Austin Moves to Acquire Lions Municipal Golf Course

The University of Texas and city officials outline a path to transfer the historic 141-acre site.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Golf

Austin Moves to Acquire Lions Municipal Golf Course

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The City of Austin has reached a tentative agreement with the University of Texas to take ownership of the 141-acre Lions Municipal Golf Course. This move aims to permanently secure the site as a public facility.

Why it matters

The transfer resolves decades of uncertainty regarding the future of the course, which has faced potential development threats since the university first moved to terminate the lease in the 1970s.

The course hosts 75,000 rounds of golf annually and encompasses 141 acres of land. It has been under a University of Texas lease since 1924, spanning over 90 years of operation.

The players

Kirk Watson

Kirk Watson is the Mayor of Austin who announced the potential ownership path for the site.

University of Texas

The University of Texas is a public research university that owns the land where Lions Municipal Golf Course is located.

City of Austin

The City of Austin is the local municipal government currently operating the golf course.

The details

Under the proposed plan, the city would assume control by amending the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement to adjust building height limits and environmental regulations. This transition hinges on securing an anonymous donation to satisfy university requirements.

1924: The University of Texas began leasing the golf course land.
1937: The City of Austin assumed operations of the golf course.
1950: The course became the first desegregated golf course in the South.
1989: The city and the University of Texas signed the Brackenridge Development Agreement.
October 14, 2026: Mayor Kirk Watson announced the potential ownership path.

Season Trajectory

The proposed transfer marks a significant departure from the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement, which previously dictated stricter usage of university lands. This shift secures the long-term future of the course as a public athletic facility within the city.

The agreement ensures that the 75,000 annual rounds of golf remain available to the public without the risk of future commercial development or lease termination. This protects existing access to the historic course for local residents and visitors.

The takeaway

The potential acquisition highlights the importance of historical preservation in growing urban centers. Residents interested in the future of the course should monitor upcoming city council meetings for updates on the development agreement amendments.