FIRST -- Pay-for-Play Golf Tournament, Hancock Park, Austin TX - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

The Austin golf club was chartered here at what is now Hancock Park in 1899, and by 1900 duffers were roaming the grounds shooting birdies, making business deals, wearing ludicrous clothes, and hitting a little ball around with sticks.

In 1906, the Austin golf club hosted the nation's 1st pay to play golf tournament, and the game has not been the same since.

A state historic marker erected outside of the old clubhouse reads as follows:

"HANCOCK RECREATION CENTER

The Austin Country Club (ACC) Clubhouse, later named Hancock Recreation Center, was constructed in 1934. Spearheaded by Lewis Hancock, Jr. and other members, the golf course was constructed in 1899; members incorporated the Austin Golf Club in 1900. Hancock, Austin’s Mayor from 1895-1897, wanted to bring golf to Austin, and organized a group of members to finance this endeavor. In 1906, the Austin Golf Club’s participation in Texas’ first pay-for-play golf tournament established Austin as a premier golf city.

The ACC golf course was originally a nine-hole course, which has seen minimal changes since its original construction. In 1913, the size of the course was doubled, with nine holes added on a large plot of land to the northeast of the course. The current ACC Clubhouse was built by prominent architect Charles H. Page, Jr. utilizing building materials salvaged from the demolition of the University of Texas Old Main Building. The clubhouse was influenced by Colonial Revival style, with rhythmic arched windows and material juxtaposition of stone and wood. ACC sold the course to the City of Austin in 1946.

ACC continued to use this building until 1951 when ACC moved to its new location, and the building became one of the city’s first recreation centers. The clubhouse was altered in the 1960s, adding the brick portion of the building which provided additional activity rooms and storage. The Community Center has five activity rooms, a ballroom, sun room, pro shop and office spaces. The original portion of the building is built of limestone and brick, while the newer addition has white painted brick. The course and clubhouse maintain a historically fashioned layout not seen in courses built in the past several decades.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2014"

FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event Date of FIRST: 01/01/1906 More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]

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