Courtesy of Cobbs Creek Golf Course (3)
“Cobbs Creek Rising: Headwaters to Horizons,” a docuseries streaming on the GolfPass website and mobile app starting June 5, will chronicle the century-old public course Cobbs Creek’s $150 million transformation.
The three-part production will tell the story of how Philadelphia-area visionaries brought back one of the country’s premier municipal golf courses, converting the area into an educational and recreational campus for the community.
The first episode of the series will make its television debut on GOLF Channel at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17.
“What happened here throughout history transforms this place to an icon at a different level for this city, this community and the game,” Cobbs Creek Project Development Manager Don Dissinger said in the series’ first episode. “Cobbs Creek is the American dream in golf course form.”
Located not far from Merion Golf Club, Cobbs Creek opened in 1916. With architectural features that money couldn’t buy and a growing reputation for welcoming both men and women from all stations in life, 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 made it their mission to turn the course 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 and creative, who is executive producing the series. “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.”
Jeff Shanahan, president of the Cobbs Creek Foundation, said he is excited to see the course’s past, present and future come to life in the docuseries.
“‘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," he said.
In the first episode, titled “Headwaters,” GolfPass producers interview the visionaries behind the project, Mike Cirba and Joe Bausch, who also established the Cobbs Creek Foundation. Viewers will also 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. When completed, Cobbs Creek will be one of America’s most impressive golf venues. The docuseries will follow all the projects involved in the renovation, including the TGR Learning Lab, backed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Foundation; a short course designed by Woods’ TGR Design; a split-level driving range; a heritage museum; and community event space.
The episode also will showcase how the new Cobbs Creek will benefit the West Philadelphia community, considered to be the city’s “forgotten corner.”
“By providing a free place for kids and families to go, have fun and learn, the TGR Learning Lab will be transformational on the community,” said Meredith Foote, executive director of the TGR Learning Lab at Cobbs Creek.
Across three episodes, GolfPass will illustrate the momentum Cobbs Creek has received not only from its Philadelphia community but also from a large community of golfers nationwide.
Part 2 will premiere on GolfPass in 2026, with Part 3 scheduled for early 2027. Both remaining episodes will follow further steps along the renovation path, including architecture and design, construction and the big reveal of the finished project on opening day.