Students in Philadelphia are experiencing a new educational facility equipped with 3D printers, drones, a music studio, and a wellness room, all offered at no cost throughout the year. This exciting opportunity comes as part of their visit to the recently inaugurated TGR Learning Lab.
Saniyah Brown, an 18-year-old senior from Girls’ High, believes that while many have a negative perception of Philadelphia, her visit to the TGR Learning Lab has shifted her viewpoint. “Here, you start to see that good things can happen in Philadelphia,” she remarked during a recent trip.
Years of planning culminated in the opening of this center, which provides cutting-edge educational programming in areas like science, technology, engineering, math, and career readiness. The initiative is backed by the TGR Foundation, founded by golf star Tiger Woods.
Why Philly?
Situated at 74th Street and Lansdowne Avenue, the learning facility is part of the historic Cobbs Creek Golf Course. This course was once a leading venue, known for being inclusive at a time when many other courses excluded players of color. After its closure in 2020 due to disrepair, the Cobbs Creek Foundation formed to not only reopen the golf course but also create this new educational campus.
Philadelphia’s TGR Learning Lab is the second of its kind in the U.S., following a similar facility in California that has been operating successfully for two decades. The location was chosen as a tribute to pioneer golfer Charlie Sifford, who was mentored by Woods. “Tiger is excited about this partnership and the opportunity to establish a TGR Learning Lab in Philadelphia,” said Meredith Foote, the lab’s executive director.
Hands-on Learning Experiences
Though still under construction, the 30,000-square-foot educational facility opened on April 1, with plans to eventually serve 4,500 students annually. Foote and her team dedicated over a year to community outreach, highlighting Woods’ vision of empowering youth through hands-on experiences and education to help them build strong future plans.
With programs already in place—including forensics, rocketry, music production, and college readiness—students can also engage in community sessions focusing on skills like 3D printing and mindfulness. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker expressed her enthusiasm upon visiting, highlighting the abundant hope and potential she observed within the facility.
Inspiring Futures
During a recent interactive session, students tackled real-world challenges that tested their planning and logic skills. This hands-on experience not only kept them engaged but also prepared them for similar challenges in their future academic and professional lives. The students expressed excitement about the enriching opportunities they are now able to access, an amazing change from the limited resources they had previously experienced.
“To be in a place that offers these opportunities, it’s amazing,” junior Kyla Graves stated, reflecting on the lab’s potential impact. Foote’s mission for the lab is clear: to provide a nurturing environment that inspires many more Philadelphia students to dream big and realize their aspirations.
