I had closely monitored the development of Cabot Citrus Farms, Cabot’s inaugural property in the US, for an extended period. When the opportunity arose to be part of a select group from Links Golf Club invited for a two-day preview visit by Cabot co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar, I eagerly seized the chance.
Situated on the former World Woods property, Cabot Citrus Farms had long captured Mr. Cowan-Dewar’s interest. His attempts to acquire the property in 2014 and 2016 were rebuffed, but the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, with its severe travel restrictions, presented a window of opportunity for successful negotiations leading to its eventual purchase.
The Pine Barrens course, once a jewel in Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses in America, had experienced a decline in conditions over time. In response, architects Kyle Franz and Mike Nuzzo were enlisted to breathe new life into the property. Franz’s creative vision materialized in the metamorphosis of the old Pine Barrens into the cutting-edge Karoo course, named in homage to the distinctive sound of sandhill cranes. Concurrently, Franz and Nuzzo collaborated on the ongoing transformation of the aging Rolling Oaks into the eagerly anticipated Roost course.
In addition to these renovations, Nuzzo embraced the challenge of optimizing a modest 120-acre parcel by introducing The Squeeze, a dynamic 10-hole course, and The Wedge, an 11-hole par 3 course. Noteworthy is The Wedge’s innovative lighting system, allowing enthusiasts to savor the game well into the night. The combined efforts of Franz and Nuzzo underscore their commitment to infusing renewed vitality into the golfing experience at this esteemed location.
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