Back in 2005, East Lake Golf Club was designated the permanent home of the PGA Tour Championship. Each year, the cumulative event returns to Atlanta, Georgia for the final weekend of the FedExCup Playoffs. Next weekend, the top 30 players will compete on the historically rich course for the PGA Tour win and a share of the $40 million purse.
History of East Lake Golf Club
Established in 1904, East Lake Golf Club is the oldest golf course in Atlanta. Originally designed by Tom Bendelow, it held its grand opening on July 4th, 1908, an event young golfer Bobby Jones was in attendance for. By 1913, the club decided to redesign, and hired architect Donald Ross. Ross created a routing plan that ended each nine at the club house, a plan that still exists today.
In 1930, East Lake Golf Club’s Course ‘No. 2’, also designed by Ross, opened on May 31st. Purposefully, this coincided with the last day of the British Amateur Championship, during which Bobby Jones took home the victory.
In 1963, The 15th biennial Ryder Cup was held at East Lake. Here, Team USA beat Great Britain with a 29-3 victory. Notably, this event is the last time the United States had a playing captain, a relevant topic today as Keegan Bradley makes his decision, to play or not to play?
By the late 60’s, East Lake Golf Club and the surrounding area faced a decline. The club sold course No. 2 as the neighborhood fell into poverty. Eventually, members joined together, purchasing the original clubhouse and course. The once beautiful area deteriorated.
Things began to improve in 1993 when Tom Cousins purchased the course. The philanthropist and businessman set out to restore and revitalize not only the course, but the entire surrounding area. With the recent loss of Tom Cousins, the 2025 event is likely to pay tribute to the man who helped bring East Lake back to its renowned status.
In 1998, East Lake hosted The Tour Championship for the first time. Here, Hal Sutton took home the win. In 2005, East Lake Golf Club was designated the permanent home of the Tour Championship and has been held there every year since.
Recent Renovations
In 2024, East Lake Golf Club debuted a renovated course for the 2024 PGA Tour Championship. The upgrades retained Ross’s original footprint but made alterations to course features like bunkers, trees, greens, and fairways. The goal was to pay tribute to the historical importance of East Lake Golf Club while connecting greens to the city skyline surrounding the course. President and general manager Chad Parker explained the vision, stating;
“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.”
The story of @EastLakeGC will get another chapter.
Tour Championship
This year’s Tour Championship is set to begin Wednesday August 20th and continue through the 24th. Scottie Scheffler will compete in hopes of securing the first ever back-to-back FedExCup win since its 2007 creation. Rory McIlroy will be attendance, hoping to secure the fourth FedExCup title of his career. Fans can watch as professionals compete in hopes of achieving the illustrious title of FedExCup Champion.
Where Is the PGA Tour Championship Played in 2025?