Austin Golf Courses

Austin golf courses vary from very affordable municipal public courses to exclusive five star resorts. This means you can enjoy golfing in Austin in the morning, city tours in the afternoon, and some of the city’s world-famous music or nightlife in the evening without ever leaving the city limits.

There are five public Austin golf courses and an annual membership provides privileges at all five of them. The oldest course in the city is the Hancock Golf Course, which is also the oldest in the state of Texas. It was established in 1889 and is located about five miles to the southwest of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. It is a challenging 9-hole course with numerous holes and fairways alongside and over lovely Waller Creek. Two of the courses, the Roy Kizer and Jimmy Clay Course both boast 18 holes, and are part of the same complex that comprises 36 total holes for golf in Austin Texas adjacent to the McKinney Falls State Park, which is popular with residents and visitors alike for fishing, hiking, and camping.

The Morris Williams Golf course is only about two miles northeast of Downtown Austin, and was the home for University of Texas golfing in Austin during the time the storied team won two NCAA championships with legendary players Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw. The most popular of the municipal Austin golf courses is the Lion Golf Course that has been operated by the city since it took over its management from the Lions Club in 1934. It is located a couple miles to the west of the downtown area along the shores of Lake Austin. The Riverside Golf Course is another public course (not operated by the city) located just south of Lady Bird Lake.

In addition to the municipal public golf in Austin Texas, you will find a number of private courses and clubs near the city and in the outlying areas as far north as Lake Travis and Lake Lyndon B. Johnson. Even if you’re camping or have taken advantage of wilderness cabin rentals on one of the lakes, you will find an Austin golf course (both public and private) somewhere nearby. There are upwards of 50 of them located throughout the region. Several of these are part of luxurious resorts and spas.

Perhaps the finest of these is located at the Barton Creek Resort, located in the Texas Hill Country northwest of the city near the Barton Creek Wilderness Park. This is the most prestigious golfing in Austin and perhaps in the entire southwest United States. Accommodation is in elegant and spacious rooms, suites, and villas. Resort facilities include several gourmet dining options, tennis courts, and an extensive full-service spa and swimming pools. This exquisite property boasts four 18-hole championship courses: Fazio Foothills, Fazio Canyons, Crenshaw Cliffside, and Palmer Lakeside.

Even further north on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson is exclusive golf in Austin Texas at the Marriott Horseshoe Bay Resort. Guests at this beautiful property receive automatic member privileges to play at three Robert Trent Jones, Sr. private championship courses. You also have access to the many water activities on the lake, including fishing, swimming, and boating. The resort even has its own exclusive yacht club and marina. There is a luxurious spa and tennis courts, as well as extensive park like grounds providing hiking and horseback riding. If you are enjoying family vacations, the resort offers a fully supervised children’s program. There are also real estate offerings here, and some of the villas are available as vacation rentals.