Lions Municipal Golf Course
Rating Snapshot
About
Lions upstaged the prestigious sand-greened Austin Country Club when it opened with Bermuda greens in 1923, and has been Austin’s most beloved municipal ever since. Although no one knows for sure who officially designed this short, 6,000-yard classic, it appears that many members of Austin’s golf scene were involved, including Harvey and Tom Penick, and perhaps even the legendary John Bredemus. Either way, the design is famously unique, jammed into an unusually small piece of oak and cedar-covered terrain north of Town Lake. The track features loads of trees, even more doglegs, and some subtleties that have stood the test of time.
Lions’ colorful history is part of what attracts the 100,000-some-odd folks that cram the course every year. Ben Hogan teamed with Harvey Penick here in the 1950s for an exhibition match. He put on a show by stumbling around the first hole as if he’d spent the previous night partaking of drink, only to straighten it out and light up the course, much to the delight of the patrons. The story involves Lion’s No. 16 signature hole, which was No. 7 back then. Hogan was apparently a bit intimidated by the view from the tee. His question “Where’s the fairway?” has been asked many times over the years as hacks prepare to negotiate the blind tee shot on this 381-yard par 4. And while the hole isn’t as difficult today as it was back then, the approach is still testy over the water into a sloping, elevated green.
Getting there : From Mopac south, take the Enfield exit and turn right. Drive up the hill and make a left when you see the entrance to the course.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 71 | 6001 yards | 69.2 | 114 |
| White | 71 | 5642 yards | 67.3 | 110 |
| White (W) | 71 | 5642 yards | 72.4 | 122 |
| Red | 71 | 4931 yards | 63.1 | 100 |
| Red (W) | 71 | 4931 yards | 67.7 | 113 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue M: 69.8/123 | 359 | 495 | 393 | 155 | 375 | 367 | 157 | 467 | 312 | 3080 | 287 | 320 | 493 | 146 | 509 | 128 | 395 | 166 | 301 | 2745 | 5825 |
| White M: 68.0/118 W: 73.5/125 | 338 | 477 | 366 | 140 | 308 | 339 | 144 | 449 | 297 | 2858 | 272 | 305 | 434 | 115 | 489 | 105 | 380 | 151 | 280 | 2531 | 5389 |
| Red M: 64.9/113 W: 69.3/118 | 330 | 383 | 310 | 125 | 294 | 260 | 131 | 349 | 268 | 2450 | 257 | 238 | 413 | 94 | 387 | 70 | 365 | 126 | 260 | 2210 | 4660 |
| Handicap | 5 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 18 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
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Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u3752825 on 10/13/2022
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Just had to share this crazy exposed root system of an oak tree on the #9 fairway. Photo submitted by GordonATX on 04/20/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/17/2020
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/17/2020
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/17/2020
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Coyotes are still around the course but rarely seen. Photo submitted by GordonATX on 06/29/2019
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The par-4 11th. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 02/22/2017
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The par-4 5th. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 02/22/2017
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The par-5 12th hole, which would be reversed under Crenshaw's plan. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 02/22/2017
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My favorite hole on the back, the par-4 11th. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 02/22/2017
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The first hole, which would be totally different under Crenshaw's plan. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 02/22/2017
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My favorite hole on the front, the par-4 6th. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 02/22/2017
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The par-3 17th hole over water. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 02/09/2016
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Looking back towards the tee box on #17. Photo submitted by GordonATX on 08/11/2013
Save Muni
The fairways are in good shape . Some greens wet but we have had some rain. Speed of play was great - but it was a Monday. Played with a visitor from Wisconsin. He was truly impressed with the course. He had played several other area courses before playing Lions. He enjoyed the layout and condition of the course.
This HISTORIC course is a gem in the middle of Austin. As the University of Texas and City of Austin are planning on turning the course into High rise condos / and high density strip malls in the name of development and $$$$. This will be a true lose of GREEN space in money grab. Come play and enjoy before this "True Gem" is gone.
Pretty course
Water can come into play on back nine! Rather short, I played from back tees at 6000 yes, but interesting with lots of doglegs.
Good course.
Nice course, the greens need alittle attention, but overall fun day at the course. Will play again soon.
Good course for new golfers
Great course. The fairways and greens are well kept up and very easy to play on. Fast pace of play even with three in the group. Challenging but very playable by a new golfer.
golf time
Very impress with the place haven't been there in years I would definitely go back sooner than later
Best Shape I've Seen it in a while...
Solid round, I've played here many times... It is the best shape I have seen it in during the past 4 years.
Good muni course
This was a fun muni that we wanted to play just after getting off the plane. Good way to get used to Austin humidity. Fun track. Lots of roll for my wife. Course is a feel good confidence builder.
Terrible Staff
The pro shop was poorly ran. They took a very long time to check us in. They also didn't tell us what carts to take and we had to go back in and get the keys because they failed to give them to us.
Great local course
Love lions. Never a wait to play and beautiful scenery.
Course is in great shape
The only reason I took off one star is because the greens were recently aerated, so they were "hoppy". The fairways were green, short and even had a little bit of moisture, which was a nice change of pace considering we usually play on extremely firm ground here.
Never again
I'm from the north so this course was not even close to anything I would spend $32 on in Ohio.
Play Lions while it's still around!
Great round with good friends. I hope they don't tear down this gem, the groundskeepers do their best to keep this old course in good shape.
Back to an old friend
After being away from Austin for several years, I had the chance to come back and play an old friend. Course was in good shape for March and was just hard enough to be challenging.
Great old, historic golf course
Greens in good shape. Grass on fairways thin. Nice challenging course. A great old, historic course. I hope they never close it.
Slow
After starting 20 min after our tee time I was still waiting on a cart. Not being able to produce on the most basic of expectations will have me not coming back even though I felt the course was in good condition and overall great bang for your buck.
great golf day
the course was in good shape for this time of year and the greens were rolling fast and true.
Good Muni
Hope the city does not decide to use this for muti-business use waiting for the summer to be able to play on grass. sand traps could use more sand.
Historic Austin gem in its twilight
It will be a true shame when the University of Texas takes back the land that sits beneath Lions and shutters this 100-year-old course for good -- one of the busiest courses in all of Texas and a nice, affordable spot surrounded by million dollar West Austin homes. The course just 6,000 yards, always busy and has its flaws, but it's a historic, cherished little piece of this city and a breath of green space in an ever-growing city.
I've played this course many times and never seem to score as well as I should and the back nine is particularly good. The fact it doesn't roll over to modern technology is a testament to the savvy, finesse golfer and not the long-bomber. Lions can still show some teeth nearly 100 years after it opened.
this is a great course
We really enjoyed the course. It seemed to be in good condition and enjoyed the challenges.
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Played in Ohio, Sure sucks there in March (and 4 or 11 other months of the year). Really sorry you have to be down here.