This week’s PGA Championship spotlights not only the world’s best golfers but showcases one of America’s finest tests of golf — Aronimink Golf Club.
The greater Philadelphia area is home to a deep depth of superior designed courses but one main word identifies the elite tier — they are all private.
One of the great challenges for golf is that many do not have an avenue to enter the game. And even those entering the game often find road blocks that can deter all but the most determined.
The costs to play are not insignificant for many. Getting the proper instruction is no less difficult. And having the wherewithal to secure quality equipment is a constant challenge.
Cobbs Creek is a public golf facility owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia. The 18-hole layout opened in 1916 and was designed by Hugh Wilson — the man responsible for the 36-holes at famed Merion just a short distance away.
From its inception Cobbs Creek provided a clear welcome to all people — irrespective of race or gender. However, over the years, turf quality, core infrastructure and the general nature of the course’s architecture simply deteriorated.
A comprehensive improvement plan was developed and at the center of that effort was the creation of the Cobbs Creek Foundation. The organization is at the forefront in updating the long neglected 350-acre parcel that touches Delaware and Montgomery counties.
The history of the site included Hall of Famer Charlie Sifford who honed his skills on his historic journey in breaking golf’s color barrier in 1961 as the first Black member of the PGA of America and among its first Black winners.
Sifford’s personal journey served as a model for the golf career development of Tiger Woods. The 15-time major winner became an active participant through his foundation in supporting the efforts in rejuvenating Cobbs Creek but on a grander scale and vision.
Tiger’s son Charlie is named in honor of Sifford.
The support from Woods led to the opening of his foundation’s second TGR Learning Lab there in 2025. The educational facility – with golf at its center — provides underserved youth a meaningful connection in their personal development.
The learning lab also has a junior practice putting green, built with a $250,000 donation from the foundation of three-time major winner Jordan Spieth. Also on property is a 68-bay driving range and short course designed by Woods’ company. All elements tie together with an emphasis to come when the championship course opens in 2027. There is also the possibility that the Olde Course will host a PGA Tour event at some future point.
The renovation comes with a $180 million cost. There have been times when progress has slowed while awaiting permitting and other related hurdles.
Golf architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, the tandem that led the updating of Aronimink, are involved with the new “Olde Course.” Drainage issues have been corrected and the plan includes restoring three miles of creek and creating more than 20 acres of pristine wetlands.
The 30,000 square foot education facility for grades 1-12 was the first building to open on the property, in April 2025. It is the second TGR lab, after the first in Anaheim, California, opened in 2006.
Profits from the golf operations will fund the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) after-school and weekend programs.
The Olde Course is planned for a 2027 opening.
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Erin Cook
Senior Vice President
Cobbs Creek Foundation
The Cook Story
Erin Cleary Cook is Senior Vice President of the Cobbs Creek Foundation, where she leads strategic partnerships, development initiatives, and stakeholder engagement efforts supporting the restoration of historic Cobbs Creek Golf Campus.
With deep experience in relationship management, philanthropy, and community engagement, Erin plays a key role in advancing the Foundation’s mission to create an inclusive, world-class public golf and educational campus that expands opportunity for youth and the Philadelphia community.
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What was the genesis for the Cobbs Creek Foundation?
The Cobbs Creek Foundation was created by leaders who are passionate about Philadelphia and golf, and uniting the two with the purpose of preservation, access and opportunity.
The Cobbs Creek Golf Course is one of the oldest municipal golf courses in the country. It had fallen into disrepair and was damaged by consistent flooding.
A group of civic-minded Philadelphians wanted to preserve the important history that has happened here and do it with a purpose. This is how golfers can give back for all that this great game has given us.
What was the biggest challenge in getting things started?
In addition to restoring the golf course, the Cobbs Creek Foundation has taken on a $30 million environmental project by restoring three miles of Cobbs Creek and surrounding wetlands.
The purpose of this work is to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and restore natural habitats along the Creek, which serves as a border between Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. This required coordinated federal, state and local government support and partnership to proceed.
Once we made progress on the environmental restoration, we could begin the construction of the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab first to be of service to the community and then complete and open the Lincoln Financial Center, our first revenue generating campus amenity.
