A Mulligan on Hancock Golf Course
Does the City Have Better Uses For the Golf Course?
By Nina Hernandez
What should the city do with the Hancock Golf Course? Well, like anything in Austin, it depends on who you ask. About a decade ago, it became clear to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department that the 50 acres was in need of a serious course correction. Its nine holes were too few for the average golfer, the irrigation system was out of compliance with city code, and the number of rounds played had dropped each year since 2000.
As is the case with most City of Austin projects, the public engagement period stretched on for multiple years. So long, in fact, that the course’s fortunes actually had time to turn around. The pandemic and other factors have contributed to something of a resurgence, and the course actually made about $75,000 last fiscal year. When you consider it has been losing money steadily since 2006, that’s impressive.
And it appears to be enough for the city, at least right now. The Parks and Recreation Department had considered partnering with an independent contractor to both improve the course and relieve part of the associated financial burden as recently as last summer. But PARD told Hyde Parker in April that it’s “comfortable” with the current operations and there aren’t any plans to contract with a third party at this time.
But should we be satisfied with breaking even on a 50-acre plot of land in the heart of Austin? And, if it doesn’t stay as it is today, what alternative proposals should the city be considering?
Imagine Hancock Park
One group that advocated against the idea of a third-party golf concessionaire is the Hancock Conservancy. The group called the city's public engagement "biased" and "golf-centric" and called for a public park and accessible green space dedicated to the community.
“We’re happy that the concessionaire idea is shelved, and we hope that we can create a world now where, if future conversations are happening about the future of Hancock, that a park could be high up on the list,” said Adam Sparks, the group’s spokesperson. “We could take Austin’s least celebrated golf courses and turn it into one of Austin’s most celebrated parks.”
Hancock Conservancy is working toward becoming a “Friends of” group, which would allow it to partner with the Austin Parks Foundation on projects that would make the current course more friendly to other community members.
To get involved with the Hancock Conservancy visit their site: https://www.imaginehancockpark.org/
Mixed-Use Affordable Housing
There have also been those pointing out that we’re in the midst of gentrification and housing crises and questioning whether we should still be devoting acreage in West Austin to an (overwhelmingly white- and male-dominated sport) when people are struggling to house themselves in the city limits. And so wouldn’t that land be better used as affordable housing?
With the right level of political will and a funding mechanism in place, Hancock would be the perfect place to build housing. Not only would it bring much needed units near Hyde Park, but it would also be on Project Connect’s Gold Line. This would be an opportunity for the city to act on, rather than give lip service to, its oft-stated goal of creating affordable units within the city core. With 50 acres to work with only a tiny fraction would be needed to provide affordable housing and the rest could be used for green space, a signature park, and other amenities that the new and current residents could enjoy for generations, unlike the rarely used golf course.
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