The golf world is mourning the passing of Tom Cousins, a real estate developer and philanthropist who died on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the age of 93. Cousins was a major figure in Atlanta’s skyline and a key force in reviving the historic East Lake Golf Club.
Tom Cousins’ Remarkable Impact
Cousins’ impact on East Lake went far beyond golf. In the 1990s, the neighborhood around the course was struggling. Crime was high, poverty was deep, and the area had earned the nickname “Little Vietnam.” But Cousins believed things could change. He bought the golf club in 1995 with a big vision: to use the course’s success to lift the entire community.
He created the East Lake Foundation, a nonprofit that used the golf course’s profits to fund community programs. These included new mixed-income housing, a charter school, and support services for families. In just a few years, crime dropped significantly, and the neighborhood began to thrive. Today, East Lake is seen as a national model for community redevelopment.
Tom Cousins didn’t stop at East Lake. In 2009, he joined forces with investor Warren Buffett and hedge fund manager Julian Robertson to create Purpose Built Communities, which now supports similar efforts in cities across the U.S.
Before his work in community development, Cousins made his mark in business. He founded Cousins Properties in the late 1950s and went on to shape Atlanta’s skyline with buildings like the Bank of America Plaza, 191 Peachtree, and the Omni Complex, now part of CNN Center.
Monahan Praises “Visionary” Cousins
The PGA TOUR made East Lake the permanent home of the TOUR Championship in 2005. The course has welcomed top golfers annually, supporting education and revitalization efforts in the East Lake community.
PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan praised Cousins’ impact, and revealed that he would be honored at this year’s tournament.
“It’s difficult for me to find words that adequately pay tribute to a man who, throughout his 93 years, sought to make a difference and improve the lives of those around him,” said Monahan. “Mr. Cousins was a visionary and a man who had the unique ability to imagine what something could become and then make it happen. Our partnership with Tom and the East Lake Foundation will have a lasting impact, and we look forward to honoring and celebrating him at this year’s tournament.”
“It’s difficult for me to find words that adequately pay tribute to a man who throughout his 93 years sought to make a difference and improve the lives of those around him.” – PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 30, 2025
Cousins was born on December 7, 1931, in Atlanta. He graduated from the University of Georgia. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he began his real estate career with his father and never looked back. His wife, Ann, survives him, along with their children, Grady and Lillian, and several grandchildren. His daughter Caroline died in 1999.
Min Photo Credit: © Adam Hagy-Imagn Images