How was Tiger Woods brought into the process?
When Cobbs Creek Foundation began envisioning the golf course restoration, we knew that we wanted to integrate an educational mission that benefitted the residents of the neighborhood and the Greater Philadelphia area.
Cobbs Creek was once the home course for legend Charlie Sifford, mentor to Tiger Woods. When we approached him with the opportunity to add a Learning Lab to our campus, the decision was immediate and resounding – particularly as TGR Foundation wanted to add a second Learning Lab to their first location in Anaheim, CA. We are thrilled to partner with TGR Foundation and have already seen the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab impact thousands of young Philadelphians during its first year of operation.
What role will he play going forward?
We look forward to an ongoing partnership with the TGR Foundation through the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab at Cobbs Creek and our shared mission of creating opportunity for young Philadelphians and positioning them for success as they pursue higher education or workforce placement.
Gil Hanse and his partner Jim Wagner were selected to design the courses on property. What was the tipping point in hiring them?
Jim Wagner grew up locally in Delaware County and played his high school golf at Cobbs Creek.
Gil and Jim have been involved in the project and have donated their time to the golf course for over 15 years.
As local golf course architects and friends of the project, they care very deeply about making Cobbs Creek a world class golf course and contributing to the mission of the Cobbs Creek Foundation.
What kind of financial support has the Foundation received from private companies?
Approximately 20% of our fundraising has come from corporate partnerships and sponsors. The large majority of our funding has come from private individuals and family foundations, as well as state and city public funding.
One of the key phrases mentioned is transforming the 350 acres involved into a “campus of opportunities.” Outline what that means specifically.
The restoration of Cobbs Creek is a multi-faceted project that has deep community ties.
We are providing cost-effective access to golf for seasoned fans and beginners alike through the driving range and Q School Par 3 course that opened this year and are also creating a new community gathering and event space through the Little Horse Tavern.
Soon, a historic exhibit telling the story of golf legend Charlie Sifford and the more than 100-year history of Cobbs Creek will open in the Cobbs Creek Heritage Center at the Lincoln Financial Center.
Additionally, we have a massive environmental project going on concurrent with the campus restoration. We are restoring three miles of Cobbs Creek and building over 25 acres of new wetland and floodplain. Finally, the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab provides a safe place for young Philadelphians to come after school and further develop their interests and skills in STEM.
Golf remains off limits to many people because of socio-economic reasons. How will the Cobbs Creek Foundation attempt to bridge that gap?
The mission of the Cobbs Creek Foundation and the TGR Foundation is to create pathways and opportunities for everyone in golf and in education.
Educational and community programs are free at the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab and we have taken care to craft an affordable pricing model for the Q School Par 3 Course and driving range at Lincoln Financial Center with discounted rates for Philadelphia residents, in addition to menus at the Little Horse Tavern.
In moving matters forward – define what ultimate success will be at Cobbs Creek?
Success at Cobbs Creek is defined by kids finding their passions and taking advantage of opportunities presented through the collaboration between TGR Learning Lab and the Cobbs Creek Foundation in Philadelphia.
Completing the restoration of Cobbs Creek creates countless opportunities for young Philadelphians – both through the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab and direct access to the game of golf – for generations to come.
While becoming a venue for world class future professional golf events is part of our mission, our north star is that kids who take advantage of learning and opportunity at Cobbs Creek go on to live fulfilling and successful lives because of their experiences, the people they met and the lessons they learned at Cobbs Creek Golf & Education campus.
The biggest challenges going forward – short and long term – are what? And what strategic responses are being contemplated / implemented with both in mind?
The short-term goal is to invite as many guests as we can to experience for themselves the new Cobbs Creek, par-3 course, driving range, restaurant, pro shop and event space. Once on campus, you can begin to feel the enormous scale of this project.
In the longer term, our goal is to open the 18-hole Olde Course in 2027 and new 9-hole course in 2028. As we are still very much an active construction site, our capital campaign continues and we are not done yet. We need to raise the remaining needed dollars while hitting our construction targets. We have raised $135 million, out of the $180 million needed to complete this project.
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For more info on Cobbs Creek click HERE.
Images courtesy of the Cobbs Creek Foundation
