East Lake Course
Atlanta, GA, USA
East Lake is where Bobby Jones learned the game, his formative years spent navigating its fairways, imbuing the club with a uniquely American golfing pedigree. Situated in the historic East Lake neighborhood of Atlanta, the course plays as a classic parkland layout, though the routing betrays a toughness, owing to its relatively narrow corridors and deceptively undulating greens. It is not overly long, but its challenges are subtle, rewarding strategic play over sheer power. Originally designed by Tom Bendelow, East Lake owes much of its character to a later redesign by Donald Ross, whose touch refined the course into the strategic test it remains. More recently, Rees Jones has overseen renovations, ensuring the course remains relevant to the modern game while respecting its historic integrity. As the permanent home of the TOUR Championship, East Lake annually hosts the culmination of the PGA TOUR season, showcasing the world's top players navigating its demanding layout. The course's prominent place on the professional circuit cements its position as a respected, if not universally lauded, venue in American golf. It is a place where championships are decided and legends cemented, a fitting legacy for the club that nurtured one of the game's greatest champions.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
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Best in USA
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Best in GA
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Golfers say East Lake delivers a memorable experience both on and off the course, with many praising the clubhouse's Bobby Jones museum and Georgia golf history as a standout attraction. Most find the routing fun and well-designed, with greens that run fast and true, though some note the conditioning is still settling in after recent renovations and that the removal of many trees has left the greens as the primary defense. Reviewers appreciate that good shots are rewarded and poor ones penalized, though opinions split on the overall atmosphere—some describe it as museum-quality and near-perfect in its proportions, while others detect a corporate vibe that lacks the mystique of a classic private club.
8.9
98 players
Like playing in a museum.
the clubhouse is as fun of an experience as any in the game. a bobby jones and ga golf history museum. course is a ton of fun. greens were a little more woke then expected but with most of the trees gone. really the only defense it has
Is this course special if it doesn’t host the Tour Championship? Ya can’t unsee it. Lots of good holes but lacks the mystique of a classic club. Extremely corporate vibe. Forgot my golf shoes so played in Salomons. Still cooked.
Played back in 2023 before the renovation and it was great.
Greens are still new and very fast
It’s so perfect in its proportions, scale, and design that it’s almost unrecognizable as a golf course. As you’re playing, any memories of your beloved muni become but faint whispers floating through the pines. You remember that divots, ball marks, hard un-raked bunkers, and untamed rough are a thing, but you can’t seem to remember what they look like. It’s as if God himself is redesigning golf right in front of you as you go. On a more practical note, good shots are always rewarded and wayward shots are always punished. Always. On a metaphysical, philosophical note, it’s the kind of course that makes one believe in a kind of cosmic justice.
Public courses closest to East Lake.
Most visitors arrive via Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest hub and a mere twenty-minute drive northeast to East Lake's storied gates in the city's historic Kirkwood neighborhood. The route traces a swift arc through Atlanta's urban fabric, transitioning from interstate corridors to tree-lined residential streets where the weight of the club's legacy - home to Bobby Jones, host to the TOUR Championship - grows palpable with each turn. For those traveling by private aircraft, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport lies just minutes north, offering discreet access to one of American golf's most hallowed and meticulously restored grounds. The final approach reveals the elegant clubhouse rising above Donald Ross's masterwork, a quiet sanctuary within the pulse of the modern South.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
East Lake has a Course Vaults score of 8.9 out of 10 based on 52 explicit golfer ratings.
East Lake was designed by Tom Bendelow.
East Lake is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at East Lake is 72.
East Lake plays 6,920 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at East Lake is 138.
