You would think a place like this would be obvious for Austin but I guess not.
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the city leaders…are morons.
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I think a 6-hole (somewhat reversible, wild, silly) definitely makes more sense for the property. I was driving up Red River the other day and some dude was hitting his approach shot down that green near the traffic light and its absolutely horrifying both for drivers and the golfer. The fairway is 8 feet from a busy road lol. Every time I look at the property I’m like, shit, they need to move holes as far away from Red River as possible. I think the 6-hole thing makes sense! As for a range? Yeah, no way HP neighbors want to see a tall net out their window!
And that’s an insult to other morons…
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It doesn’t surprise me that they just have a stereotypical outdated view of golf. A green space with spots for local food and drink sounds like something most Austin residents would be onboard with.
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I think this is the model when you want to create a fun environment good for the neighborhood folks and golfer folks alike.
If they could understand it and see the vision, they could buy in to it. Just can’t even get to that point.
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there are so many good examples out there of how it can work, please the immediate neighborhood, accommodate community, and create an inclusive culture. on top of fun and profitability…
status-quo is where most municipal governments live.
I think they have. I need to catch up with the guys at Butler and see where they are at in dealing with the city on permitting for the changes they planned to make. They were hoping to start soon and were having trouble with permits back in April.
I think the best thing the city is doing is realizing they need help with Hancock. They can’t do it themselves, which is the basis for the RFP. However, we’ll see how much they are willing to help when it comes to influencing the rest of government to get on board. I certainly wouldn’t raise money to do this and get thwarted everywhere down the road when we want to start construction.
I wouldn’t commit to 6 or 9 holes or whatever. Would like to let the architects create the best use of land whatever that happens to be!
You definitely know better than I do but do they not see what San Antonio does with golf? Olmos Basin, Brackenridge, and San Pedro are all great affordable golf experiences run by the city.
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San Pedro is such a great and easy concept.
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You don’t think having a bus stop 10 yards right of a tiny green is good design?
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the green existed before the bus stop but I definitely agree with your point.
it’s time for some modifications and better concepts.
I can’t even believe those are the same courses I grew up on. What a job the ACGT is doing.
The immediate Hyde Park neighborhood fought for years and almost won against the new hotel they built next door to Hancock, they will fight like crazy to turn this into a park if given the chance. I guess a possible compromise for Hancock would be golf course 6 days a week and make it park on Sunday like St. Andrews. As far as redeveloping the land, you could turn the current holes 1 and 2 into a driving range facing north or south and net it off, net might not visible to the neighbors. Somehow keep the 4th hole as is because I have grown to love that hole and turn it into a 6 hole loop.
Austin needs a nighttime lighted golf option outside of the Round Rock range (which the city also owns?!?), something san pedro or lights at indio-like. Pitch and putt is probably the easier to light up compared to Hancock. Wish Pitch and Putt wasn’t off mats but oh well. Bummed that the City came down and said no more BYOB at Pitch and Putt, that’s gonna rile people up. Especially because keeping Pitch and Putt BYOB was one of the new operator’s main promises.
The city council made it plain they don’t care about the golf courses in their comments here, even though the golf consultant report on Golfatx courses showed the city’s rounds per year are well above the national average: https://www.statesman.com/news/20200818/austin-set-to-raise-fees-on-city-run-golf-courses
Would love to see the day the muny conservancy just buys lions and figures it out
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Walked Hancock for lunch and was reminded how absolutely brutal that course can be. I think it’s the only course I think about just walking off of in the middle of a round.
$200M being the price tag…if they pay that, they are criminals for what they could do for golf in this city with half that money. Lion’s isn’t worth 1/10 that. You could build 10 incredible munis for $200M
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Late notice but I have 1 spot open for this afternoon 3:50 at rockwood in ft.worth if anyone wants to join let me know
Evening guise, first time posting here. Born and raised Houstonian who went to Austin for school and just moved home, looking for jobs during a pandemic has been real rough. Played a lot in both cities though, Thursday morning rounds at Hancock were the best part of college and I’ve become real familiar with both cities’ public courses. Just figured I’d say hi and I’m looking forward to being a part of the Refuge. Here’s a photo of my old man, third grade me thought Ruff was the perfect name for a dog.
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