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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: 68.3/110 W: 74.1/130 | 359 | 495 | 393 | 155 | 375 | 367 | 157 | 467 | 312 | 3080 | 287 | 320 | 493 | 146 | 509 | 128 | 395 | 166 | 301 | 2745 | 5825 |
| White M: 65.7/103 W: 70.1/118 | 338 | 477 | 366 | 140 | 308 | 339 | 144 | 449 | 297 | 2858 | 272 | 305 | 434 | 115 | 489 | 105 | 380 | 151 | 280 | 2531 | 5389 |
| Red M: 62.5/97 W: 66.0/109 | 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
Slow young bros
I’m 38, guess that makes me old, but I played with a group that included an 85 year old grand mother and a teenage girl playing for the first time and we were still pushing the foursome of 20-something guys ahead of us. Over three hours for them to get through 12 holes….. wish people understood Ready golf on a course this popular. Would definitely be more enjoyable if I didn’t have to wait 15 minutes between every shot.
Good course, be ready to lose a lot of balls
Great course. Really green and lush. Greens were super super soft and slow, made it pretty difficult for my entire group to putt, it felt like the grass was really long. Course is pretty tight with some very thin greens, and it punished you for good shots that were slightly off, but I appreciated the challenge. Beautiful course overall, it was sometimes hard to see around corners and we ended up accidentally hitting into the group in front of us, so just be careful
Phenomenal Course
The course is designed beautifully. One of the best courses to play in Austin. The greens were nice. Amenities are wonderful. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable.
Location is convenient and near town
Its a Municiple so shouldn't have any expectation and its very busy course.
Rating 0 out of 5. Green is uncut and unroll which given any golf course which such condition is a no no.
Rating 3 out of 5. Tee boxes are good, lots of divot and tees (either broken or keeper)
Rating 3 out of 5. Fairways are good, just lots of unrepair divots
Rating 3 out of 5. Layout is nice but it's a course near town so expects no great views and undulation
Rating 2 out of 5. Club house is old and small.
Rating 2 out of 5. Driving range station is very limited and hitting off matts.
Rating 2 out of 5. Practice green and chipping, i don't recall there is a bunker
Rating 3 out of 5. Car park is good, i parked at the roadside on the way in with lots of shades.
Rating 2 out of 5. Buggies are electric but without GPS, caddy girl contact, sand filler and club washer.
Rating 1 out of 5. Caddy girl is cute, but she is unavailable to serve, maybe its twilight hours that I am playing.
One of my favorite courses in the Austin city limits!
Fairly easy course with a handful of challenging holes. With temporary tee box this week, I was able to drive the green on hold #10!
As usual, the course was in great shape!
Solid municipal course
Enjoyed it - course was in decent shape and the pace was good as well. Would definitely play again
My local course. Super fun course and in very good shape right now. Much better than all of the other municipal courses in Austin. Pace of play is a bit slow but expected as there are a lot of people booked for teetimes. Always love coming back to this course. 10 out of 10 for a Muni.
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