East Lake Golf Club
Established in 1904, East Lake Golf Club is Atlanta’s oldest golf course and the historic home of legendary golfer Bobby Jones. Since 2005, East Lake has been the permanent home of the TOUR Championship, the final event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedEx Cup. The club’s recent restoration, led by architect Andrew Green, honors its historic design while ensuring a world-class playing experience.
Beyond its storied past, East Lake Golf Club is committed to philanthropy, supporting transformative community initiatives. Through its “Golf with a Purpose” initiative, East Lake Golf Club partners with organizations such as the East Lake Foundation, Drew Charter School, Charlie Yates Golf Course, First Tee – Metro Atlanta, and Purpose Built Communities to expand educational opportunities, increase access to affordable housing, and promote economic mobility for East Lake residents and students. East Lake Golf Club’s newly launched East Lake Junior Golf Academy provides increased access to golf, cultivates talent, builds confidence, and opens pathways for young golfers to achieve success both on and off the golf course.
East Lake Foundation
Founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, the East Lake Foundation collaborates with public and private organizations to offer Atlanta’s East Lake residents opportunities to build a better future through education for children and adults, affordable housing, job readiness and connections with the broader community.
Drew Charter School
Charles R. Drew Charter School, the city of Atlanta’s first public charter school, offers a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) curriculum and numerous enrichment programs that emphasize academic achievement and character development for more than 1,700 students, Pre-K through 12th grade.
Charlie Yates Golf Course
In 1998, East Lake’s original No. 2 Course was transformed into the Charlie Yates Golf Course. Located just four miles from downtown Atlanta, The Charlie Yates Golf Course at East Lake is a 9 hole, mid-length public course with Bermuda fairways and Bentgrass greens. Designed by famed golf course architect Rees Jones, The Yates Course offers a mix of challenging Par 3’s and 4’s with remarkable views of the downtown Atlanta skyline.
First Tee Metro Atlanta
The First Tee ® of Metro Atlanta is a year-round golf instruction and mentoring program that uses the principles of golf including, discipline, hard work, sportsmanship and integrity to enhance academic achievement and life skills of youth in Atlanta.
Purpose Built Communities
Purpose Built Communities was established in 2009 to replicate the East Lake model in other urban areas of concentrated poverty around the nation. As word of East Lake’s success spread, other philanthropic civic leaders expressed interest. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett and former hedge fund manager Julian Robertson joined Mr. Cousins in backing the organization.
Purpose Built Communities helps struggling communities implement a proven model to end poverty, substandard education, unemployment, health disparities and other challenges threatening urban America. By partnering with a local lead organization that serves as the community quarterback, they are able to help create vibrant new communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
