The ceremony, attended by Woods, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, took place on Monday, Sept. 8, at the Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab, which opened at the Cobbs Creek Golf Course on
7401 Lansdowne Avenue back in April. The Learning Lab, created by Woods' nonprofit the TGR Foundation, is part of the Cobbs Creek Foundation's goal of creating a state-of-the-art golf and educational campus that gives opportunities to Philadelphia's youth through academics and athletics. The 30,000 square-foot facility holds several classrooms in addition to a multi-purpose room, music recording room, podcast studio, a Full Swing golf simulator and more. It's the second Learning Lab that Woods opened. The first one opened in Anaheim, California, in 2006 and has served more than 200,000 students. Other labs are being planned for Los Angeles, California, and Augusta, Georgia. The labs provide opportunities, experiences and mentors for students from under-resourced communities. Woods said he chose Cobbs Creek for the second Learning Lab location as a tribute to his mentor, Charlie Sifford, a professional Black golfer who faced discrimination when he played in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The Cobbs Creek Golf Course was one of the few facilities at the time that didn't restrict players based on race, gender or ethnicity. Sifford was a close friend and influence on Woods who named his son after him. Woods was also instrumental in Sifford being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, a year before he passed away at the age of 92.
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