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Lions Municipal Golf Course
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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
Greens are in good condition, but this is the worst of all the Austin muni courses
Lion’s Municipal GC
For a last minute Sunday tee time booking I was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the course. The greens were a touch slow for my liking but they were in great shape. There were some rough patches in the fairways but nothing too bad. Overall a nice round of golf.
Lion round
Course was in fair condition but allowing of groups of 6 golfers slowed down the round tremendously
Horrible Greens they were sandy/seeding the greens when i went.
Course not up to par
Pace was great! No one on the course in front of us. Probably because the greens were in bad shape and some were heavily sanded. It would be nice to get better prices when the course is not up to the normal conditions.
Central Texas "Silver" course.
The course is in great shape. This is an Austin Parks and Recreation course. Aka "Muni track". I am impressed by the city's commitment to the course. This was the case not so long ago. I hope UT will let them renew their lease. It would be a shame to lose this Austin "icon" for more downtown apartments, condos, or whatever. I have plans to play it more often after today. I was striping the ball on the back nine for a 43-year-old man, or any man for that matter. "Grip it and rip it." Tin Cup.
Too Slow
Unbearably Slow play....always.....every time I play here is slow.....today it was 5 your round. I'm done. Can't go back.....
Nice
Sometimes the greens have room for more, the fairways are in good condition and some of the rough areas are decent too. You’ll find rough patches if you are off the fairway of course.
Maybe a marshall that pick things up on the weekends, otherwise you are looking at a 4:50+ round
Greens sanded, staff didn't tell us or offer discount NO WATER ON THE COURSE! DIE OF DEHYDRATION!
Greens had been recently sanded - we were not told at check in and no discount was offered for the round.
We had a 7:12am tee time and it was hot all morning. NO WATER WAS PUT OUT ON THE COURSE until 10am. This course only has Igloo Coolers for water and nobody. brought them out until we were on the 12th tee.
That is completely unacceptable to not offer players water on the course when it's 90 degree plus.
HUGE FAIL.
Course in good shape, please cut the greens corn Sat mornings!
Nice morning round. Everything great except they didn’t cut the greens , so very rough and tagged, bumpy and broken cup lips from the last day - or two days?
Lions Municipal Golf Course
Great old course. Fun to play. I would recommend this course if you are in the area. This is one of the first course in the country. Course was in great shape.
Austin Lions Municipal
Great day of golf! Beautiful old course, well maintained and groomed. Friendly staff.
You still have to play "Tradition."
Due to its location near the heart of Austin and the tradition (or whatnot) of playing Lions, this course sees a lot of action! I remember playing here a few years ago for $20 on GolfNow. Now it's more like $35-40 during the same middle/heat of summer. No sense offering lower rates if players are willing to pay more. Note, check out and ask for the special "GolfATX rates" as applicable. For this outing, I ended up shooting a new record low score ... in spite of some of the course conditions. The tee boxes are all quite chewed up; lots of play. I don't think it'd be possible for the staff to move the tee markers around enough to prevent it. The fairways were okay -- hard pan as always ... don't expect big divots. And many of the greens were a bit thin and showed signs of fungus issues. It's a regular problem here; always has been. And there are several areas under some of the trees that are becoming more and more dirt/sand over the years. Obviously basically impossible for grass to grow there but it just seems to be getting a little worse. She's showing her age. Money won't be put into this course until its fate has been decided by the powers that be. And even then the city may not have any funds allocated for any significant renovation. It is what it is. Still, I love this course. It has some challenging holes and yet I know where to hit on every hole. If only I could make that happen. :) Of course, I have shot two (2) of my lowest rounds all-time on this course. I can't complain too much. And finally, if you want to know a little local knowledge about each and every hole, then check out my first review of this course here:
https://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/2750-lions-municipal-golf-course?reviewId=22510417
Course was good but could be better
Fairways and tee boxes were good. Greens were a little slow but they rolled true.
Perfect Timing for Sub 3 Hour Round
Teed off at 2PM as threesome apparently right after conclusion of large tournament was wrapping up. No one in front of us for most of round. Played each nine in under 90 minutes without rushing. Course is short with nearly every hole a dogleg. Lots of roll and greens were good, not great, and fairly slow. Lots of recent rain had course in excellent shape, but still alot of roll. Good variation of hole design and fair amount of water on back.
Horseshoe Bay Resort Stay & Play Package
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package
Definitely hit and miss. But we got out last Thursday at 11:30 and played in 3:30 with no one in front of us.