A DREAM 74 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Butler Pitch & Putt began as a dream in 1948 by Austin locals Douglas and Winston Kinser. They set out to create a usable green space and a place for the people of Austin to enjoy the game of golf. One hole at a time, the two built the course by hand, bringing their vision to life piece by piece.
The course officially opened on June 1, 1950 as one of Austin’s earliest public golf spaces. Douglas and Winston ran the golf course together until Douglas’ untimely passing in 1951.
Winston continued to care for and operate the course for another 52 years, dedicating his life to the game, the space, and the Austin community until his passing just months after its 50th anniversary.
In a 1926 journal entry, Winston reflects on the feeling of winning a golf tournament in San Antonio—a moment so impactful to 13-year-old Winston that he vowed to build a life in the game of golf.
That dream never left him. And it ultimately became reality through what is now Butler Pitch & Putt—a downtown Austin pitch and putt built on a simple belief: golf should be fun, accessible, and for everyone.
THE TEAM TODAY
Today, Butler Pitch & Putt is operated by Pecan Grove Golf Partners (PGGP), a group of people that love parks, hospitality & golf, and whose handicaps range from 4 to 24. Together, they are committed to preserving and enhancing the historic character of this beloved place.
We are local residents and business owners. We love this town. Several of us have multigenerational ties, have lived in Austin our whole lives and grew up playing golf at the Pitch & Putt. Our goal is to make it fun, make it current, make it multi-functional, make sure more people use it, like it, and enjoy their time in one of our greatest public assets.
PGGP includes New Waterloo Hospitality, Jason Black, Criquet Shirts, Yeti, Design Build Adventure, and Little Ola's Biscuits.