For years, local golfers have asked the same question. When will Cobbs Creek Golf Course, the historic public golf venue that sits in West Philadelphia along the city’s border with Upper Darby and Delaware County, reopen?
The historic course closed in 2020 after decades of flooding, aging infrastructure, and damage tied to the Cobbs Creek watershed.
Since then, a large restoration effort has been underway to rebuild the property into a modern golf and community campus. While the full project remains in progress, several major parts of Cobbs Creek are already open.
The first phase of the new Cobbs Creek Golf Campus began welcoming visitors in 2025. One of the most significant additions is the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab. The facility offers free education programs for middle and high school students focused on science, technology, career exploration, and leadership.
Golfers are already visiting the new practice facilities and driving range, which now operate on the property. The campus also includes the Little Horse Tavern restaurant and pro shop, giving visitors a place to gather before or after time on the range.
Another highlight is Q School, a short course designed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Design. The course introduces a faster, more accessible style of golf designed to welcome beginners and younger players to the game.
The centerpiece of the project remains the restoration of the historic Olde Course. When Cobbs Creek opened in 1916, the layout was designed by legendary architect Hugh Wilson, who also designed nearby Merion Golf Club.
The current restoration is being led by golf course architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner of Hanse Golf Course Design, based in Malvern. Their goal is to carefully rebuild the course to match Wilson’s original vision while modernizing infrastructure across the property.
Environmental work also plays a major role in the project. Restoration of the Cobbs Creek watershed includes flood mitigation and wetlands improvements designed to prevent the damage that contributed to the course’s closure.
The restored 18 hole Olde Course is expected to reopen in spring 2027, returning one of the region’s most historic public golf courses to play.
We will continue to follow the progress at Cobbs Creek and share updates as new milestones are reached. Check back with DELCO Today for the latest developments as the course moves toward its 2027 reopening.
_________
A historic Philadelphia golf course is rising again. Cobbs Creek, once the home course of PGA pioneer Charlie Sifford, is being restored into a world class public golf campus with a new championship course, learning lab, and community programs designed to change lives.
