From the Desk of Paul Kornfeind, MCM
The Long Shot
A few weeks ago, an Austin Club member suggested I watch a movie called The Long Shot.
Knowing my appreciation for golf, history, and all things Austin, I gladly accepted the recommendation. I settled in one evening expecting a good golf story. What I did not expect was to spend the next two hours thinking about The Austin Club, the Historic Millett Opera House, and my grandson Sebastian.
The film tells the story of Austin’s beloved Lions Municipal Golf Course, affectionately known as “Muny” to generations of Austinites. At its heart, however, the movie is not really about golf. It is about a community coming together to preserve a place that matters. It is about protecting a piece of Austin’s identity in the face of tremendous change.
As I watched, I found myself reflecting on the places that become woven into the fabric of a city. Places where friendships are formed, traditions are passed from one generation to the next, and memories are created that last a lifetime. Places that become much more than buildings, golf courses, or gathering spaces. Places that become part of a community’s story.
For nearly 150 years, the Historic Millett Opera House has been one of those places.
Long before Austin became one of the fastest-growing cities in America, the Millett was already bringing people together. Governors, legislators, business leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, families, and friends have all passed through its doors. Some came to celebrate, some came to debate, and some simply came to enjoy the fellowship of others.
What they all left behind was a story.
One of the themes that resonated with me throughout The Long Shot was the idea that preservation is not about resisting change. Cities evolve. Communities grow. New generations arrive with fresh ideas, different perspectives, and new expectations. Preservation is about ensuring that as we move forward, we do not lose sight of the places, traditions, and values that helped shape who we are.
That thought has been on my mind quite a bit lately.
Over the past several months, I have had the privilege of spending time with members representing multiple generations of Austin families. Some have been connected to The Austin Club for decades. Others are just beginning their journey with us. What has been encouraging to see is that regardless of age, profession, or background, they share a common belief that this Club matters. Not simply because of its history or its beautiful surroundings, but because of the people, the relationships, the experiences, and the sense of belonging that have defined The Austin Club for generations.
As many of you know, one of my favorite people in the world is my grandson, Sebastian. Like most grandfathers, I probably talk about him more than I should. As I watched the movie, however, I found myself wondering what Austin will look like when Sebastian is my age.
Will places like Muny still be there? Will he have the opportunity to walk through the Millett Opera House and appreciate the generations of history that came before him? Will he understand why people cared enough to preserve these treasures for future generations? I certainly hope so.
Because stewardship is not really about buildings. It is not about golf courses, organizations, or even historic landmarks. Stewardship is about people. It is about preserving experiences, relationships, traditions, and a sense of community that is worth passing on. Every generation inherits something special. The true measure of stewardship is whether we have the wisdom, vision, and commitment to leave it better than we found it. That is true for a golf course, it is true for a historic opera house, and it is certainly true for The Austin Club.
The Long Shot turned out to be far more than a golf movie. It was a powerful reminder that some things are worth preserving—not because they belong to us, but because we are merely their caretakers for a brief moment in time, and that is a responsibility worth embracing.
— Paul Kornfeind, MCM, CCE, CCM
General Manager, The Austin Club