Muny Cup and 19th Hole Party Bring a Sporty Sunset Soirée to Lions Municipal Golf Course

Lions Municipal Golf Course welcomed a sold-out crowd May 8 for an evening of golf, live music, local food and family-friendly activities on the historic Austin course. The event paired the inaugural Muny Cup with the annual 19th Hole Party, drawing golfers, families and longtime Muny supporters for a casual celebration that included performances by Angel White and Gary P. Nunn, interactive golf activations and a tribute to longtime course advocate Mary Arnold.

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Dresdynn Warnell and Tyler Feldman. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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Mack Brown, Sally Brown, Erik Lopez and Chris Jessee. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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Samantha Bernstein and Tracy Dombek. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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Tommy Norris and Jamie Kizer. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

A community celebration

The first Muny Cup champions were Mark Williams, Michael Williams, Justin Williams and Marc Carrizales, who took home the title during the tournament’s debut year. After play wrapped, the course shifted into party mode as guests gathered for the Sporty Sunset Soirée, a golden-hour celebration that brought together multiple generations of Austinites.

Throughout the evening, children stopped for balloon art and face painting while adults tried their hand at Acre Golf’s trailer-hitch putting activation, Daddy Shack’s mobile golf simulator and Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s putting contest. The mix of activities gave the event the feel of a neighborhood gathering, with plenty for both golfers and non-golfers to enjoy.

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Angel White performs during the Muny Cup and 19th Hole Party at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin on May 8. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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Gary P. Nunn performs during the Muny Cup and 19th Hole Party at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin on May 8. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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Silly Sparkles provides face painting and balloon art during the Muny Cup and 19th Hole Party at Lions Municipal Golf Course. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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Marcia and Ron Macha dance to live music during the 19th Hole Party. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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The Muny Cup at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

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A child wears a “Save Muny” shirt during during the Muny Cup and 19th Hole Party at Lions Municipal Golf Course. (Photo by Tyler Schmitt Photography)

Preserving Muny’s legacy

One of the night’s most meaningful moments came when Muny Conservancy Co-Chair Scotty Sayers announced that the Muny ballroom would be renamed the Mary Arnold Ballroom. The honor recognizes Arnold’s decades of work to protect Lions Municipal Golf Course, an effort that dates back to 1972.

For many attendees, the evening was about more than a tournament or a party. Known simply as Muny to generations of Austinites, Lions Municipal Golf Course has long served as a public gathering place and a piece of the city’s history.

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