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Lions Municipal Golf Course Celebrates 100 Years of History, Community and Legacy

Over 500 supporters gather for Centennial Celebration of Austin’s historic ‘Muny’

  • By Nicole Williams-Quezada
  • October 11, 2024
LIONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE CELEBRATES ITS 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Gigi Bryant and Texas Cowboys (photo by Holly Reed)

Austin’s iconic Lions Municipal Golf Course, affectionately known as “Muny,” celebrated its 100th anniversary with a vibrant Centennial Celebration on October 3, drawing more than 500 supporters. Co-hosted by The Muny Conservancy and the Austin Founder Lions Club, the event honored the course’s rich history, deep community ties, and unique place in the city’s cultural and environmental landscape.

The festivities began with a bang—literally—as the Texas Cowboys fired Smokey the Cannon, setting the tone for a day filled with nostalgia and celebration. A parade of vintage cars, courtesy of local Model A clubs, added charm, while live music from the Austin High School Drumline and the Bourbonnais Trio provided the soundtrack.

Mayor Kirk Watson arriving in Model A car to the parade (Photo by Holly Reed)
Mayor Kirk Watson arriving in Model A car to parade (photo by Holly Reed)

Austin mayor and golf legends honor Muny’s 100-year legacy

Mayor Kirk Watson led the event by proclaiming it Lions Muny Golf Course Day, a fitting tribute to the century-old course. Congressman Lloyd Doggett and representatives from local organizations took the stage, each highlighting different aspects of Muny’s storied legacy. The course, renowned as the first racially integrated public golf course in the South, was recognized as a Civil Rights landmark by members of the Texas Black Caucus and the Overton family, emphasizing its pivotal role in history.

Speakers also underscored the course’s environmental significance. Spanning 141 acres, Muny is home to hundreds of heritage trees and serves as a wildlife sanctuary, offering much-needed green space in the heart of the city. Golf legends Ben Crenshaw, Mark Brooks, and Cindy Figg-Currier added their voices, celebrating Muny’s unique contribution to golf and its importance in cultivating new talent.

The day concluded with a heartfelt communal rendition of the song “The Beauty of Muny,” by George Machock, encapsulating the enduring spirit of the course, celebrating 100 years of community, history, and tradition.