This Week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club

This week, all eyes in the golf community are on Aronimink Golf Club, which is set to host the PGA Championship. It’s a big deal, certainly a challenging endeavor. Major tournaments aren’t easy, and everyone knows that.

As one golfer’s legacy shifts through Philadelphia on a typical Sunday afternoon, the future of many other golfers and, well, the sport itself is influenced by the same local communities daily. Cobbs Creek is making a comeback, aiming to regain its status as one of the top public golf courses in the country.

Preserving Cobbs Creek’s Rich History

Cobbs Creek Golf Course was considered pretty much abandoned by the City of Philadelphia until fairly recently. Back in 2021, the Cobbs Creek Foundation stepped in, supporting restoration efforts and agreeing to a 70-year lease to signify their commitment to the course’s revival.

Enrique Hervada, a notable historian on Cobb’s Creek, notes that Hugh Wilson was involved in designing the course way back in 1912. There’s a significant history here.

Wilson was brought on board after he completed work at Merion East, which is situated upstream of the creek around which Cobbs Creek was constructed. He was part of golf heritage, alongside prominent figures like George Crump, William Flynn, George Thomas, and A.W. Tillinghast. It’s almost hard to fathom that this property was once deemed an abandoned asset.

Sadly, due to time and a fire in 2016 which destroyed the clubhouse, Cobbs Creek virtually faded away. The Foundation really pushed to save what they could. Initially, estimates for restoration costs ranged from $30 million to $40 million, but through the dedication of those involved, that number ballooned to an impressive $180 million. Simply put, Cobbs Creek is truly on the right track.

Every time, well, at Cobbs Creek, they focus on doing things the right way. Historically, it has been one of the most inclusive golf courses in the nation, allowing women to play long before they had the right to vote.

Charlie Sifford, recognized as a pioneer in golf, being the first Black player to earn a PGA Tour card and win on the tour, found his footing at Cobbs Creek, even calling it his home course. The restoration is set to honor his legacy in several ways. For instance, the restaurant at the new driving range is named after Sifford’s nickname from the tour, “Little Horse,” and there will be a museum dedicated to him as well.

While Cobbs Creek was undergoing its revival, the TGR Foundation considered establishing a second TGR Learning Lab in the northeast area where the golf course is located. It’s quite the development.

And, just to connect the dots, Tiger Woods was coached by Charlie Sifford. When you think about it, Tiger’s son’s name—well, it all ties back to Cobbs Creek, which is now home to a $35 million STEM learning center that opened in April 2025. This initiative is already benefiting thousands of local kids and is set to impact generations.

Once everything is completed, Cobbs Creek will be really impressive. The Old Course, an 18-hole layout, has been revived by Jim Wagner and Gil Hanse and might even host PGA Tour events in the future. There will also be a 9-hole course and a 9-hole par 3. Alongside this, you’ll find the Smilow Woodlands TGR Learning Lab, a golf driving range, and an on-site restaurant. When the dust finally settles, Cobbs Creek will be unlike any other.

One unique aspect is what they’re calling Cobbs Creek Way.