Global Edition

Cabot Citrus Farms opens for play

4.27pm 27th January 2025 - Course Development

The Cabot Collection has announced the opening of Cabot Citrus Farms, a 1,200-acre resort located on Florida’s western coast, some 50 minutes north of Tampa and 80 minutes west of Orlando.

The property, which was formerly home to World Woods Golf Club, is Cabot’s first in the US and features two 18-hole courses which have been redesigned for pre-existing layouts, as well as two new shorter courses – offering 57 holes in total. 

Additional golf facilities include a two-acre putting course and a driving range with Trackman technology, while a private housing development, lodge accommodation and a wide variety of off-course activities are also on offer for visiting guests. 

“The former World Woods Golf Club always stood out to me for its enchanting setting and dramatic elevation changes unlike anything I’d ever seen across the state of Florida,” said Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and co-founder of Cabot, whose company headquarters are in Canada. “It has been an honour to reimagine this iconic site alongside our amazing team. 

“We drew inspiration from the property’s rich history and natural beauty to create a destination that will bring people together through incredible golf experiences, outdoor adventures and a strong sense of community.”

The Karoo Course

The two 18-hole courses are called Karoo and Roost. The Karoo has been designed by architect Kyle Franz and features wide Bermuda fairways, expansive greens, multiple routes to pins and bold contours that encourage creative play. 

Named after the wild turkeys that roam the course and roost in its 100-year-old oak trees, the 7.200-yard Roost course saw co-designers Franz and Mike Nuzzo, along with Ran Morrissett as golf course architecture advisor, establish the routing and bring in Rod Whitman to produce the unique greens, while the course flows across sandy scrublands and rolling meadows featuring rare 50-foot elevation changes and a 40-foot-deep sinkhole. 

The Roost was co-designed by Kyle Franz and Mike Nuzzo and is located on land formerly occupied by World Woods Golf Club

For those looking to enjoy more golf in less time, The Squeeze is a unique 10-hole course that blends diverse, dramatic terrain and features half-par holes alongside par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s, each presenting distinct challenges.

The Wedge, also designed by Nuzzo, is an 11-hole par-3 course that features expansive waste areas, sloping greens and varied lies. Featuring speakers through which music can be played and low-profile lighting, enabling golfers to enjoy the course at any time of the day or night.  

With sustainability at its core, Cabot is the first multi-property brand to enroll every golf course and surrounding built environment into Audubon International’s comprehensive, all-inclusive Platinum Signature Sanctuary certification program. The entire Cabot Citrus Farms property is under one certification umbrella, including golf courses, clubhouse facilities, lodging, real estate, restaurants and retail.

For more details, visit www.cabotcitrusfarms.com

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