Lions Municipal Golf Course, or “Muny” as it is affectionately called, is a traditional 18-hole course on the western edge of downtown Austin. Originally built by the Lions Club in 1924 and transferred to the care of the City of Austin in 1936, Muny is Austin’s oldest golf course, and has the storied history to prove it.
During its history, the course has hosted some venerable golfing legends, such as Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Harvey Penick, Morris Williams Jr., and Ed Hopkins. In fact, the course’s signature 16th hole — 403-yards, par 4 — was dubbed “The Hogan Hole,” after Ben Hogan claimed it was “the only hole I’ve ever seen without a fairway.” He then proceeded to get a birdie.
Golf by the Numbers: The Long and Short of It
The course squeezes 6,001 yards into 141 acres, making it a unique design featuring tight (and apparently sometimes invisible!) fairways. The entire course is a par 71 with a 68.9 course rating and 118 slope rating. It’s a fun yet challenging course to play — a third of the course features water hazards.
The grounds also feature a 10-tee, iron-only driving range, a putting green and chipping area, as well as a clubhouse. Reservations can be called in as early as seven days out, and the public course features reasonable greens fees, making it an accessible and affordable option for golf enthusiasts from all across Austin.
Lions Municipal sits on Brackenridge Tract, a parcel of land owned by the University of Texas. The University decided it will let the lease for the course expire in May 2019, though many local golfers have rallied in an effort to prevent the closing of Austin’s most popular golf course.