[3] East Lake was the home course of golfer Bobby Jones and much of its clubhouse serves as a tribute to his accomplishments.

[4] The Atlanta Athletic Club (AAC) was formed in 1898 and due to its popularity it gained 700 members in only four years.

In 1904 the AAC bought property at East Lake to build a country club which included a golf course.

Also in 1907, the first significant tournament was hosted at East Lake, the Southern Amateur, won by Nelson Whitney.

Following the fire, famed architect Philip Shutze, who is known for constructing the famous Swan House in Buckhead, was hired by the club to build East Lake's present day two-story Tudor style clubhouse.

Other notable East Lake players around the same time were amateurs Watts Gunn, Perry Adair, Charlie Yates and Alexa Stirling Fraser many of whom were assisted by East Lake's golf professional Stewart Maiden.

In 1963, East Lake hosted the 15th biennial Ryder Cup where Arnold Palmer served as the playing captain of the winning US Team.

East Lake began a downward slope when the surrounding neighborhood deteriorated in the 1960s and became victim to suburban flight.

The original course and clubhouse were saved by a group of 25 members, led by Atlanta businessman Paul Grigsby, who purchased them and created East Lake Country Club in 1968.

[citation needed] This all changed in 1993 when a local charitable foundation headed by Tom Cousins purchased East Lake with the intent to restore it as a tribute to Bobby Jones and the club's other great amateur golfers.

The clubhouse was significantly expanded in 2008 with a 20,000 square foot addition designed to match the existing 1926 structure.

[11] Charlie Yates was an East Lake golfer who won the British Amateur at Royal Troon Golf Club in 1938.

In partnership with the Golf Channel the East Lake Cup invites the top men's and women's teams from the previous season to compete in a match play championship each November.