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  • Writer's pictureDavid Welch

East Lake Golf Club – TOUR Championship



Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey


Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00

East Lake Golf Club 2575 Alston Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30317

Year Opened: 1904

 

It All Comes Down to This

East Lake Golf Club was established at its current location in 1904. One of its early members was Atlanta lawyer Robert Jones and his family, which included his young son, Bobby. At just six years old, Bobby won East Lake’s children’s tournament, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most successful golf careers in history.


Jones went on to win thirteen major tournaments, including the U.S. Amateur, which was considered one of the Grand Slam tournaments until the 1950s. In addition to his skill on the course, Bobby Jones was a talented golf course architect, most notably designing Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament.


Since 2005, historic East Lake Golf Club has hosted the PGA Tour’s season-ending event, the TOUR Championship. The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for the first of three playoff events, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The field is then narrowed to 50 for the BMW Championship, with the top 30 advancing to the TOUR Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.


The tournament starts with the leader in FedEx points at 10 under par and a two-stroke lead over number two in points, who starts at 8 under – this continues to the golfers in positions 26-30, who begin the tournament at even par.


 

Food & Beverage   5

Food and drink options are abundant at nearly every turn at East Lake during the TOUR Championship, with more than fifteen general food and beverage vendors available. Patrons can enjoy local favorites such as BBQ from the highly regarded Fox Bros. BBQ, sandwiches from Oakhurst Market, and pub fare from Universal Joint and Poco Loco.


One of Atlanta’s most popular boutique burger spots, Farm Burger, also offers a variety of choices. While the classic burger is on the menu, the focus here is on sliders, which come with toppings like caramelized onions, fried jalapeños, or a turkey burger.


For a taste of New England, patrons can visit Cousins Maine Lobster, where two styles of lobster rolls are available: the Maine style served cold with mayo, or the Connecticut style served warm with drawn butter. Other offerings include lobster grilled cheese, lobster quesadillas, and the Maine whoopie pie—a unique treat of two chocolate, cake-like biscuits with a sweet cream filling.


Beverage choices are equally abundant at East Lake. It would be nearly sacrilegious if anything other than Coca-Cola products were served at an event this size in Atlanta, but along with Coca-Cola being prominently featured, a variety of sports drinks, energy drinks, and iced tea are also available.


For those seeking something a bit stronger, there are numerous locations on both the front and back nine offering mixed drinks, seltzers, and wine, as well as craft and domestic beers. Guests are also allowed to bring reusable water bottles, which can be refilled at several water stations throughout the course.


There are so many various food options here, ranging from meals to quick bites, to snacks and sweet treats, that visitors would be hard-pressed to not find something to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.


 

Atmosphere   4

Much has been made of the LIV Tour’s impact on the PGA Tour, and its effects are evident in the field of the TOUR Championship, where some of golf’s biggest names are absent – names like Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm are noticeably missing.


It’s somewhat disappointing not to see all the top stars competing for the $25 million prize. Nevertheless, despite the absence of some fan favorites, the field remains strong, featuring previous FedEx Cup champions like Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele.


The 2024 TOUR Championship saw nearly a completely new course – following the 2023 tournament, East Lake Golf Club underwent a year-long renovation to restore the course closer to its 1949 Donald Ross design. The result is a nearly new layout that emphasizes ball control, precision off the tee, and accuracy on approach shots. In the first tournament post-renovation, the greens were firm, making it challenging to hold approach shots. Expanded chipping areas were also added, funneling shots that couldn’t hold the green.


The TOUR Championship ensures a first-class experience for patrons. Public-access tee and greenside lounges provide comfortable spaces to get out of the sun and grab a bite or beverage while watching the action, while higher-end clubs and lounges provide more of a social setting as part of the tournament experience. Regardless of the setup, public, credentialed, and on-course gathering areas are outfitted with televisions showing live tournament coverage, as well as college football during Saturday’s round.


Digital leaderboards and stat boards keep patrons updated with the leader, and also provide advanced analytics on hole performance; it is nice to be able to get a bit more than Greens in Regulation, driving distance, or driving yardage.


When it comes to watching golf in person, there is no single right way to enjoy the tournament. Some fans prefer to camp out at a par-3, hoping to witness a hole-in-one, while others choose to follow their favorite golfer throughout the course. For a well-rounded experience, arriving early at the public bleachers on the 1st tee to watch each pairing start, then walking the front nine backward allows spectators to see each group twice. As the final pairings tee off, the early groups will be coming through the par-3 9th hole.


On the back nine, holes 10 through 13 are clustered together, providing a great vantage point to catch plenty of action without having to cover much ground. Regardless of the approach, getting to the 18th green early, especially on Sunday, is a must to catch the tournament’s conclusion. Space here is limited, and fans often set up tailgating chairs on the grassy hill behind the green to secure their spot and follow the action before the final moments.


 

Neighborhood   4

East Lake Golf Club is the focal point of the East Lake neighborhood, located just under six miles east of downtown Atlanta. Once one of the city’s most troubled areas, plagued by crime and dilapidated buildings, the neighborhood has seen significant revitalization thanks to investments by the East Lake Foundation. New schools and a community center have contributed to the area’s transformation.


