Cobbs Creek Golf Course lands major backer in $150M rehab

West Philly's Cobbs Creek Golf Course is making progress on its massive restoration project, which just picked up another major backer.

Why it matters: Reviving the historic golf course into a first-rate public pitch and building new facilities would put Philly back on the map of the golf world — with the bonus of potentially hosting PGA Tour events.

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State of play: Nonprofit Cobbs Creek Foundation expects a new two-story driving range, a 9-hole, par-3 short course and a Tiger Woods-sponsored learning lab to open in 2025.

• Plus: PGA Major winner Jordan Spieth's family foundation recently gifted a $250,000 grant for a junior putting green, also opening next year.

Catch up quick: Over the past year, the project's costs ballooned to $150 million, up from $65 million , and the timeline for opening the full course got pushed into 2026.

• Enrique Hervada, chief operating officer for the foundation, tells Axios the scope of the project has grown and construction costs have risen dramatically over the past year.

The Cobbs Creek Foundation needs to fundraise about $70 million more to bankroll the entire project.

The TGR Learning Lab will offer free education programming to about 4,500 kids annually. Rendering: Courtesy of TGR Foundation

Context: The century-old golf club, spanning 340 acres, was a haven for golfers of color previously excluded from other clubs for their race.

• The club closed in 2020 due to funding and safety concerns.
• The city made a deal with the Cobbs Creek Foundation to restore the property in 2022.

Zoom in: The driving range facility will boast more than 60 bays over two levels, a restaurant, pro shop, area for community events and museum.

• The TGR Learning Lab , being developed with Wood's charity, will span 30,000 square feet and offer free year-round educational programming for some 4,500 children.

What they're saying: Hervada says the public golf course — of which there are few in the area — combined with an educational component for students will become a staple in the city.

• "It's going to be a significant landmark in Philadelphia," Hervada says.

What's next: A $20 million restoration of Cobbs Creek will begin later this summer, creating 25 acres of wetlands around the waterway that runs through the site to prevent flooding.

• Construction of the 18-hole golf course will begin in the fall, with an open date set for 2026.
• A full-length, 9-hole course is also planned to open in 2027.

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