Can You Play East Lake on E6 Connect? Here's How

East Lake is the course that decides the FedEx Cup champion every year. It is a Donald Ross design from 1904 that has been updated by Rees Jones, and it plays nothing like the modern bomb-and-gouge courses that dominate the Tour schedule.

East Lake rewards accuracy, discipline, and a short game that can handle Ross’s elevated greens. On E6 Connect, the officially licensed version gives you the real Tour Championship layout.

What Tier You Need

East Lake is in the Expanded tier ($600/year). That is the full library tier that unlocks all of E6’s officially licensed courses. If you are on the Core tier ($300/year), you get a rotating library of 12 courses and may not have East Lake available in your current rotation.

The one-time premium purchase for individual courses does not apply here. East Lake is a library course, not a premium add-on. If you buy the Expanded tier, you get it. If you are on Core, check the current rotation.

For a full breakdown of every tier, read the Best Courses on E6 Connect guide.

Why East Lake Works on E6

East Lake is a parkland course with tree-lined fairways, small greens, and subtle elevation changes. The course does not rely on water hazards or dramatic cliffside holes. It relies on angles, green contours, and precision.

E6’s strength is officially licensed, professionally mapped courses. The LIDAR data for East Lake captures the Ross green complexes accurately. The greens at East Lake are the defense. They are elevated, firm, and sloped from back to front, with run-off areas that collect anything less than a perfect approach.

The par-3 6th hole is the best example. It plays downhill to a green that tilts hard from back to front. The green is protected by bunkers on both sides. On E6, the shot requires a precise distance and a soft landing. Anything short runs off the front. Anything long leaves a downhill putt that is faster than it looks.

How to Access It

Open E6 Connect. Navigate to the course library. Search for “East Lake.” Select the course and load it. If you are on the Expanded tier, it is in your library immediately.

The Holes That Shine

The 9th Hole — The Risk-Reward Par 5: A 595-yard par 5 that is reachable in two for long hitters if they can carry the water that guards the green. On E6, the carry distance is accurate. You need 280 yards of carry to clear the hazard. The green is narrow and protected by bunkers both sides.

The 11th Hole — The Short Par 4: A 310-yard par 4 that requires a precise tee shot to avoid the trees and the bunkers. The green is small and elevated. The approach is a wedge from a downhill lie. On E6, the green reads as difficult as the real version. Anything off line is in a bunker or off the green.

The 15th Hole — The Signature Par 3: A 190-yard par 3 over water to a green protected by bunkers on the right. The water is in play on the tee shot and the miss is long and left. On E6, this hole plays as the defining shot of the round.

The 18th Hole — The Finisher: A 235-yard par 3 that plays uphill to a green set against the clubhouse. It is the only par-3 finishing hole on the PGA Tour. On E6, the uphill shot is deceptive. The green reads one club shorter than the yardage because of the elevation.

How It Compares to Other Versions

GSPro has community builds of East Lake that are solid. The LIDAR quality varies by builder. E6’s version is professionally licensed with higher resolution data and more consistent quality.

If you are a Tour Championship fan or you want to practice for a real round at East Lake, the E6 version is the one to use. If you just want to play the course casually, the GSPro community build is adequate.

The Value

East Lake is included in the Expanded tier. You are not paying extra for it. If you already have Expanded, load it up and see how much harder the course is than it looks on TV. The answer is substantially harder.

For the full list of courses worth playing on E6, read the Best Courses on E6 Connect guide. For the complete breakdown of the software, check the E6 Connect Software Review.