The PGA Tour Championship East Lake will take place next weekend at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, marking the culmination of the FedExCup Playoffs. The tournament brings together the top 30 players competing for the title and a share of the $40 million prize fund on a course steeped in history and recently renovated to honor its legacy.
Origins and Evolution of East Lake Golf Club
Founded in 1904, East Lake Golf Club holds the distinction of being Atlanta’s oldest golf course. The club’s initial design was created by Tom Bendelow and opened on July 4, 1908, with a young Bobby Jones present at the inauguration. In 1913, the club enlisted Donald Ross to redesign the course, leading to a routing plan that uniquely ended each nine holes at the clubhouse, a layout that persists today.
East Lake’s ‘Course No. 2,’ also crafted by Ross, debuted on May 31, 1930, coinciding with Bobby Jones’s victory at the British Amateur Championship. The club’s historical significance deepened in 1963 when it hosted the 15th Ryder Cup, witnessing Team USA’s overwhelming 29-3 win against Great Britain—the last Ryder Cup featuring a United States playing captain, a topic revisited now as Keegan Bradley contemplates his role in the event.
Despite its early prominence, East Lake and its surrounding neighborhood experienced decline through the late 1960s, leading to the sale of Course No. 2 and the deterioration of the area. Members united to preserve the original clubhouse and course amid challenging times. The turning point came in 1993 when philanthropist and businessman Tom Cousins purchased East Lake, initiating efforts to restore both the golf club and the neighborhood, which have since brought renewed vitality to the region. Cousins’ recent passing adds poignant meaning to the 2025 tournament, which is expected to honor his legacy.
East Lake first hosted the Tour Championship in 1998, with Hal Sutton securing the win. The course was officially named the permanent home of the Tour Championship in 2005 and has hosted the event annually since then.
Modern Enhancements to a Historic Course
In anticipation of the 2024 PGA Tour Championship, East Lake Golf Club underwent significant renovations aimed at preserving Donald Ross’s original course footprint while updating key features such as bunkers, trees, greens, and fairways. These changes were designed to celebrate the club’s heritage while visually connecting players and spectators to Atlanta’s city skyline.
Chad Parker, East Lake’s president and general manager, described the experience of playing the renovated course:
You’re putting on the fourth green, you turn around, and you see the Bank of America [Plaza] top—I mean, it’s clear where you are. You know you’re in Atlanta. Somehow it feels bigger, but more intimate, if that’s possible.
—Chad Parker, President and General Manager
This blend of honoring past achievements and inspiring future generations encapsulates the spirit behind the course’s thoughtful redesign.
Anticipation Builds for the 2025 Tour Championship
The 2025 PGA Tour Championship is scheduled to run from Wednesday, August 20th through Sunday, August 24th. Defending FedExCup champion Scottie Scheffler aims to become the first player to win consecutive FedExCup titles since its inception in 2007. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy will seek to capture his fourth FedExCup victory at the event.
Fans are poised to witness intense competition among the world’s elite golfers as they contend for the prestigious FedExCup Champion title on this landmark course. The tournament will also serve as a tribute to Tom Cousins, whose dedication restored East Lake Golf Club to its revered status, ensuring the event remains a celebration of both cutting-edge golf and storied tradition.