New Cabot Citrus Farms takes its place among Florida's best golf resorts

There’s a new premium golf resort and community in Florida and it’s unlike anything else in the Sunshine State. It features four golf courses, with two of them championship layouts, on some of the most unique and gorgeous topography in Florida. 

It’s called Cabot Citrus Farms, and if that sounds familiar, it should. It’s brought to you by the same folks that created the spectacular Cabot Cape Breton on the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. There’s also Cabot Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Cabot Revelstoke in British Columbia, Cabot Highlands in Scotland and now Cabot Citrus Farms, which conducted a soft opening early this year and is set for a more formal grand opening of all the courses this fall. 

The site had a pretty good golf reputation already before Cabot developer and owner Ben Cowan-Dewar bought the property in 2021.

Located near Brooksville, Florida, about an hour north of Tampa, Cabot Citrus Farms sits on the former land formerly occupied by World Woods Golf Resort. And that wasn’t too shabby. Home of two excellent Tom Fazio designs and a massive practice area, World Woods was a bit of a cult favorite. It was affordable, and the courses were super enjoyable. They were also built on what was and still is basically a giant sand pit since this part of the state was covered by ocean just a few thousand years ago. It drains naturally, so it’s an ideal base for golf courses, plus it lends itself to the types of features you see in North Carolina and even links courses. 

But while those courses at World Woods were terrific before they unfortunately declined in their last few years, Cabot Citrus Farms takes it to a whole new level. There are currently three courses open there right now — Karoo, a 7,201-yard layout designed by Kyle Franz; a nine-hole course called The Squeeze; and an 11-hole par-3 course known as The Wedge. The other 18-hole course, known as Roost, is currently being grown in and will open later in 2024.

Let’s talk about Karoo

Named for the sound that the local Sandhill cranes make, Karoo is Franz’ first true solo design. His experience, however, is vast, having shaped courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon as well as his outstanding renovation work at Mid Pines, Southern Pines, and Pine Needles in the North Carolina Sandhills. 

Karoo, which features more than 80 feet of elevation change, has a rugged, yet incredibly beautiful look with too many bunkers to count, split fairways on half the holes, and some incredible greens complexes that can funnel balls to or away from pin positions depending on where you hit it. The bunkering around the greens can be quite challenging, and there are massive waste areas around and breaking up the fairways. There’s even a double green, which is shared by the first and sixth holes, and plenty of tall Florida pines, palmetto, and live oaks draped with Spanish moss to contend with, too, if you stray too far off the fairway. 

There are five sets of tees at Karoo, starting with the Royal Blue markers at just 4,223 yards. There are so many good holes, starting with the opener, a par-4 that’s 475 yards from the back tee. This is where you’ll find the aforementioned double green, the left side of which isn’t all that easy to see from the fairway, making it that much more challenging. It shares that green with the par-5 sixth, which is reachable in two for longer hitters at just 563 yards from the Black tees (tips) and less than 500 yards from the Tangerine tees, two sets up. 

The par-3 10th, which can play over 240 yards from the back set of tees, culminates with a huge green that can funnel balls toward a favorable pin placement so it’s definitely a good spot for a potential ace. And the combination of the par-5 14th, which ends with a massive greens complex raised on the left side over giant greenside bunkers, followed by a drivable par-4 sets up a dramatic back nine finish that also includes the short risk-reward par-5 17th, and the 18th, a 489-yard par-4 with a split fairway. 

The other courses at Cabot Citrus Farms

The other 18-hole course, Roost, is a collaborative effort between Franz and Houston-based architect Mike Nuzzo with Ran Morrissett as its golf course architect advisor. The course, which can play just over 7,200 yards, takes advantage of the sandy, scrubby areas next to Karoo as well as rolling meadows sprinkled with dogwoods and native wildflowers. There’s even a 40-foot deep sinkhole. Design elements were inspired by Alister Mackenzie’s work throughout the world. 

Nuzzo, who’s built quite a reputation for his work on alternative layouts, is the mind behind The Squeeze and The Wedge. Ranging from 100 yards to 550 yards, The Squeeze is a nine-hole course that Nuzzo created, drawing inspiration from some of the world’s best short par 4s as well as a few other fun features. For example, the shape of the second green was inspired by the old-fashioned corrugated metal tin roofing used in miniature golf, and the par-3 third hole has a huge waste area. The Wedge features 11 par 3 holes, with dramatically sloped greens, big waste areas, and lots of different short shot challenges. It’s also lit for night play, as is a huge 18-hole putting course. 

Meanwhile, as the resort is being built, the first phase of two- and four-bedroom residences are quickly selling out, and many will be available in a renter’s pool for guests to enjoy. Cabot’s next phase of real estate, Fairway Homes, will also be built around the golf courses and are scheduled to open later this year for guests to enjoy a true stay and play experience here.

While it’s still early days at Cabot Citrus Farms, it’s clear that this is going to be a special resort as the team at Cabot strikes once again with an incredible property for the golfing world to enjoy.