Golfing in Austin

[Bama_Teacher_inTX]

So my wife and I will make our yearly 2-3 day trip to Austin this August for her work. While she's in a meeting from 8-4 on a Tuesday, I intend to play some golf. Does anyone have some recommendations for good, public courses? I'm looking for the following:
- Under $50
- Walking allowed
- Challenging course, but not something pros might play

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

 

[Scholz]

Lions. Old Muni. Reasonable green fees and challenging.

It's also cool as hell. Old historic golf course played by names such as Hogan, Nelson, Kite and Crenshaw. Almost 100 years old.

 

[Oldmanastro]

Lions. Old Muni. Reasonable green fees and challenging.

It's also cool as hell. Old historic golf course played by names such as Hogan, Nelson, Kite and Crenshaw. Almost 100 years old.

Agreed. Save Lions!!

 

[Bama_Teacher_inTX]

Lions. Old Muni. Reasonable green fees and challenging.

It's also cool as hell. Old historic golf course played by names such as Hogan, Nelson, Kite and Crenshaw. Almost 100 years old.

Did Hogan play both of those courses? Playing a course that Hogan played would be freakin' awesome. Also, after my round I'll want some Tex-Mex. Do you have any good recommendations other than Matt's El Rancho?

 

[Charlie Mang]

Lions is my favorite public course. It's short, just over 6,000 yards from the back tee box, but narrow. Easy to walk. But in August, you'll need to be acclimated to the heat. Lions, (Muni as it's called locally) is just west of downtown, so very convenient. If you want a longer, more open, course try Roy Kizer just south of downtown. Lions cost around $25 for walkers and Kizer about $35...both depending on the day/time of day. Some of the public courses will have discounted rates on GolfNow, plus you can book a tee time for one. On a Tuesday (especially in August), as long as there isn't a tournament, you probably don't need a tee time. You can probably walk on in less than 30 minutes. If there's a tournament at Lions try Morris Williams (just north of downtown) or Jimmy Clay (located in the same complex as Kizer). All are challenging, but not super difficult.

 

[speedstrength]

I was going to say whats that place out by Hula Hut called. Then I looked it up.

 

[Oldmanastro]

Did Hogan play both of those courses? Playing a course that Hogan played would be freakin' awesome. Also, after my round I'll want some Tex-Mex. Do you have any good recommendations other than Matt's El Rancho?

Not meaning to step on Scholz's toes, but actually Lions and Old Muni are the same course. Some folks call it one or the other. As for mexican food, right down the street from Lions on 5th street is El Arroyo (the ditch), so it would be convenient. Just ate there this past Sat.
Concerning Hogan playing there, there is a hole named after him, as he called it one of the toughest, nicest holes he ever played. I believe it is #13, but could be wrong.

 

[Charlie Mang]

Did Hogan play both of those courses? Playing a course that Hogan played would be freakin' awesome. Also, after my round I'll want some Tex-Mex. Do you have any good recommendations other than Matt's El Rancho?

Hogan played Lions. I'm skeptical that he was overly impressed, but it's said he liked hole number 16, and it's still called Hogan's hole. There's a Maudies Tex Mex across Exposition Blvd from Lions. Also, a cool little beer joint, Deep Eddy Cabaret just down Lake Austin Blvd. Don't let the Cabaret name fool you. It's a beer joint. By the way, I saw Ben Crenshaw playing at Lions this spring. Vince Young too. Not together.

 

[oldschoolcat]

Austin has great Muni courses, but they were always so hard to get into when I lived there. Learned the game at Hancock....not sure if it's even a thing anymore.

Ended up playing Bluebonnet Hill in Manor a LOT. Was easy to walk on, and always shot good rounds due to it being very forgiving. No chance at hitting moving cars either.

 

[Scholz]

Did Hogan play both of those courses? Playing a course that Hogan played would be freakin' awesome.

Just the one course and yes. Not to mention Harvey Penick, Crenshaw and Kite's golf teacher and author of the 'Little Red Book'.

Also, after my round I'll want some Tex-Mex. Do you have any good recommendations other than Matt's El Rancho?

The best tex mex in town for my money is walking distance from Lions on Lake Austin Blvd - Maudie's. Get you a nice plate of brown and yellow.

http://www.maudies.com/10124700_47893.htm

 

[clob94]

Is the old riverside course still open? It's been so long since I've been on East riverside that I couldn't tell you.

 

[oldschoolcat]

Is the old riverside course still open? It's been so long since I've been on East riverside that I couldn't tell you.

East Riverside used to be my hood when I lived in Austin. My neighbors were interesting, but my stuff never got stolen. Unlike when I lived in Westlake.

Took a golf class at ACC one year for PE credit. If anyone is interested I could tell a story that involved a former military golf instructor who reminded me of Lou Gossett Jr. in Iron Eagle, and a kid with Tourettes who randomly shouted racially charged terms.....all while golfing at scenic Riverside course.

