History

In 1904, Atlanta Athletic Club purchased land from AAC club member Mr. Henry Atkinson to create AAC East Lake Country Club. George W. Adair was a real estate developer who was instrumental in the creation of AAC East Lake Country Club. He was known as the “Father of Atlanta Golf,” as well as the father of golfer Perry Adair.

Here, AAC opened its first golf course and clubhouse in 1908, known as East Lake Country Club, beginning the Club’s transition from an urban athletic organization to a country club.

Notable Names
During this same year, Bobby Jones began competing in golf tournaments under the guidance of AAC golf professional Stewart Maiden, who also mentored Alexa Stirling.

This location also welcomed Charles Yates, Dot Kirby, Tommy Barnes Sr., and Charlie Harrison as members and golf champions.

George Sargent became the new Head Golf Professional in 1932. He was most notable for winning the 1909 U.S. Open and later serving as the third President of the PGA of America. His son, Harold, took his place in 1947.



Rebuild… and Rebuild
While the Club’s baseball, basketball, and tennis programs flourished and golf quickly became a central attraction, AAC also endured significant setbacks. In 1914, a fire destroyed the original East Lake clubhouse, disrupting Club operations for more than a year. On May 8, 1915, Atlanta Athletic Club opened a new clubhouse at East Lake, restoring stability to the property.

Tragedy struck again in 1925, when a second fire destroyed the East Lake clubhouse, along with many priceless club artifacts, including the original Havemeyer Trophy won by Bobby Jones. A replica is now displayed in the current Atlanta Athletic Club clubhouse.

In August 1926, a third East Lake clubhouse was completed, and a second course was added in 1930. In 1958, East Lake added a swimming pool and expanded the clubhouse and tennis courts. Despite the economic hardships of the Great Depression and other challenges, Atlanta Athletic Club remained at East Lake until 1969.

This historic clubhouse still stands today and became East Lake Golf Club. The original Atlanta Athletic Club insignia remains above the entrance as a lasting reminder of the Club’s presence at East Lake.

A National Stage
In 1950, the U.S. Women’s Amateur came to East Lake Country Club. Beverly Hanson defeated Mae Murray, 6 and 4, in the 36-hole championship match.

The Club then hosted the Ryder Cup in 1963. Team USA was victorious over Great Britain, captained by Arnold Palmer. This marked the first Ryder Cup to include fourball matches and the first scheduled to be played over three days.


Changing with the Times
In 1965, the second course was sold to secure financing for property in what later became Johns Creek. In 1968, following a Club-wide vote, stakeholders elected to sell the East Lake property.

Although East Lake Country Club and Atlanta Athletic Club now operate as separate entities, they remain deeply connected through shared history and athletic legacy. In 2023, East Lake hosted a celebration commemorating Atlanta Athletic Club’s 125th Anniversary. That same year, AAC hosted the East Lake Cup, a collegiate competition featuring top teams from the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships, while East Lake underwent course renovations. The event proved especially meaningful, as two Club members—David and Maxwell Ford—were part of the University of North Carolina men’s team that won the championship.

In 1924, Atlanta Athletic Club purchased Lyric Theatre, located at the corner of Carnegie Way and Cone Street in downtown Atlanta. The structure was demolished, and a 10-story building opened on June 15, 1926, housing athletic facilities, exercise rooms, and 45 guest rooms. The purchase and renovation cost $1.25 million. With the East Lake location focusing on golf amenities, the City Club focused on social events and other athletic offerings.

While AAC golf greats such as Bobby Jones and Alexa Stirling reached their peak in 1930 at the East Lake location, another prominent member and athlete was just getting started at the City Club. Bitsy Grant, known as “the Mighty Atom,” dominated the U.S. Clay Court Championship and Southern Tennis Singles for several years. In 1936, he ranked third in the national amateur rankings. In 1930, the Club hosted a dinner at their downtown location for Grant and 150 guests in celebration of his first national clay court victory.


A Social Hub of Atlanta
By 1945, AAC reached a record-high membership of 3,300 members across the City Club and East Lake locations. To accommodate this growth, the downtown location dedicated four floors to events and social gatherings, establishing itself as the city’s premier social club of the era.

Aquatics were a highlight at this location. In 1951, water shows became a major attraction, featuring a special dinner for the low cost of $1.25. The AAC Mermaids won first place in the Amateur Athletic Union synchronized swimming competition in 1956, a national event. Swim and dive programs remain staple sports for the Club’s junior athletes during the summer months.

As the Club began to experience financial losses at its downtown location, members voted to sell the property in 1969. The building sold for $1 million in 1971 and became the first building in Atlanta to be imploded in 1973.

AAC began its move northward with the opening of Lake Lanier Yacht Club on July 4, 1958, nine years before selling its City Club and two years before purchasing additional property in north Fulton County, now known as Johns Creek.

Unsurpassed Accommodations
The Club observed a shift in where members resided. Much of AAC membership lived in what developers referred to as the “Golden Crescent,” which included Marietta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, and Duluth.

The Club Times reported on October 15, 1957:

Upon opening, the Yacht Club quickly became known for a robust calendar of annual events, including the Fourth of July Barbecue, Pass-in-Review, the Labor Day Country Dinner and Square Dance, the Cast-Off Party, the Mystery Island Party, and the Shipwreck Party.

By 1966, membership at this location grew to 200. However, by the 1970s, finances had become strained to the point that members offered to pay for necessary repairs when the Club could not.

While this remained a unique and deeply beloved social retreat for AAC members, the property became increasingly difficult to manage during the 1970s. AAC had already sold its downtown location due to a monthly operating loss of $25,000. River Bend was operating as a full-service club and continued to expand, while the lake property sat more than 60 miles from home base.