Come August, for the first time in roughly 70 years, Butler Pitch and Putt, the locally historic short-iron, nine-hole golf course near the corner of South Lamar Boulevard and Barton Springs Road, will be run by operators not named Kinser.

Winston Kinser designed the city-owned course in 1949, and the course’s operation has stayed within the Kinser family up to the present day. Over the years and against the backdrop of a rapidly changing city, the course’s relaxed and welcoming atmosphere has become a part of local lore, a relic representing “old Austin,” in the words of one City Council member.

At the course, there are no tee times, no limits on group size, there is a bring-your-own-booze policy, and it has kept its greens fees affordable, ranging from $9 to $11 throughout the week—all aspects dedicated patrons feared would disappear if City Council awarded the course’s operation contract to Pecan Grove Golf Partners.

But with the Kinsers barred from the bidding process due to a single, omitted signature in their proposal—a type of error that staff said leads to automatic disqualification and occurred six times in 2018—City Council was forced to choose Pecan Grove, an outfit run by locals Jason Black and Patrick Jeffers.

However, in a move city staff said was uncommon in city contract practice, City Council weighed in heavily on how the contract should be written and worked to ensure that the new operators would preserve the culture built by the Kinsers at the course.

“Butler Pitch and Putt is relatively low key,” District 9 Council Member Kathie Tovo said during the June 20 meeting. “It’s a vibrant place, and it’s not commercial, and it feels like old Austin. As a council member, it’s important to me to see that remain.”

With the support of other council members, District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen, whose district envelops the course, pushed staff to include language in the contract with Pecan Grove Golf Partners that would preserve the affordability, accessibility and general atmosphere of the course.

Council directed the purchasing office to ensure the new operators would continue Butler Pitch and Putt’s existing rules on group size, tee times and public access during hours of operation regardless of whether a person purchased a round of golf. Council also directed staff to generally continue restrictions on live music and private events.

“The Kinsers’ investment has gone a long way; if we’re going to lose the Kinsers’ heart and soul, then it’s incumbent on us as a city that we don’t reject what the Kinsers created at the Butler Pitch and Putt,” District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool said. “If we’re going to give the reigns to an unknown entity, we don’t want to see major changes at the site.”

Bryce Bencivengo, a city public information officer, said it is uncommon for City Council to weigh in so heavily on the details of a city contract and acknowledged operation of the iconic course called for special circumstance.

Multiple attempts to reach Jeffers and Black prior to publication were unsuccessful. Bencivengo said city staff would not be coming back to City Council before finalizing the contract, which is expected to begin in August.