Docuseries of this Historic Golf Course Features Interviews with Visionaries of the Cobbs Creek Foundation, Golfers, Historians and Philadelphia Community Leaders Who Tell the Story of Rebirth
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Three-Part Series “Cobbs Creek Rising: Headwaters to Horizons” Premieres on Thursday, June 5, Streaming Exclusively on GolfPass; Airing on GOLF Channel on Tuesday, June 17 at 7 p.m. ET
PHILADELPHIA, PA. (June 5, 2025) – Chronicling the $180 million golf renaissance that is turning a century-old public course into a destination for learning and recreation is the subject of Cobbs Creek Rising: Headwaters to Horizons, an epic docuseries streaming exclusively on the GolfPass website and mobile app, beginning Thursday, June 5. The three-part, original GolfPass production will tell the story of how a community of Philadelphia-area visionaries shouldered the task of bringing one of the country’s premier municipal golf courses back to its original glory while creating a public setting that will rival the top private clubs and transform the area into a dynamic education and recreation campus for the community.
“What happened here throughout history transforms this place to an icon at a different level for this city, this community, and the game,” said Cobbs Creek Project Development Manager Don Dissinger in the series’ first episode. “Cobbs Creek is the American dream in golf course form.”
Located not far from its celebrated Philadelphia neighbor, Merion Golf Club, Cobbs Creek Golf Course opened its 18 holes to the public in 1916. With architectural features that money couldn’t buy and a fast-growing reputation for welcoming both men and women from all backgrounds, it wasn’t long before Cobbs Creek was nationally recognized. The course also became known as the “great uniter,” a place where white and Black golfers could enjoy the game. Charlie Sifford, the first African American man to play and win on the PGA TOUR, called Cobbs Creek his home course.
Ultimately, time and neglect took their toll, forcing the course to shutter in 2020. While the golfing community mourned, rumors ran rampant for years about a possible renovation. Those rumors became reality when the Cobbs Creek Foundation was formed in 2018 and the founders made it their mission to turn this hidden gem into a polished pillar of the Philadelphia community once again.
“The Cobbs Creek story is far more than a golf course renovation, it’s a powerful testament to resilience, vision, and community commitment,” said Justin Tupper, GolfPass Senior Vice President of Content Strategy & Creative and Executive Producer of the Cobbs Creek docuseries. “We wanted to tell the story about rebuilding a legacy that once served as a vital hub for the neighborhood. The young people shaped by the Cobbs Creek program will leave a deeper impact than any putt ever made on its greens. It’s an inspiring reminder of how the game of golf can help uplift and transform a community for generations to come.”
“We are incredibly excited to see the past, present and the future of the Cobbs Creek golf course come to life in this series,” said Jeff Shanahan, president of the Cobbs Creek Foundation. “Cobbs Creek Rising: Headwaters to Horizons is a celebration of the passion, perseverance, and community spirit that have driven our mission from the beginning. We’re honored and proud to play a part in the story of Cobbs Creek golf course, and we look forward to sharing that story with the world.”
In Part 1 of Cobbs Creek Rising: Headwaters to Horizons, titled “Headwaters,” Leaders of the Cobbs Creek Foundation, who are executing the expansive project in the city of Philadelphia, share insight about the formation of the Cobbs Creek Foundation and how the project has evolved to become one of the largest revitalization projects in the city’s history and within the national municipal golf landscape. Viewers will hear from other key stakeholders in the project, golf course architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, and members of the Philadelphia community who will benefit from the project. All believe that, when completed, Cobbs Creek will be one of America’s most impressive and important golf venues, and a beacon of hope and prosperity in the community.
The docuseries will follow all aspects of the renovation, showcasing:
- The Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab, backed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Foundation, which will supplement the education of thousands of Philadelphia youth in STEM subjects.
- A short course designed by Woods’ TGR Design, a full-service golf course design firm.
- A split-level driving range, heritage museum, community event space and restaurant.
- A world-class, championship golf course.
The episode also will showcase how the new Cobbs Creek will benefit the West Philadelphia community, considered by many to be the city’s “forgotten corner.”
“By providing a free place for kids and families to go, to have fun, to learn, the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab will be transformational within the community,” said Meredith Foote, Executive Director of the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab at Cobbs Creek.
The campus will boost the local economy, create 150 jobs and attract visitors to the community. An anticipated PGATour event at Cobbs Creek is expected to bring more than $100 million to Philadelphia in tourism, hospitality and other revenue.
“It’s impossible to overstate how important the Cobbs Creek project is for this region,” said Chris Maguire, Chairman of the Board of the Cobbs Creek Foundation. “This is about creating opportunities for local youth to learn, grow and thrive, and it’s about reintroducing the world to this historic landmark.”
Across three episodes, GolfPass will illustrate the challenges the Foundation has faced in getting the project off the ground as well as the momentum they have gained in opening their first asset to the community, The Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab. Part 2 of the docuseries will premiere on GolfPass in 2026, with Part 3 scheduled for early 2027 when the Foundation plans to have the olde course fully restored and open to the public. Both remaining episodes will follow further steps along the renovation path, including golf course architecture, design and construction, the stream restoration, the public and private partnerships that will bring the project to success and the big reveal of the finished project on opening day.
About Cobbs Creek Foundation
The Cobbs Creek Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2018 to restore the Cobbs Creek Golf Course and to return the site to its status as one of Philadelphia’s historical landmarks. In partnership with the City of Philadelphia and local schools and community members, the Foundation’s mission is to create a state-of-the-art, economically sustainable golf and educational campus that provides opportunity for the youth of Philadelphia by serving their academic, athletic, and social-emotional needs. To learn more, visit cobbscreek.org
