Lions Municipal Golf Course course has been recognized as a landmark for civil rights history by multiple individuals and organizations.
In a diligent effort to save the historic Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, Texas, a SaveMuny website has been set up to engage public support.
The website gives those who are interested in preserving the historical significance of this course an opportunity to join forces with the project. As of this article, the website is easy to navigate and lists a dozen supporters at the bottom of the page.
Extensive research based on archival records and first-hand accounts from Austin residents indicates that Muny was the first desegregated golf course in the South. The desegregation occurred when two African American youths walked on to the course and were permitted to play a round in 1950 – more than three years before the racial integration of schools and other public facilities was mandated by Brown v. Board of Education. Thereafter African-American golfers from across the state traveled to play the course. These historical events unfolded without formal litigation or protest from the Austin community, in contrast to responses in many other cities to the desegregation of public facilities.
Also offered on the website is information and links to learn about the historical significance, purchase merchandise, frequently asked questions (FAQs), events and news.
