I returned to the United States a few months ago and recently took a job as the Old Course Superintendent under Ben Dewan, Director of Grounds, renovating the Cobbs Creek Golf Course in Philadelphia, PA. Even though I still yearn for Ireland and New Zealand, I am thrilled to be involved in a massive undertaking that will significantly influence the city of Philadelphia and the Cobbs community.

The course was designed by Hugh Wilson and the Philadelphia School of Golf and Architecture in 1913. A municipal facility, Cobbs Creek became the home course for Charlie Sifford in 1939, the first black golfer on the PGA who won two official events. During the early Cold War in the 1950s, the U.S. military annexed part of the course for anti-aircraft batteries. The Philadelphia Daily News Open was held in 1956 at Cobbs Creek, where legendary golfer Arnold Palmer played.

Situated on a 350 acre property, Cobbs Creek Golf Course was shut down in 2020 due to disrepair and continual flood damage from the overflowing Cobbs Creek, which meanders through the property. The clubhouse was lost to a fire in 2016.

Architects Jim Wagner and Gil Hanse are teaming up with the Cobbs Creek Foundation to restore the Cobbs Creek course. The project will include a 9-hole course named Karakung, an 18-hole restoration of the Old Course, and a 68-bay driving range. Additionally, the TGR Foundation will partner with Cobbs Creek to build and operate a learning lab focused on STEM education for the community and design a par-3 short course. All of these exciting additions are slated for completion in 2026. Construction begins this July on a 4-million-gallon reservoir, a crucial component of this ambitious project.