Cobbs Creek Golf Course, established in 1916, is a 340-acre public, city-owned golf course in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
. It was one of the first courses in the area to welcome golfers of all races, ethnicities, and genders.
The course consists of the 'Olde Course' and the adjoining Karakung Course which was added in 1929.
History
Cobbs Creek Golf Course was designed by Hugh Wilson with contributions from A. W. Tillinghast, George C. Thomas Jr., William Flynn, George Crump, and William Fownes. Wilson also designed nearby
Merion Golf Club's east course.
Charlie Sifford
Charles Luther Sifford (June 2, 1922 – February 3, 2015) was an American professional golfer who was the first African American to play on the PGA Tour. He won the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969. He also won the ...
, the first Black golfer to play in a PGA tour event, learned to play at the course.
The course hosted the United States Public Links championship (1928), the United Golfers Association Championship for Black golfers, and two PGA tour events (1950s).
In the 1950s and 60s, part of the course was used by the military as an anti-aircraft battery.
The course is situated between Philadelphia's
Overbrook and
Overbrook Park
Overbrook Park is a neighborhood in the West Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in the 1940s on the site of a former farm known as Supio's farm, offering new housing for returning GIs and their famil ...
neighborhoods.
Restoration
The course's clubhouse was destroyed by a fire in 2016. In 2019, the city's lease with the operating contractor expired and the course closed. The Cobbs Creek Foundation was formed soon after and was granted a 70-year lease.
The foundation is facilitating a $100 million renovation of the course which will restore the 18-hole ‘Olde Course’ and revive its adjoining facility, Karakung Golf Course, into a nine-hole course.
Jim Wagner of
Gil Hanse
Gilbert Hanse (born August 12, 1963) is an American golf course architect. Hanse, along with his business partner Jim Wagner, was selected to design the Rio 2016 Olympic Golf Course, the first Olympic venue to host golf since 1904.
Education
A ...
and Hanse Golf Design is leading the design team.
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and holds numerous golf records.
*
*
* Woods is widely regarded as ...
, through the
TGR Foundation
TGR Foundation was established in 1996 by Tiger Woods and his father, Earl Woods, to create and support community-based programs that improve the health, education, and welfare of all children in America. Currently, the foundation has establish ...
, provided funding for an on-site TGR learning lab.
There was community push back and controversy surrounding the environmental impact of the restoration from several local organizations. Specifically, clear cutting trees without notice or approval, damaging habitats, reducing biodiversity, and contributing to soil erosion and flooding. The course was eventually granted an exemption from legal minimum anti-erosion standards.
Awards
The course was inducted into the
National Black Golf Hall of Fame The National Black Golf Hall of Fame was started by Harold Dunovant, the first African-American to graduate from the PGA of America's business school in 1964. He was unable to become a Class A PGA Member for six years because no one would sign his a ...
in 2021.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Cobbs Creek FoundationAerial view: May 30, 1928 via J. Victor Dallin Aerial Survey collection
Sports venues in Philadelphia
Golf clubs and courses in Pennsylvania
1916 establishments in Pennsylvania
Sports venues completed in 1916
1916 in golf