PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Golf legend Tiger Woods has won championships at golf courses around the world, but on Monday, he was at a course right in Philadelphia, where he established Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab, a learning space for local kids.
Cobbs Creek Golf Course is one of the city’s oldest golf courses. It opened in 1916, and it’s publicly-owned, unlike many courses. The public ownership increases the focus on having a positive impact on the surrounding community, including kids like 13-year-old Anthony Willis.
“It gives me something I love to do,” Willis said of his love for flying drones, which he learned all about at the new Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab.
Willis had glowing things to say about Woods.
“Tiger Woods is a very nice man,” he said of the golf legend who was at the learning lab and golf course for the official opening.
The facility has been open to kids since April, but Monday marked the official ribbon-cutting with Woods and local and state dignitaries present.
For Woods, the mission of the learning labs and his nonprofit, TGR Foundation, has very little to do with golf.
“I didn’t start the foundation to produce golfers that hit golf balls. I started the foundation to produce the greatest humans possible,” said Woods.
The learning labs are focused on everything from college and careers to health and STEAM education.
“To be able to provide that to students free of charge is a game-changer for the community,” said Adam Mesewicz, Career Connect Learning programs director.
Local and state leaders, including Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, thanked Woods for helping establish the learning lab.
“Tiger, let me tell you, there are so many places you could be around the globe,” said Shapiro. “You chose Philly, and we are so profoundly grateful to you for that.”
This is the second learning lab that Woods’ foundation has built. It’s the first outside of California. The Cobbs Creek Golf Course holds special meaning to Woods as it was the home course for Charlie Sifford, who made history as the first Black golfer to play on the PGA Tour.
“He became a grandfather that I never had,” said Woods.
The Cobbs Creek course, itself, is historic as one of the first in the country to allow women and people of color.
“It was a grand, glorious golf course. It was considered the best public golf course in the country,” said Enrique Hervada, COO of the nonprofit Cobbs Creek Foundation.
Over time, the city-owned course fell into disrepair. It was closed in 2020.
“It was nothing here. Nobody knew it was a golf course,” Saafiya Gresham, who is a teacher’s assistant and executive intern at the learning lab.
Cobbs Creek Foundation was founded in 2016, raising millions to bring the course back to its former glory.
“We’ve raised $130 million,” said Hervada of the nonprofit’s $180 million goal.
Pennsylvania chipped in $5.5 million in public funds, and Woods stepped in to create the learning lab, which is open to kids across the Philadelphia area.
“(I wanted) to build a home, a safe place, an innovative place that all children should be able to have access to,” said Woods.
Now, thanks to Woods, 8th grader Willis gets to live his drone dreams.
“It’s given me a home,” said Willis.
He’s on his own course with help from one of the world’s greatest golfers.
“It’s a safe place where they can learn and grow,” said Woods.
Cobbs Creek Foundation continues to raise money for other aspects of the restoration project, including the restoration of Cobbs Creek to fix flooding issues. They’re also building a double-decker driving range. It’ll open, along with a short course, in October. The intention is to use money generated by the public golf course to help support the learning lab.
For more information on how to be a part of the restoration of Cobbs Creek Park, click here.
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