Just a mile north of East Lake is the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, which neighbors Atlanta. Oakhurst offers a variety of restaurants, many with patio seating, as well as shops and Scepter Brewing Arts. Dining options range from Mojo’s Pizza and Mezcalito Cantina to Steinbeck’s Pub, Ford’s BBQ, and Paolino’s Italian, among others.


However, given the proximity to downtown Atlanta, if the surrounding neighborhood does not have enough to interest you, there are nearly endless dining, shopping, and entertainment options a short trip away from the course.

 

Fans   4

With the field whittled to just 30 golfers for the PGA Tour’s finale, galleries can swell remarkably, especially around the leading pairings on Sunday afternoon. It was at East Lake where one of golf’s most iconic recent moments occurred, during the 2018 TOUR Championship, following Tiger Woods’ tee shot on the 18th hole a massive crowd surged onto the fairway behind him. It was a genuine, organic display of fan excitement on the course.



Despite the high stakes of the season-ending purse, patrons generally maintain a respectful golf atmosphere. Aside from a few isolated instances, there is not a large issue with nonsensical utterances that’s sole purpose is for someone to say, “You think they heard that on TV?”.

 

Access   4

By their nature, golf clubs typically lack expansive parking lots, so parking is provided off-site with patrons shuttled to the venue. Two primary locations for this service are the Georgia World Congress Center, near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Center Parc Stadium in the Summerhill neighborhood, home to the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia State Panthers football, respectively.


Rideshare drop-off and pickup are located along 2nd Avenue, providing direct access to the 13th hole and ticket windows for walk-up patrons. Another possible option might be using Atlanta’s MARTA rail system, whose East Lake station is just a five-minute ride away. Additionally, the MARTA bus routes have stops along the perimeter of the venue.


Golf courses can be difficult to navigate, but the PGA accommodates patrons with mobility challenges by offering ADA shuttle locations throughout the course.

 

Return on Investment   3

Tickets for Wednesday’s practice rounds start at $30, providing a great opportunity to experience the course in a more relaxed atmosphere with much smaller crowds. However, grounds passes increase significantly starting Thursday, the first day of competition – entry begins at $75 on Thursday, rises to $85 for Friday’s round, then goes up to $97 on Saturday, and is even higher for Sunday’s final round. The best bet is to purchase tickets as early as possible, as they typically go on sale in the winter months at discounted rates.


There are also several premium ticket options for clubs and suites around the course, starting at a few hundred dollars. These areas provide a more comfortable viewing experience, with some packages including food and drink.


The PGA Tour recognizes the importance of engaging the next generation of golfers, offering free admission for children 15 and under with each paying adult. Additionally, complimentary passes and discounted tickets are available for active military personnel and veterans.


While ticket prices can be a bit pricy, it is important to keep in mind that the TOUR Championship is the culminating event of the PGA Tour season, with $25 million at stake. Though not one of golf’s major tournaments, it holds considerable significance as it in essence crowns the season-long champion.



Concession prices are generally in line with what would be found at most major sporting events – while some items might raise an eyebrow, substantial food options are typically priced as expected.

 

Extras   5

The Tee Up Atlanta event kicks off the week on Monday night, with a concert to raise funds for local charities. In previous years the kickoff event has featured a red carpet at the College Football Hall of Fame, while for 2024 the event was a concert headlined by Atlanta native, 2 Chainz.


Golf offers patrons unparalleled access to players that is rarely seen in other professional sports. The walkway from the parking lot to the clubhouse is often lined with fans seeking autographs, those seeking a pre-round selfie, or simply looking to wish golfers well on their rounds. Special accommodations are made for golf’s youngest fans with designated autograph areas, ensuring they are not pinched out by more aggressive adults who might also be looking to secure signatures.


The SO COOL Pavilion provides an inviting space for patrons to grab a bite, relax at picnic tables, or cool down with misters. The area features a massive TV screen showing football games on Saturdays and live tournament coverage on other days. Several vendors are also present, along with a large PGA shop stocked with souvenirs and tournament apparel. The First Tee Center also provides virtual and other interactive golf experiences.


The area neighboring the 16th green, which seems to be the course’s nursery, has been transformed into the USGA’s Junior Pitch, Chip, and Putt compilation site, as well as a general patron putting area sponsored by PGA Superstore, where visitors can try out various putters.


While the view from the 5th tee box has a picturesque look at Atlanta's horizon, it is the walk down the 7th fairway that has amazing views of the Atlanta skyline, and the buildings that seemingly are growing out of the city’s thick tree canopy.

 

Final Thoughts

Despite not being one of golf’s four major tournaments, the TOUR Championship comes with a great deal of excitement and prestige as the season’s final event. To be part of the tournament that crowns the PGA season champion comes with a lot of excitement, and can produce some of golf’s most memorable moments.



While the tournament itself would be entertaining on its own merits, tournament organizers have done a fantastic job combining the tournament with an outstanding fan experience. If catching professional golf is on the annual sporting “To Do List”, the TOUR Championship definitely should be in consideration.


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