Lions Municipal Golf Course, nicknamed Muny, is a municipal golf course at 2901 Enfield Road in Austin, Texas. The golf course occupies 141 acres of land the City of Austin leases from the University of Texas since 1937 as part of the greater Brackenridge Tract. The golf course has been subject to ongoing controversy due to the recommended termination of the current term by the University of Texas in 2019. A report commissioned by the city found that Muny's burdensome property lease payment is a primary challenge in operating Austin's public golf courses.
History
Lions Municipal Golf Course was established in 1924 by Austin Lions Club members with a vision for a modern, inclusive municipal golf course. Lions Municipal was the first public golf course and clubhouse in Austin and would remain so until July 1949 when Austin's “North Side” Municipal Golf Course—today Hancock Golf Course—opened on the grounds of the old Austin Country Club. B. F. Rowe, recognized as the first Lions Club member to propose the municipal golf course, volunteered to oversee its design and construction. By the fall of 1924 the heavily wooded tract had been converted into an attractive nine-hole golf course. Construction of the back nine holes completed the course by September 1925. The course clubhouse, designed by Edwin C. Kreisle, opened in 1930.
The University of Texas golf team first competed in the Southwest Conference in May 1928 in a tournament held at Lions Municipal. Inaugural coach of the Longhorns golf team, Tom Penick earned two conference titles during his 1927–30 tenure. He also served as the head golf professional at Lions Municipal from 1927 to 1961. He was succeeded at UT by his brother Harvey Penick, the legendary golf coach who earned twenty NCAA conference titles during 1931–63. Lions Municipal would remain a favorite hometown course for the UT Golf Team. In April 1948, the UT golfers voted to play home matches with other Southwest Conference schools, as well as their own weekly challenge matches, at the Lions Municipal course.
On December 17, 1936, the Austin Municipal Golf and Amusement Association transferred their lease for the course to the City of Austin. Ever since the Association was dissolved on April 21, 1938, Lions Municipal Golf Course has been known by several names but often summarized with the nickname “Lions Muny” or, more succinctly, “Muny.” After assuming the lease from the Austin Lions Club, the City of Austin initiated a series of improvements to the course and grounds in 1936–39.
In 1972 UT regent Chairman Frank Erwin wanted to turn a profit on the 150-acre property. He sought to end the lease and sell the land to developers. Golfers and neighborhood activists joined forces with the city to stop the sale. One activist, Mary Arnold, was familiar with land-use history and knew that in 1910 when the George Brackenridge family donated the land there were conditions to prevent UT from selling the land. In 1973 after months of wrangling, the city and UT struck a deal that allowed the city to lease the land for 1$ a year until 1987. In return the city paid to upgrade and move Red River Street for UT.
The Save Muny organization was created in 1987 to assure Muny remained city owned and open to the public. Save Muny, the city and UT came to another temporary agreement in 1987. Rent would go up $175,000 a year and then would increase every five years, until it would be $425,000 a year in 2017. Save Muny sought a new deal in 1989. After negotiations the city's lease was extended to 2019. By 2008 the city was paying UT $345,600 a year.
As of 2019 the city was paying UT $500,000 per year to lease the golf course land.
Hogan's Hole
World Golf Hall of Famer, Ben Hogan, played with Harvey Penick (against Ed Hopkins and Morris Williams Jr.]) in an exhibition match at Muny in 1950 prior to the 1950 US Open. During the match, it is said that Hogan stood on the tee box of the daunting seventh hole (currently #16) and asked “Where’s the fairway?”.