PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A public golf course in West Philadelphia, closed for the last few years, is on the verge of reopening thanks to big-time help from some big-time pro golfers.
The Cobbs Creek Golf Course first opened in 1916, and has a storied history, according to Enrique Hervada, chief operating officer of the Cobbs Creek Foundation, which operates the course.
“The golf course thrived for many decades [and] had lots of events there,” Hervada said. “They actually had PGA Tour events there in the 1950s called the Daily News Open that Arnold Palmer and Billy Casper and some of the top players of the day participated in.”
In addition to hosting pro tour events, the course was known for welcoming golfers of all races and genders.
“It was also the home of Charlie Sifford, who grew up playing golf at Cobbs Creek,” said Hervada, “and Charlie Sifford was the first Black player to play on the PGA Tour. He was the first one to win on the PGA Tour. He’s in the World Golf Hall of Fame.”
Over time, the course fell into disrepair, and closed its doors in 2019, three years after a fire destroyed the clubhouse.
According to Hervada, the course is under construction, with an eye towards reopening in time for golf season next spring with a learning lab operated by Tiger Woods’ TGR Foundation.
“What they do is they take kids in there [with] after school, weekends and summer programming, and give them career readiness and opportunities to excel in things outside of regular school.”
Other pro golfers are following Woods’ lead, according to the COO, as they work towards making the reopening a reality.
“Jordan Spieth made a donation [for] $250,000 and we’re building a putting green for the Tiger Woods Lab for kids to practice putting on,” said Hervada.
The Cobbs Creek Foundation is also working to open a nine-hole course by next spring, as well as a building containing a driving range, restaurant, community center, pro shop and museum, according to Hervada. The foundation plans to have the full 18-hole championship-quality course reopened in 2026.