Defending FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland expressed shock at the restoration of East Lake Golf Club, where he won the Tour Championship a year ago with a 9-under 61 score. Xander Schauffele, who has never shot over par in 28 Tour Championship rounds, explained how the course has changed with the restoration project completed in less than a year. The renovation was led by Andrew Green, who used previously unknown aerial photographs from 1949 to guide the changes to the course, respecting the past and legacy of East Lake.
The original course at East Lake was laid out by Tom Bendelow, with Donald Ross building a new course on the same spot in 1915. The course has undergone various renovations, with the most recent one by Rees Jones in 2005, when East Lake became the permanent home of the Tour Championship. Green and his team focused on enhancing the greens, fairways, and bunkers, with a particular emphasis on water features and the overall topography of the course.
The greens at East Lake are now more undulating, with varied sizes, shapes, and contouring to create a distinct style and challenge for players. The fairways have been converted to Meyer Zoysia, providing a firmer playing surface, while the greens are now TifEagle Bermuda for improved speed and consistency. The restoration also saw the stream between the sixth and seventh holes reclaimed, and the 14th hole converted from a par 4 to a par 5 with tee expansion and fairway recontouring.
Despite the challenges of completing the restoration in time for the Tour Championship, Green and his team have created a new golf course that presents a fresh challenge for the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup. With a record bonus pool of $100 million up for grabs, the players will need to navigate the redesigned East Lake to secure the championship. The changes to the course have received positive feedback from players, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler describing it as basically a new golf course.
The restoration of East Lake Golf Club has been a collaborative effort between Green, his team, and the club, with a focus on respecting the history of the course while enhancing its playability and challenge. The course is now ready to host the Tour Championship and provide a test for the top players in the FedEx Cup. As the competition gets underway, all eyes will be on East Lake and how the players navigate the redesigned layout in pursuit of the championship title and the lucrative bonus pool.
