Our Austin

City Moves to Acquire Lions Municipal Golf Course

The city aims to secure the historic 141-acre property through land agreement changes and anonymous donations.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Golf

A wide view of a rolling golf course fairway with live oak trees and a distant city skyline at sunrise.
The City of Austin is negotiating with the University of Texas to permanently acquire the 141-acre Lions Municipal Golf Course property. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Golfers at Lions Municipal Golf Course could see the city take permanent ownership of the 141-acre site after the University of Texas announced a potential transfer deal. The arrangement would end the city's month-to-month lease, provided that anonymous donations and development agreement changes are secured.

Why it matters

The deal aims to preserve a historic public asset that hosts 75,000 rounds of golf annually and carries the legacy of being the first desegregated golf course in the South. Securing this land would permanently resolve a decade-spanning uncertainty about the future of the course, which has been leased by the university since 1924.

The potential deal covers 141 acres of golf course land out of a total university tract that has been leased for over 90 years. It remains unknown when the required anonymous donations or final development amendments will be formally approved.

The players

Mayor Kirk Watson

The Mayor of Austin who announced the potential path toward city ownership of the golf course.

University of Texas

The institution that currently owns the 141-acre parcel occupied by the golf course.

Lions Municipal Golf Course

A historic, city-operated golf course that is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The details

The university is conditioning the transfer on securing anonymous donations and modifying the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement. These amendments would adjust building height limits and environmental regulations on 190 acres of neighboring university-owned property near Lake Austin Boulevard. If finalized, the City of Austin would move from its current month-to-month lease status to permanent ownership of the historic site.

Timeline

  1. 1924: The University of Texas began leasing the golf course land.

  2. 1937: The City of Austin assumed operations of the course.

  3. 1950: The course became the first desegregated golf course in the South.

  4. 1989: The city and the university signed the Brackenridge Development Agreement.

  5. October 14, 2026: Mayor Kirk Watson announced the potential ownership path.

The Texas Context

The proposed transfer requires significant amendments to the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement, which has long governed land-use standards for the university tract. This move represents a potential shift away from the city's historic month-to-month leasing arrangement with the university.

Golfers will continue to use the course under current operations while officials work through the conditions for the land transfer. There is no immediate change to access or fees for the 75,000 annual rounds played at the site.

The takeaway

Residents should watch for upcoming City Council discussions regarding the specific amendments to the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement. The future of the site remains tied to the success of securing anonymous donations and the negotiation of those development standards.

Further reading

For more on the status of local recreation and public land usage, visit Golf.

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Should your city prioritize preserving historic public land over new commercial development?