Spending a Weekend in Austin, Texas with Hypegolf
A nature-prioritized guide curated by the Hypegolf team.
The appeal of Austin, Texas comes into focus sitting in the back garden of a Tex-Mex joint, margarita in hand. It may get hot at times, but the outdoor lifestyle is embedded into city that prides itself on “keeping things weird.” This extends from the outdoor restaurants, breweries and food truck lots to the parks, creeks, and trails that provide opportunities for outdoor recreation year round. Golf falls into this category too. Austin has six city-operated public courses, hosts the PGA TOUR‘s WGC Match Play at Austin Country Club and the Tito’s Shorties Classic at Butler Pitch & Putt.
Don’t forget the music scene either. In addition to iconic music venues like Broken Spoke and ACL Live, the Austin City Limits and South by Southwest festivals are both a huge draw. With its remixed vision of southern lifestyle, it’s no surprise that Austin attracts over 450,000 visitors every year.
Hypegolf rode into town in early November to see what the city had to offer and check out the second annual Tito’s Shorties Classic, a made for TV exhibition tournament hosted at a local pitch and putt course with four PGA TOUR professionals duking it out for the Puppies & Golf charity organization. As it turned out, there’s a lot to see in two days if you put your mind to it.
Check in at the Carpenter Hotel
What: Located on the southern side of the Colorado River and a short walk from the Butler Pitch & Putt, the Carpenter is a unique hotel with a long and rich history. Built in 1939, it was originally a boarding house for workers in the burgeoning Austin industrial sector. The building went through several transformations over the years before being converted into a boutique hotel in 2017. The space was fully renovated to combine mid-century modern and industrial elements, and now features numerous amenities like a restaurant, bar, pool, patios and terraces.
Where: 400 Josephine St, Austin, TX 78704
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Spend an afternoon at Barton Springs
What: As mentioned at the top, one of the greatest benefits to living in Austin is having access to recreation year round, and Barton Springs is a happening scene every weekend. It’s a large natural spring watering hole located right next to the sprawling Zilker Metropolitan Park, with one side free to the public and other requiring a small entry fee of $9 USD. There’s no better way to cool off after a few hours of golf out in the Texas sun.
Where: 2201 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746
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Get your skate on at No-Comply
What: In recent years, golf has seen new brands like Malbon Golf come in and disrupt the industry by bringing influences from other spheres such as skateboarding. No-Comply Skate Shop manages to pack a ton of inventory, plus a coffee counter, within its walls in spite of its modest size. This is a classic indie skater’s dream with dedicated sections for decks, headwear, footwear and apparel. Carharrt WIP, adidas, Nike, Vans, Dime MTL, and Sci-Fi Fantasy are just some of the brands you can shop at the store.
Where: 812 W 12th St, Austin, TX 78701
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Tee it up at the Butler Pitch & Putt
What: The Butler Pitch & Putt is a true hidden gem and a success story that exemplifies what people can do when they work together. The course originally opened in 1950 as a passion project of two Austin locals. Fast forward to today, and it remains a priceless green oasis in the middle of an urban sprawl, owned and operated by local Austin business owners. There are no tee times. All play is first come, first served, and the longest hole on the scorecard is 101 yards. The golf shop rents clubs and balls for one dollar, and comes stocked with local brews and Masters-style sandwiches. It’s such an easy going and down to earth golf experience that truly anybody can enjoy, and it was the perfect host site for Tito’s second annual Shorties Classic.
Where: 201 Lee Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78704
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Cop the latest drops at Sneaker Politics
What: Owned by Derek Curry, Sneaker Politics began as a mom and pop shop in 2006 and is now recognized as a hotbed for sneaker culture in the south with locations in Louisiana and Texas. They specialize in selling the most sought-after and exclusive sneakers from top brands like Nike, adidas, Jordan, New Balance, Asics and more. The Austin storefront is located along 2nd Street close to the river and will stock golf items now and then from brands like Quiet Golf and adidas, given that the founder also happens to be an avid golfer.
Where: 221 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
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Refuel after your round at El Alma
What: If you’re staying at the Carpenter Hotel, this restaurant is less than a five minute walk away and has some of the best Mexican food in the city. The restaurant has been selected by The Austin Chronicle as a First Plates winner and features a Mexico City inspired menu designed by Chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas. The space is also worth noting; a multi-tiered structure with a white adobe exterior and a rooftop terrace with great views over the surrounding neighborhood. Give the enchiladas with mole verde a try.
Where: 1025 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
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Visit with the crew at Random Golf Club
What: RGC is the brainchild of filmmaker and creative Erik Anders Lang; a golf lifestyle brand and media company that has ambitions of creating chapters throughout the country, each functioning as its own community. The headquarters are located east of downtown in an industrial area where breweries and axe throwing bars have been setting up shop. RGC’s store has yet to open to the public. But when it does, it promises to be a must visit spot for golfers with an indoor simulator and an outdoor garden complete with mini golf and food trucks.
Where: 757 Shady Ln, Austin, TX 78702
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