Ever wonder where Ben Hogan asked “Where’s the fairway?”
Welcome to Lions Municipal Golf Course, a place of great historical significance. It is a beloved golf course with a unique story to tell. We are at 2901 Enfield Road. This course is not just about golf. It’s a landmark.
Lions Municipal Golf Course opened in 1924. The Austin Lions Club had a vision. They wanted a modern and inclusive municipal golf course. It became the first public golf course in Austin.
B. F. Rowe designed and oversaw its construction. By the fall of 1924, a nine-hole course was ready. By September 1925, the back nine holes were complete. The clubhouse, designed by Edwin C. Kreisle, opened in 1930.
In 1936, the Austin Municipal Golf and Amusement Association gave the lease to the City of Austin. The course became known as “Lions Muny” or just “Muny”. The city improved the course between 1936 and 1939.
Albert Tillinghast, a golf course architect, enhanced the course in 1936. He redesigned several holes.
Lions Municipal Golf Course holds a special place in civil rights history. In 1951, it became the first desegregated public golf course in the South. This happened before the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Councilwoman Emma Long suggested African Americans should play on all municipal courses. Two African Americans played in an act of civil disobedience. Authorities allowed them to continue.
Joe Louis, a former boxing champion, played here in 1953.
Lions Municipal has faced challenges. In 1972, there were plans to turn the property into student housing. The “Save Muny” campaign preserved the course. In 1976, the course was redesigned.
The Firecracker Open, Texas’ oldest amateur tournament, has been held here since 1945. Many notable golfers have played at Lions Municipal. Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, and Ben Crenshaw are among them. Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite honed their skills here.
Ben Hogan played an exhibition match here in 1950. He famously asked, “Where’s the fairway?” on the seventh hole. This hole is now known as “Hogan’s Hole.” Hogan went on to birdie it. He commented that the course was so good, it made you think you weren’t in Texas.
Today, Lions Municipal Golf Course is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is recognized for its history and contribution to golf and civil rights. This course is a quality test to Austin’s most loyal golf patrons. It occupies 141 acres.
Remember Lions Municipal Golf Course. Think of its lush greens, historic moments, and impact on sports and society.