Lions Municipal Golf Course

Just a shorter review (even though I'll still write more than most -- to note a few things from my recent round.

This course is popular because of its location, lack of other courses nearby, its history, difficulty level, and price. It sees a lot of golfers ... and maybe a few extras that aren't that good at the game. So, the tees are currently beat to heck. It's the beginning of spring and everyone is getting out to play. I wish the course could increase (lengthen) the size of some of the greens. But they're also limited on space as this course will built a long time ago and they pretty much used all of the land they had available to them. I'm just trying to figure out how they can move the tee markers up/back more often to allow for divots to be repaired by whatever means.

The fairways were fine but on the tail end of winter grass conditions. Hopefully spring will bring them back to life. The bunkers were in great shape but was that sand or dirt? Looks like a soft dirt to me; maybe I need to research or ask about it to be sure. At least it was fresh, clean, and lacking little rocks etc. The greens were in really good shape ... even rolling a little slow today actually.

We saw a course marshal several times. That's not always the case. And this was on a Monday late afternoon. He was mainly checking to see that pace of play was going okay. The groups in front of us included a single, a 2-some, a 5-some of high school boys not putting out, and another single. I think they all simply played the front nine and left. So the back nine was much smoother. Odd that the only tee time I could get for my 2-some was at 3:00pm though. SMH. No worries; all good.

This will be one of my shorter reviews and not so overly detailed. The tee boxes were in rough shape. They're getting so much play -- have been for the last (COVID-19) year. But how exactly does a par-5 box get so beat up? Are y'all not hitting drivers off of a tee? Of course, the boxes are almost always like this. Much more and the course might have to consider putting in mats to hit off of. Or maybe they could have them part grass and part mat so that it'd be a hybrid (pun intended). The fairways were in nice shape. They're still on the harder side, but they'll always be that way. Some bunkers were just fine while at least one had way too many rocks in it. The greens were quite good. On this outing (and most) they were slow and receptive. But they weren't too hard as I actually had to repair several ball marks for a change. All water hazards had lots of pond scum as always ... makes it impossible to retrieve one with a get-r-outer (for those that carry and call it that like my playing partner this day). That's really about it. It's spring in Austin so it's a good time to play Lions. The heat will be here soon enough.

The City of Austin announced the opening of its municipal golf courses on April 15th. I played Lions on the 16th and found an operation trying very hard to do all the right things and keep a safe environment for golfers looking to get outside and away from the computer.

First of all, the greens are in great shape and they've been working on the course when it was closed. It's a great experience! Just note the following rules:

You must book online in advance and then you pay with credit card at the window.

There are no golf carts or push carts to rent.

They took out the water coolers so bring plenty, especially as it gets hotter.

Flags must be left in and there are pool noodles at the bottom.

YOU MUST WEAR A FACEMASK around the clubhouse and common areas. The staff will call you out on the intercom if you take it off.

The range is closed and there are no holes in the practice greens.

Lastly, don't be an idiot and stand close to your partners. Even if you're related, people who drive by and see golfers too close to one another end up complaining to local news outlets and government officials. It's happened in other cities and states and caused courses to close.

Do all this and you'll have a great time. I expect conditions will be as good as ever if they don't allow golf carts on the grass for an extended period of time.

Thanks to the staff at Muny for doing all the right things.

Got in and out in 3.5 hours which is rare at this place. Always a classic - take it for what it is. A lot of tight lies, hard ground and some rocks around, but overall good shape for a muny. greens were in good shape but pretty slow

Totally dried out. No grass in fsirway or rough. Greens were better. Course needs help.

Greens are in good condition, but this is the worst of all the Austin muni courses

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.

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.

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.

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.

Unbearably Slow play....always.....every time I play here is slow.....today it was 5 your round. I'm done. Can't go back.....

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 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.

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?