Cabot Adds First U.S. Destination to Further Complement World Ranked Courses

Cabot may not have the name recognition of a Kohler or Pinehurst, but the fact remains that Cabot has two acclaimed World Top 100 courses—Cabot Cliffs (#11) and Cabot Links (#35)—at its Cape Breton location in Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Add in a tropical destination—Cabot Saint Lucia—to complement the Canadian links golf, and all Cabot was missing was a U.S. location to bridge the gap.

With the new acquisition of World Woods Golf Club in central Florida—located approximately  60 miles due north of Tampa and 80 miles west of Orlando—Cabot has taken its first steps towards debuting the Cabot Hattrick in 2023.

The Pine Barrens Course

The former World Woods Golf Club property, which sits on 1,200 acres of sandy soil and rolling hills canopied by mature trees, will soon be renamed Cabot Citrus Farms and have its two 18-hole courses—Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks—completely renovated and revitalized. While Tom Fazio originally designed the courses that founder Yukihisa Inoue opened in 1993, Cabot has tapped Kyle Franz and the team of Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns to renovate the two courses.

Ben Cowan-Dewar, who partnered with Bandon Dunes owner Mike Keiser in establishing the Cabot brand, said:

“I couldn’t wish for a better location for our first U.S. development… The property is a nature lover’s paradise that rivals the most spectacular sites I’ve seen across the world.”

Franz will tackle the renovation of the Pine Barrens 18 at the former World Woods, stating:

“Cabot Citrus Farms is going to be an extraordinary destination, and we are thrilled to be a part of this effort. Our goal for Pine Barrens is to take its dramatic, sandy land and maximize it into one of the most spectacular golf courses in the region and country.”

Franz worked for years with accomplished course designers Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, and the team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and his solo efforts that have already garned praise include some of the other famous Pinehurts-area coures—Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines.

The Rolling Oaks Course

Rhebb and Johns will be renovating the Rolling Oaks Course. The pair has worked for years on projects with Coore and Crenshaw, and their independent efforts include the much-heralded Winter Park Country Club near Orlando, Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver and the new Bootlegger par-3 course at Forest Dunes in Michigan.

When Cabot Citrus Farms opens in 2023, it will do so as a golf and residential community, with amenities that include the two renovated 18-hole championship courses along with a par-3 course designed by Mike Nuzzo, a new nine-hole course and the practice facilities, a new clubhouse, a putting course and practice facilities.

Cover Image Via worldwoods.com