{"id":436118,"date":"2025-07-30T21:06:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T21:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/?p=436118"},"modified":"2025-07-30T21:07:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T21:07:05","slug":"golf-mourns-the-loss-of-tom-cousins-93-the-man-behind-east-lakes-revival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/golf-mourns-the-loss-of-tom-cousins-93-the-man-behind-east-lakes-revival\/","title":{"rendered":"Golf Mourns the Loss of Tom Cousins, 93, the Man Behind East Lake\u2019s Revival"},"content":{"rendered":"

The golf world is mourning the passing of Tom Cousins<\/a>, 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\u2019s skyline and a key force in reviving the historic East Lake Golf Club<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tom Cousins’ Remarkable Impact<\/h1>\n

Cousins\u2019 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 \u201cLittle Vietnam.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

He created the East Lake Foundation, a nonprofit that used the golf course\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Tom Cousins didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s skyline with buildings like the Bank of America Plaza, 191 Peachtree, and the Omni Complex, now part of CNN Center.<\/p>\n

Monahan Praises \u201cVisionary\u201d Cousins<\/h2>\n

The PGA TOUR<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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Commissioner of the PGA Tour Jay Monahan speaks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan<\/a> praised Cousins\u2019 impact, and revealed that he would be honored at this year’s tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d said Monahan. \u201cMr. 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\u2019s tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u2014 PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n