Driving to The Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, I cut across Historic Druid Hills, Candler Park, Decatur, Agnes Scott, Kirkwood, Lake Claire and Edgewood - all bustling, all extraordinary neighborhoods to call home; and all impacted by the vision of 92-year-old developer and philanthropist, Tom Cousins.

Cousins retreated from public life years ago and now lives in Florida. He still chats with his Atlanta friends and former colleagues, sharing opinions on his beloved property. 

Larry Gellerstedt III and his late father, developer Lawrence Gellerstadt Jr. (pictured here), are two of the most influentia

Larry Gellerstedt III and his late father, developer Lawrence Gellerstadt Jr. (pictured here), are two of the most influential men in the history of modern Atlanta.

“Tom is a man of deep faith; not evangelical, but a servant leader," said Larry Gellerstedt III, East Lake Golf Club Chair and former Executive Chairman of the Board of Cousins Properties. “It's part of his DNA. You would see him at North Avenue Presbyterian, along with my father, physically helping all those in need.”

Gellerstedt III and his late father, developer Lawrence Gellerstadt Jr., are two of the most influential men in the history of modern Atlanta. Remarkable, impactful lives. 

“In 1986, I asked my dad: 'If he knew him [Tom Cousins] why have we never built with him? Can I meet him? And go see him?'

"My father told me he hadn’t asked.”

Two years later, the Cousins/Gellerstedt (Beers Construction) connection built the magnificent twin buildings of 191 Peachtree Tower.

Other landmark construction would soon follow. Their professional association rapidly changing the physical appearance, the face of Atlanta.

“In 1993, [I got] a call from Tom," Gellerstedt III told me. "Meet me in front of the East Lake Golf Clubhouse. I’m thinking about buying this property to transform the neighborhoods and create world class golf.”

“I had always known, never underestimate Tom Cousins.”

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The East Lake area was in crisis then. The violence so pervasive, mail delivery stopped. Postal workers were frightened to enter the zip code. (Mayor Andrew Young got involved to ensure safety for mail to resume.)

Around that time, I reported a television story from East Lake Golf Club. playing a few holes with a couple of well-known members.

There wasn’t much grass to be found in fairways or on the greens. You had to close your eyes to imagine the golf glory of another time, the Bobby Jones era.

East Lake Golf and the surrounding neighborhoods were in dire condition, labeled publicly as “Little Vietnam.” Residents slept in bathtubs to avoid flying bullets.

Change was coming. Burgeoning hope for better lives.

“In 1993, [I got] a call from Tom," Larry Gellerstedt III told Jeff Hullinger. "Meet me in front of the East Lake Golf Clubho

“In 1993, [I got] a call from Tom," Larry Gellerstedt III told Jeff Hullinger. "Meet me in front of the East Lake Golf Clubhouse. I’m thinking about buying this property to transform the neighborhoods and create world class golf. I had always known, never

Big money projects are always loaded with promises - some empty - but this would be different.  A renaissance of East Atlanta; the fabled golf course serving as an anchor toward lifting all. 

“East Lake became an extraordinary transformation," continued Gellerstedt III. "Golf with a purpose: to lift the community.

"The East Lake Foundation, the schools [Drew Charter School], the First Tee Program, Charlie Yates [public] Golf, health services and affordable housing - all of this defined by the Atlanta Way.

"Civic participation is expected, and that includes those who are golf club members,” added the East Lake Golf Club chairman. 

East Lake Golf has buoyed east Atlanta. There is still plenty to accomplish. but this template has been shared and replicated across the country. Restaurants, shopping, housing, schools and flourishing neighborhoods. 

In 2024, when the name Cousins is bantered around Atlanta metro, it's Falcons' quarterback Kirk Cousins (no relation) who is mentioned.

“Atlanta is a new city, names are forgotten, but the impact here is not,” Gellerstedt III maintained.

The Atlanta native lead Cousins Properties from 2009 to 2019, joining the company in 2005. Gellerstedt III took the firm from an equity market cap of $665 million to over $3.4 billion. 

“I accepted East Lake Golf Club [chairmanship] responsibility on the basis of carrying the mission forward from the inspiration of Tom Cousins.”

Gellerstedt III is also the Chair of Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation, and on the board for the powerful Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. He is involved with other local boards too. 

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He told me his favorite moment during the Tour Championship involved golf superstar Rory McIIroy, a former Tour Championship winner. 

“A group of students from Drew Charter School were walking past Rory when one of the young people shouted, 'Hey welcome to MY neighborhood!' ”

The club is coming off a historic $30 million renovation. It’s been a long, extraordinary journey over the last 30-plus years. 

The vision, power, and ability of Tom Cousins - now curated by Larry Gellerstedt III - is making a difference for so many Atlantans. 

The evidence can be seen beyond the gates of the lush fairways of East Lake Golf. It’s all around. 

“East Lake became an extraordinary transformation," said Larry Gellerstedt III. "Golf with a purpose: to lift the community."

“East Lake became an extraordinary transformation," said Larry Gellerstedt III. "Golf with a purpose: to lift the community."