Course of the Week: East Lake GC reopens following extensive renovation prior to FedEx Cup
East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga., held a grand reopening following an extensive course restoration in July. Designed by Andrew Green, the project came just before the club hosted the FedEx Cup on Aug. 29 for the first time.
Photo: Evan Schiller Photography
Restoration and renewal
According to the club, Green’s dedication to preserving the club’s rich heritage while incorporating modern enhancements has resulted in a course that honors the past and inspires future generations of golfers.
“There’s a tremendous obligation to make sure that all the great things that have been done for this community are protected and enhanced by this project,” Green said.
Green used a previously unknown aerial photograph of East Lake from 1949 as his restoration inspiration. This photograph showed the original Donald Ross design in surprising detail and provided guidance on green shapes, bunker shapes and the overall topography of the original design.
“I couldn’t be more proud of how the membership of East Lake Golf Club has supported the restoration efforts, and I’m thrilled with the results thanks to Andrew Green, his team and the entire East Lake Golf Club staff who has made it possible,” said Larry Gellerstedt, chair of East Lake Golf Club and former executive chairman of the board of Cousins Properties. “This restoration is a celebration of the sport, but I think it also speaks to how fundamental both community enrichment and top-tier golf are to East Lake’s identity.”
Photo: Evan Schiller Photography
The most notable changes to the course are reflected in the topography, greens and bunkers. Fairways have been converted from Meyer Zoysia to Zorro Zoysia, which plays firmer and will lead to increased roll which allows for the topography to play a greater role in the strategy of each hole.
“We really wanted to try to get the player to feel like they’re playing more over the natural ground. And that meant that we shaped or reshaped fairways to be more natural,” said Green.
All greens have been converted from Mini-Verde Bermuda to TifEagle Bermuda, which will provide putting surfaces that have improved speed, consistency and overall playability. The size, shape, contouring and surrounding runoff areas of each green complex have been enhanced to create a distinct style and variability to the course.
Photo: Evan Schiller Photography
Fairway bunkers were layered at various distances from the teeing areas. Many of the bunker shapes were inspired by the original Donald Ross design from 1913, with the most notable being the trench bunker on the 17th hole.
Water was also a particular focus of the restoration. Green’s team reclaimed a stream between the sixth and seventh holes, removing invasive species and restoring the native habitat. All ponds and East Lake itself were also stabilized to maintain water quality and ecological balance. The restoration demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship by integrating sustainable practices across various aspects of course management and landscaping, from protecting existing tree canopies to installing resilient, eco-friendly grasses.
Minimal changes were made to the yardage of the course. It was lengthened by less than 100 yards for the Tour Championship, which played as a par 71 at 7,455 yards. A variety of tees were created for member play, which will accommodate players of all skill levels.
Several modifications were also made to the 14th hole, including tee expansion, fairway recontouring and bunker positioning. With these changes, the hole was played as a par 5 for the Tour Championship. Previously, the Tour Championship played the 14th hole as a par 4, and the overall par was 70 for the event.
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