The Austin (Texas) City Council will vote March 20 on whether to seal the deal on the $9.6 million purchase of the 292-acre property, which is open to the public. The lease of another of the city’s courses, Lions Municipal, will run out in 2019, and could be developed into retail or residential property.
Austin (Texas) City Council members could vote March 20 to seal the deal on the $9.6 million purchase of Grey Rock Golf Club, the Austin-based KXAN News reported.
Grey Rock, located in Austin, is open to the public but privately owned, sitting on 292 acres. It would become the city’s sixth municipal course, joining Lions Municipal, Roy Kizer, William Morris, Jimmy Clay and Hancock, which is a nine-hole course, News reported.
Grey Rock offers natural terrain, eight tennis courts, 18 holes of golf, amenities and the possible development of parkland, News reported.
“It is one of the fastest growing areas in the city,” said Kevin Gomillion, the Parks and Recreation Department’s Golf Division Manager. “We don’t have a lot of parkland, much less golf course. And we don’t have tennis courts. This offers that.”
But Grey Rock regulars worry about the course’s upkeep if it does get turned over to the city, News reported.
“I don’t know what the city plans to do with it,” said golfer Wally Acosta. “I like it the way it’s run, they do a good job, so I hope they maintain whatever they’re doing now.”
Meanwhile, time is running out at Lions Municipal. After 78 years in the city’s control, Lions was the first public course to integrate in the south. The course is considered Austin’s oldest, most central, most golfed, most loved and most affordable 18-hole layout, News reported.
The municipal course sits on University of Texas land and the lease runs out in 2019. The university has other plans for the land, possibly including retail and residential. Negotiations and impassioned demonstrations have not moved UT to change its mind, News reported.
“It’s super affordable,” said Lions golfer Jacob Ishimoto. “I’m a newlywed and we’re pinching pennies, but I can still get a few rounds in here.”
“This is a beautiful course,” said another Lions loyalist, Clay Boykin. “It’s been around for years and to take it down to put up buildings would be a shame.”
A round at Lions costs $23 during the week, and $26 on the weekend. It’s another $13 per person to rent a cart, but more than 40 percent of the Lions golfers choose to walk. A weekend round of golf with cart at Grey Rock currently costs $100, News reported.
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