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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
nice course will play again
This course was fun to play. Will play again for sure.
rude and inconsiderate
I gave them one last chance. They blew it. Rude and inconsiderate employees. I'll never go back and neither will any of my golf buddies.
It is a Muni -- good value for money...
it is a municipal golf course...right in the heart of the city...generally small greens and narrow fairways...I seemed to have tree trouble on every second shot...cement fairways and bunkers that have seen better days...I measured my 3 iron at 245 yards -- which is 50 yards longer than normal...but you still have to hit the ball and putt...I learned on a municipal golf course and there is a special place in my heart for a course like Lions...this is a course that everybody enjoys and a great sense of history -- the 16th is an amazing par four...I saw a guy playing with his dog -- don't see that at the country club...go out and enjoy Lions and I bet the course beats you, even if your wallet wins...
Grand old course
Lions Muny is a storied course that makes you play golf. You can't just grip it and rip it; you have to plan your shots. The day we played, many of the pins were in very difficult places where you definitely did not want to be above the hole. Everyone in our group had at least one putt that was tapped from above the hole and ended up 10 feet below it. In spite of the bad practice range, this remains one of my favorite courses.
Tuff old course, lots of fun
I have been a fan of this golf course for a long time it was my first, unfortunately it may not be around much longer its owner U.T. may sell it ( you know they need the money).
The pro shop has always had an attitude...
Old-school, tight course in good shape.
The course is in good shape (for Lions) tee to green the greens are over seeded and roll well, but slow.
the course needed attention
It was very "scuffy" not well manicured. Also the pace of play is so slow you can fall asleep between holes. I have never had a round here under 5 1/2 hours. Probably explains why I have only played there 3 times in 10 years.
Awful greens
The back 9 was closed in the morning with no warning, this caused major congestion on the front 9 delaying tee times by more than 15 minutes. The greens on the front 9 were so oversanded it was pointless to even take the putter out of the bag. Also, no warning was given. I was tempted to quit after the 3rd hole and ask for my money back. For a course on the verge of being turned in to condos, you'd think they'd try harder to keep the place in business by keeping the customers satisfied. As far as I'm concerned they can turn it in to condos tomorrow, I'll never play there again.
Sad to see the conditions
This course is so close to downtown Austin it is sad to see the conditions. There is a move to close the course and redevelop the area.... one would guess high end housing. Big loss in my opinion. The course is a fun layout with a number of challenging holes.
It would be a shame to lose this course
feels like an old friend
Most golfers in Austin can say that they've played Lions many times over, it's a fun course, it won't beat you up but it's not a pushover either. It's such a pretty course, on a wonderful piece of land.
Classic Austin track.
Always a lot of fun and the pace of play and the pace of the greens were above average. One of my favorite Austin courses with lots of history.
Great value and a fun course
Its hit or miss at Lions. I've been the only person out there on a saturday, and I've sat through 5 and a 1/2 hour round. Love the course though. Lots of history on every hole. Favorite hole being #16 aka Ben Hogans hole. Not the most polished course, but a must play on any trip to Austin.
Good for the price, good quality for a municipal course
The tee boxes, greens and fairways were all in decent condition (with exception of a couple tee boxes; one had shallow-buried pebbles that scratched my driver). On some holes, if you miss the fairway you run the risk of losing your ball to the adjacent streets.
One hole in particular is especially challenging: #16. There's a water hazard at about 250 yd from the tee that the fairways slopes downhill into. The fairway on the other side is narrow and surrounded by trees, making it challenging to reach the green unless your tee shot is in the center of the fairway (and didn't roll into the water). Because this hole is so challenging (and is cart path only), play slows down considerably and you can wait 20 minutes for a chance to tee off.
For how cheap the green fees are, the course is in good condition and definitely a good value.
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