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3.5
68 Reviews (68)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
17
2 Stars
11
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.9
Layout
3.6
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.9
77.9%
Recommend this course
53 out of 68 reviews
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About

Holes 9
Type Public/Municipal
Par 35
Length 2633 yards
Slope 112
Rating 32.6

Course Details

Year Built 1899
Golf Season Year round
Architect Lewis Hancock (1899)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Yes
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Collared shirt required

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

3.5
68 Reviews (68)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 16
Narrow Fairways 7
Water Hazards 7
This course/club is great for:
9-Hole Rounds 16
Beginners 15
Locals 15
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 18

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Windy weather
Walked

Much better in the cooler months

Been at least a few months since I've played Hancock. I typically opt for Lions or Mo Willy. But I was pleasantly surprised today and reminded that the turf out here is much better int he cooler months compared to the summer when the course gets really baked out and the greens struggle. Using the midweek paystation I played $16 to walk 18 holes. I do wonder if the lack of carts 4 days a week also assists with the turf health. Just sayin!

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 63
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Walked

good overall

All tee boxes were good and but most greens where incredibly sandy and so putting was incredibly slow. Almost all fairways were green and good be an very fluffy. the fairways were so nice you could walk barefoot on them. The prcie was little high $21 for a 9 holes due to it being a holiday.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Historic Muni Course in Austin

While nothing to write home about at the end of the day, Hancock Golf Course in Austin, TX is still a fantastic beginner course for those looking to learn golf, or for those more advanced golfers looking to just get away for a quick 9 when tee ties are booked across the city.

The course offers several challenging holes (whether by design, or just by space limitations). Nonetheless, it is consistently in pretty good condition considering the brutal summers we have here, and while a little pricey for what you get, is a great alternative option to other Muni's, espeically on the weekends.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Walked

About as good of shape as I've seen it

Hancock seems to have had a successful overseed this fall and right now the course is about as green and full of grass as I've ever seen it. The greens are still slow, and they need to be because they've really added a lot of slope over the years. But they are at least consistent.

It does appear the city courses are rotating through aerating and I saw a sign saying Hancock's was coming up in a week or so (15th, I think). So play before then if you can.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Texas Advisor
Verified Purchaser
Top 10 Contributor

Not the finest time to play Hancock

Shoutout to the reviewer in May who mentioned coming here for a quick round before/after daycare. I've been inspired to do my own version of that since I live only a mile away. I walked nine holes at lunch and brought my dog along which is awesome.

Can't say I love the layout at all, but I've tried to let familiarity of it breed fondness. I'm scoring better on it now that I know where the bad spots to be are.

I was surprised to see the greens aerated this time as I didn't see any course alerts on social or anything. Suffice to say the greens are basically sand at the moment and the 9th hole is a temp. I hit a 7-iron off the tee over the temp (on a par 4!).

Will probably let these greens grow in a little bit the next few weeks and check it out again.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Texas Advisor
Verified Purchaser
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Walked

A Part of History

I grew up four blocks from Hancock and first played golf there as a kid. So revisiting it is always nostalgic. In those days it had no sprinkler system, earning it the nickname "Hanrock." But sprinklers were installed some years ago and now the fairways are decent and the greens are sometimes very good, though a little slow. It's only nine holes. The back nine was sold and became Hancock Shopping Center in 1963.

Built in 1899, Hancock was the original Austin Country Club, the original home of Harvey Penick and the oldest US golf course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi. So in that sense it is beyond criticism. It is a part of history. Still, the City of Austin charges money to play there, so golfers deserve to know what they will get.

The good: A short, hilly fun little track which can be played with nothing more than a five-wood, 7-iron through PW and a putter.

The bad: In a way it's a glorified public park now. Non-golfers stroll, jog and walk their dogs through the course, especially near sundown, which is distracting and makes play difficult. Yardages are hard to ascertain. The ninth green is too small and needs to be redesigned. It's worth about $10, so the $18 they charge on weekends is too much. It's so hilly than on a hot day walking the course can be difficult. The bottom line is there are better options for your golf dollar in Austin.

