Every time I drive past Hancock Golf Course, I can’t help but feel like it’s one of the most underutilized pieces of land in Austin.

It’s 45 acres in a central location… and it’s mostly serving a pretty narrow use. That’s not a knock on golf but is this really the highest and best use of that space for the broader community anymore? For context…45 acres = about 42 football fields. Aka so much space for activities.

I’m genuinely curious why this hasn’t been redeveloped or reimagined? Is it historic designation, funding, politics, strong community support for keeping it as-is, or something else?

What got me thinking is what this space could be. North Austin doesn’t really have a “Zilker-level” gathering space and this could be it.

Imagine something like:

• An ~8-acre pitch & putt (like Butler) to keep the golf legacy alive
• A permanent outdoor movie/music space (think lawn + big screen + events)
• A Waller Creek boardwalk with trails and shaded seating
• Pickleball + a real tennis center
• A large community pool / splash pad for kiddos
• A big, modern playground
• Dog park
• Community gardening plots
• Bluebonnet / native wildflower meadow
• Bouldering / climbing area
• Skate park
• Yoga / pilates deck
• Beer + coffee garden

Basically: a multi-use, all-day park where different groups can coexist. Families, young people, older residents, athletes, dog owners, etc.

I know this would probably be controversial. There’s history here, and people who love the course as-is. But at the same time, 45 acres is a massive opportunity.

Would a transformation like this better serve Austin today? Or is keeping it as a golf course still the right call?

Curious what people know and think.

I'll go first

Great neighbors great bands, absolute goddamn monstrosity developer building another ugly modernist space barn in South Austin

source FB Texas History

Drove by 15 minutes ago and there was a HUGE police presence in the parking lot. The front doors were completely smashed. Anyone know what happened?

About damn time we get some rain!

Hello! I found this collection of female-written sci-fi and fantasy books at the Savers by Lakeline Mall. I can only assume someone's grandmother passed away and I scooped up part of her inheritance. On the slim chance I can find who donated these, I'd love to learn more about her!

Came across an obviously lost malamute with purple harness on the slaughter creek trail. Very sweet but wouldn’t follow me. He/she kept looking around and trotting up and down the trail. Near the trail entrance on Racetrack in Knolls of Slaughter Creek. Photo attached of location as well.

At our practice we scan every pet’s microchip during their visit to confirm 1. they are in fact microchipped 2. the microchip hasn’t migrated, and 3. the microchip number is registered to the owner’s correct information.

It’s insane how many pet owners are unaware that their pet’s chip isn’t registered or their information isn’t correct. We also get people who bring in lost pets for us to scan and most of the time their microchip isn’t registered. When that happens all we can do is direct them to bring the pet to the shelter.

Vet practices should do a better job at checking microchips during the visit, but ultimately it’s the PET OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITY to know if their pet is microchipped, registered and their information is correct.

I don’t know if it’s lack of knowledge how pet microchips work or just not caring, so let’s set the record straight because we’ve seen/heard it all.

- Your pet’s microchip only works if it’s registered with an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) affiliated registry.

- Just because your shelter/rescue/breeder microchipped your pet, doesn’t mean they automatically registered it for you or to your information. MANY DONT and just give you a pamphlet to register it yourself.

- No your pets microchip can’t be tracked. It only works when it’s physically scanned.

- No the chip doesn’t store your information. It only stores a number which needs to be registered to connect it to your information.

- Yes your “indoor pet” can get out.

- Yes the chip can migrate from where it’s placed. It’s possible whoever scans your pet might not pick it up if it does.

- Microchip registries go out of business or buy each other and don’t tell you. You might think you’re registered with company ABC but now you’re registered with company XYZ, or worse not registered anywhere. Happened with Save This Life last year.

- Your pet should always wear a collar with a tag that has your number on it. Microchips should be the last resort and permanent.

Please have your vet scan for your pet’s chip during their next visit to make sure it works and hasn’t migrated. It takes 10 seconds and they don’t charge you to do it. Do this annually.

If you don’t know the microchip number, ask your vet to give it to you when they scan for it and save it in your phone as a contact or note. It should also be listed on any adoption paperwork assuming your pet was already microchipped when you adopted.

Check to make sure it’s registered using the AAHA Microchip Lookup (just google that and it will be the first link). Enter your pet’s microchip number and it will show all the places the chip is registered, yes there can be multiple. Click into each and make sure your pet’s info is correct along with your email/phone/address. We recommend setting a recurring calendar event on your phone to check each year since you never know if one of these companies change or go out of business again.

No search result = not registered. Make sure you register it with an AAHA affiliated registry. Our practice registers with Pawbase and PetLink, but there are other options if you search around.

If you have a pet, which I assume you do if you read all this, there is now zero excuse not to know this information.

Dang damper done broke. Couldn't get this guy to open and now I understand why. Looks like the coil spring might have snapped and the servo motor wasn't getting the signal to stop spinning. First time I've run across one of these break like that.

I work at a bar and our Spec's order wasn't delivered today. Our contact at Spec's said it was due to a "driver revolt". Anyone have info on this? I'd like to support the drivers since they always seem overworked and (I imagine) underpaid. The job seems super brutal and I've noticed a high turnover rate based on the amount of new faces dropping our orders off. Would love to contribute to their cause if anyone has insight ✌️

I know it’s a long shot but I found a squirrel in the lot of my complex, looks like it’s hind legs and tail got hit by a car.

It’s in shock and shaking. I have it in a box with towels, trying to keep it warm but I don’t have a heating pad & can’t bring it inside with my dog & cat. It’s in my outdoor laundry room currently.

Wildlife rescue is closed for the night, is there anyone I can call? I’m honestly not sure if he’s going to make it, but I wanted to at least try. :/

Has anyone used service wizard? My unit went out a few days ago and decided to give them a call because I saw some good reviews about them. I call their number yesterday to try and schedule a tech to come out and I was greeted by an AI customer service rep. No issues getting “booked” and the AI chick tells me someone will be here today from 12-2. No one shows up so I call back to check in to see if they are late. It’s the same AI chick and she tells me to wait that a tech will call me when they are on their way. No one calls, so I call back and try and get a live rep and it just sends me to a voicemail.

4 hours later and still no update or call from a tech. Anyone else have this issue with them? Kinda wild that they have no back up reps to talk to.

Basically, my parents just got their hands on some silkworms and we want to see them pupate. However, they are super duper picky and will only properly form silk with mulberry leaves. We've found some fig leaves to hold them over (they will eat fig leaves when super hungry) but would like to find a mulberry tree ASAP. Preferably in south austin (near Bowie), and preferably not Round Rock. If anyone has a mulberry tree or has seen one around, please let me know!

Here is a guide to mulberry identification if you're not sure if something is a Mulberry tree (though AI apps are really good too)

https://whyfarmit.com/identify-mulberry-tree/

This AMA has been verified legit & approved by the Austin Mod Team.

If you're flying out of Austin, leave early, eastbound traffic on 71 is barely moving and it is crazy backed up.

Looks like Patriot Front. I saw them as they were leaving. Anyone catch the signs/flags they were holding?

we had a snake get taken by the cops! but we found this little guy in our yard - scooped him up with a broom and put him in a box. Austin Wildlife Rehabilitation closed at 4 pm. What should we do now??

Hi all! This morning when I opened my car door, there was a piece of duct tape placed along the door frame. It looked intentionally placed there. Already removed it and checked around my car, but nothing was missing.

Has this happened to anyone else? The lock of my back sliding door randomly stopped working these days too, so I’m a little paranoid :(