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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 |
Course Details
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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
Fun to think of the course history while playing
Lions is always a bit challenging for me. A few holes just psych me out, so it's good to come back and try to do well.
I like the course layout, with its angles and hazards. It's a nice blend of straightforward holes and slightly trickier ones. Some holes tempt you to "go for it" when a smarter lay-up strategy might actually work better.
The greens were in nice shape and could be quick with subtle slopes on some of the greens. The fairways were tight (typical Texas turf), but the rough is rocky or bare ground; as always, fairway accuracy is rewarded.
The clubhouse is nice, the staff helpful and friendly enough. The snack bar is good. The range is minimal.
There's a lot of history here. Check out http://www.savemuny.com/legends-of-lions.html
Greens and Pace
Though I did have a good time playing with a cool dude, the pace has been killing me. Four groups waiting for the fifth group in front to get going. Clean the green please.
Course Needs Lots of Improvement
Longest round of golf I've ever played. Poor conditions. Dirty old cart. You can tell the place is run by city government employees!
Greens way too slow
Have not played Lions in about 10 years. Greens are super slow. Not nearly in as good of shape as Jimmy Clay or Roy Kizer. The holes are short. No need to hit driver very often. Easy layout for higher handcapper or someone who likes slow greens.
Lions is in good shape!
The greens were faster than the last three times I've played Lions, and pace of play was 4hr for a foursome. A great round overall!
Good Ole Muni
This golf course was built in 1929, not too much has been redesigned I don't think. It is a good old course, easy walk. It is usually pretty slow but somehow there was not anyone in front of me and the guy I got paired with so we played a 3 hour round, maybe cause it was Tuesday morning? Good round and good course. This is not a country club but you can have a good time.
Nice layout
I really like older courses with tree lined fairways and smaller greens. This course is a perfect example. the one negative is the slowness of the greens. if they could speed up the greens, I would give it an excellent rating.
Love the history of the course.
It's a classic. Back 9 are way better than front 9.
Some old-timers are grumpy and play too fast but you just got to let them through.
Great course for the money
Me and my buddies go out to have a good time. I also love a course I can take my wife to without a bunch of pompous wantabes. Staff is friendly as well as fellow golfers. Love this course, good layout, friendly, and the condition is equal to the top 10 public courses in Austin.
Overrated
Course is ridiculous.... I hate playing there... It messes up my game. It's too short, you get penalized for great shots, the greens are slow as Christmas and do not putt true. I don't understand why so many individuals love this course. I played there with a buddy of mine who has won multiple times on the pga tour, and he says the greens are awful! I know the course has great history.., but "c'mon man"!
Always a challenge
The trees have grown since the last time I played there... 30 years ago!!!
Nothing much else has changed... It is still a jewel to be cherished.
The staff was friendly and the course well maintained.
Only problem we had was that the greens were still bumpy from being aerated a month earlier.
I love Lions (MUNY)
The staff here is so friendly it's a pleasure to play this Austin gem. My only complaint was the greens had recently been airated so it would have been nice to have received a discount on the green fee.
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