Still, if you want to chase a little white ball down memory lane, with easy-going Central Austin as a backdrop, and don't mind sharing the course with walkers, joggers, dogs and sometimes frisbees, then this is the place for you.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not too challenging

Great course, has a challenging par 5, but some short par 4s, making this an easy 9 hole course. Never seems over-crowded, and it’s one of the oldest golf courses in Texas!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Walked

Austin Classic

Hancock is conveniently located between my kids' daycare and my office. About a month ago I started walking 9 holes in the morning after dropping off my kids and before I go to the office, work schedule permitting. I typically make it out 3 days a week.

There are no frills (Monday to Thursday you pay via a kiosk off the first tee). No amenities. But it's a solid, fun little course with a lot of history. Course conditions very with the weather.

For a golfer of average or better distance, you can play the entire round, and probably should, without pulling out anything longer than a 5 iron. 1-3 are all pretty much the same 325 yard par 4. You really can't lose your drive on any of them except right on 2 into Red River Street (slicers and motorists beware). If you nut a drive, you'll have a short pitch in on all of them. Even if you spray it, you'll have a clear shot in (even from the other fairways). 4 is a 240-yard par 4 with water short of the green and forest past the green. 5 is a downhill 150-yard par 3. 6 is the only par 5 and the hardest hole on the course. It's not long, but the only real way to get there in 2 is to perfectly place a tee shot (under hanging trees) on the right side of a narrow fairway. Green is on top of a steep hill. 7 comes back down the hill (tip: leave your bag at the base of the hill and bring your 7th hole teeing club with you to the green). A faded long iron will leave an easy shot in. 8 is a slightly downhill Par 3 usually about 125-135. 9 is only like 250 back uphill, with left being out of play.

Smartest way to play the course is to play target golf. I can see high scores if you try to drive the short par 4s. I usually play it smart. I typically shoot in the low to mid 90s on good courses and typically shoot 40-45 here. So definitely easier than most courses (if played smartly). It's definitely worth the $15 green fee. I've made it a part of my routine.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great greens

This course was super green and well maintained. Only complaint was the pace of play and u have to pay for a push cart. Should come with green fee.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked

Fabulous course

went with whole fam. no one really knew how to play, but we had an awesome time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Oldest Golf Course in Continuous Use West of the Mississippi

What's not to love about Hancock! Historic course, you're treading over some hallowed ground. Harvey Penick played here. Challenging layout. Fairways and greens nicely manicured. The crew puts loads of love into this little gem. Karen was gracious as could be. You can tell how loved this course is! Great way to work on your short game. Had a blast.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Courses over scheduled

Everyone one had to wait on at least four groups in front of them. Had a 12:20 tee off and had to wait at least 30 min to start and every hole after that at least 20 - 30 min wait. It was way over scheduled.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This Course has History

I found out this is one of the oldest courses in Texas. The friendly staff helped me find my lost water bottle. Very challenging course, but we had fun and still hit some great shots. I can’t wait to play again, now that we know the layout.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun 9 hole course in the middle of town

I really like this little course. The par 4's are a bit shorter than other courses, but the layout makes up for it. It is definitely a classic style course. The greens were in good shape and the fairways were good enough.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Anonymous
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

This was a great course for a novice golfer. There were just enough challenges, but not so hard that you get frustrated. The greens were a little sandy, but I had the best short game I've ever had so I can't complain. The view of downtown was also very cool. I'll definitely be back.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked

Can't beat it for the price

The staff in the Pro Shop was extremely friendly. Short par 4s, chance to shoot low. Two par 3s and a par 5.
Greens are sub par, but for the price you pay who really cares. Its a very enjoyable 9 hole course and I will be back to play very soon.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
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