 

[Charlie Mang]

Is the old riverside course still open? It's been so long since I've been on East riverside that I couldn't tell you.

It's still open. It was altered to fit around the ACC campus, but still in use. Besides being the original Austin Country Club, where Kite & Crenshaw met Penick, the course was designed by Perry Maxwell who sometimes worked with Augusta National designer, Alister MacKenzie. Maxwell also did some renovation work on Augusta.

 

[clob94]

East Riverside used to be my hood when I lived in Austin. My neighbors were interesting, but my stuff never got stolen. Unlike when I lived in Westlake.

Took a golf class at ACC one year for PE credit. If anyone is interested I could tell a story that involved a former military golf instructor who reminded me of Lou Gossett Jr. in Iron Eagle, and a kid with Tourettes who randomly shouted racially charged terms.....all while golfing at scenic Riverside course.

Fvck ya! Fire away!

 

[clob94]

Just the one course and yes. Not to mention Harvey Penick, Crenshaw and Kite's golf teacher and author of the 'Little Red Book'.


The best tex mex in town for my money is walking distance from Lions on Lake Austin Blvd - Maudie's. Get you a nice plate of brown and yellow.

http://www.maudies.com/10124700_47893.htm

Maudie's on South Lamar used to do 1 dollar Rita's every tues. "Clob Smash!"

 

[Scholz]

Maudie's on South Lamar used to do 1 dollar Rita's every tues. "Clob Smash!"

I used to work on S.Lamar. That Maudie's was my Fri lunch spot.

 

[oldschoolcat]

Fvck ya! Fire away!

So I signed up for a PE class at ACC Riverside about 25 years ago. Beginners Golf. Walked into classroom at the pro shop on day one and met the professor, a self described military guy. I figured he was an officer due to his age and his attitude. (he was a badass). Looked like Chappy Sinclair from Iron Eagle. Will call him Lou.

He introduced the entire class to a kid and his mom. We will call him Ken. Ken had Tourettes syndrome. Had never heard of it before then, but Lou explained that Ken would have outbursts from time to time.....sometimes these outbursts would contain profanity. Ken was pretty good about it and he could catch himself before the whole word got out. He would use his hands to cover his mouth to stop the carnage.....

Lots of:

"SHI........"(muffled)

"FU......."(muffled)

College kids trying to behave in a golf setting found that quite entertaining and difficult to maintain composure. Giggled like grade schoolers when he did it. Made golf class much more interesting.

Did I mention Lou was a badass? When the F4s from Bergstrom would fly over and crush all silence he would stop instructing mid sentence......and while the class would look up and ogle....Lou wouldn't break. Never looked up, or down.....just paused. As soon as the area was quiet again....he would continue his sentence. Nobody was gonna mess with Lou.

Well, except Ken, whose Tourettes was well aware of Lou's ethnicity. And Ken's Tourettes apparently knew the absolute worst term you could use to call a man of Lou's ethnicity. It starts with an "N" and everybody knows it.

It was a quiet morning, and Lou was probably describing the proper way to line up a putt when it happened. "NIG.......(muffled)"

But he got way enough out for everyone to know what he said. It was like time stopped. The whole class gasped and Lou stopped mid stream.....and then he continued instruction. Seemingly unphased. Until Ken let it out again.....and this time he got the whole thing out.

It's like when the lightning flickers on top of your house and you cover your head waiting for the impending crash.

Lou again stopped......and while we held our breath he shook it off, and continued. Dude was a freaking PRO.

This happened on and off for an entire semester.

 

[clob94]

Dude--- seriously-- you should write that up in full form and send that sh!t to Maxim magazine or something. That is some funny fvcking sh!t!!@

 

[oldschoolcat]

After that day we all pretty much got used to it. Most of the time it was a muffled "sh!t"......but every once in a while we would get the dreaded bomb.

Made for interesting golf.

 

[clob94]

Tourettes kid tees off while Lou is in the fairway on the next hole.
Tourettes banana slices one right at Lou and yells "FORE ........." (you know what)
Lou cures his tourettes permanently.

 

[oldschoolcat]

Dude could have a conversation without problem. It was when he wasn't supposed to be saying anything that the demons awoke.

Did any of you horns play out at Hancock? And is it still there? My first public tee off was at that little par 3 that has the elevated tee box and a road on the right side. No pressure there.

 

[Scholz]

I learned to play at that Hancock course. It was like $5 for 9 holes when I was in college. I've sliced a few onto Red River St. on #7 in my day going toward the HEB. I may or may not have hit a bus or two.

 

[oldschoolcat]

I learned to play at that Hancock course. It was like $5 for 9 holes when I was in college. I've sliced a few onto Red River St. on #7 in my day going toward the HEB. I may or may not have hit a bus or two.

I knew I liked you.

I was much more dangerous to cars on 38th street. The ball would hit the road and go a LONG way.....

 

[clob94]

I have made a few tires squeal and worn out some brake pads playing that hole in the past........