5 min read
Many championship-level golf courses in the United States are manicured within an inch of their lives, but that’s not the case for Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, Florida. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Weeds and native plants grow alongside craggy bunkers and lush fairways. Deer, hogs, birds, and fox squirrels roam the course and surrounding 1,200 acres freely. Ditto for protected species like bald eagles, gopher tortoises, Florida scrub jays, and Florida panthers.
Bordered by the Withlacoochee State Forest, which spans 18 million acres of land crucial for filtering and replenishing the Floridan Aquifer (which supplies drinking water for millions of people), the local ecosystem is top of mind for this golf destination—and Cabot wanted to make sure it was for its guests, too. The brand partnered with Audubon International, a nonprofit dedicated to conservation and environmental stewardship, to help preserve its wild Florida surroundings. From pollinator gardens on the golf courses to refillable, recyclable aluminum water bottles for guests (branded with Cabot’s orange logo, natch), the property has a clear focus on sustainability.
Read on for our honest review of Cabot Citrus Farms—from the golf courses to interior design.
Courtesy of Cabot Citrus Farms
The Location
Getting to Cabot Citrus Farms isn’t easy—but it’s certainly worth it. Located about 90 minutes from Orlando Airport (MCO), 50 minutes from Tampa Airport (TPA), and 15 minutes away from Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV), it requires either a rental car or helicopter to get there (there’s a landing pad on the back driving range, in case you were wondering). On your way to the property, you’ll pass through citrus groves (hence the resort’s apropos name), sprawling farms, state forests, and nature reserves. After a leisurely drive, you’ll arrive ready to experience the slower pace and laid-back, Old Florida style of living Cabot Citrus Farms has to offer.
Regan Wood/Regan Wood Photography Inc.
Regan Wood/Regan Wood Photography Inc.
The Rooms
Although the cottages on the property are new builds, sense of place is core to their design ethos. The two- and four-bedroom cottages’ exteriors were designed by architect Hart Howerton with interiors by The Design Agency. The exteriors were inspired by historic old Florida architecture, while the interiors each feature premium kitchen appliances, en suite bathrooms, and a zesty citrus-forward palette (think: green, orange, coral, and neutral paint and furnishings).
The cottages are well appointed with design details such as raised scissor-truss ceilings, Frette linens, Kohler fixtures, and custom Roman shades with ombré orange fringe trim. In true Florida fashion, indoor-outdoor living is key with expansive windows in each room overlooking the golf course and outdoor living spaces that are perfect for alfresco dining or post-golf cocktails on the patio.
Courtesy of Cabot Citrus Farms
Roost
Courtesy of Cabot Citrus Farms
Karoo
The Golf
If you’re familiar with Florida golf courses, you may remember World Woods Golf Club, which was open from 1991 until Cabot purchased the property in 2022. It was then transformed into a completely new golf destination with two revamped 18-hole courses, one 10-hole course, an 11-hole par-3 course, and multiple practice facilities. Cabot Citrus Farms officially celebrated its grand opening in 2025.
The two full-length courses—named Karoo and Roost—pay homage to the local flora and fauna. Sandhill cranes’ birdcalls are often referred to as “rolling karoos,” and wild Osceola turkeys roost under the area’s oak trees. The courses fall somewhere between a parkland and heathland course with their dramatic elevation changes, sandy soil, and rolling hills.
Lush fairways are canopied by towering sand pines, flowering magnolias, and century-old oak trees draped in Spanish moss. The wild Central Florida landscape feels unrestrained with saw palmettos, native grasses, and swaths of wildflowers like coreopsis, blanket flower, and fleabane on each hole. Through its partnership with Audubon International and Monarchs in the Rough, regionally appropriate milkweed seed was planted throughout the property to bring biodiversity—and butterflies—back to the landscape.
There are no paved cart paths or traditional signage on the golf course—instead, sand paths blend into the surrounding landscape and painted wood tree rings direct you where to go. A cart or caddie is especially helpful here, since it can be difficult to know where to drive next—or where not to, as sand traps blend into the natural surroundings.
The greens can only be described as diabolical (in the best way). Though they’re large in size, the contours make approach shots and long putts incredibly challenging. The greenskeepers could certainly have fun with the pin placements if there was ever a pro event held there, and even the best putters would be hard-pressed to make birdies.
The 10-hole course, called the Squeeze, is equal parts fun and dramatic. The holes range from 100 to 550 yards with one par 5, three par 3’s, and six par 4’s. Course architect Mike Nuzzo drew inspiration from the world’s best par 4’s, demanding a lesson in course management to match the varying terrain.
Courtesy of Cabot Citrus Farms
The 11-hole par-3 course, called The Wedge, was also designed by Nuzzo—and it’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill short course. With vast waste areas and dramatic sloping greens, it’ll challenge your game—and put your short game to the test. Plus, with lights located throughout the course, you don’t have to stop playing when the sun goes down. Tee times can be made until 9:00 p.m.!
Laurence Lambrecht
Other Activities
In addition to golf, the property’s Sport Club features five-stand clay shooting, archery, and ax throwing. There’s also a private fishing pond where guests can catch and release bass, catfish, and more with a guide. The property just finished its sports courts and is in the process of building a pool and racquet club.
Matt Majka; Courtesy of Cabot Citrus Farms
Grange Hall
B.Richards; Courtesy of Cabot Citrus Farms
The Porch
The Food
On the property, you can experience dining at two venues: Grange Hall and The Porch, as well as comfort stations located around the golf courses. Grange Hall, designed by Tampa-based designer Oxford Exchange, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers everything from yogurt bowls and breakfast sandwiches to steak frites and pan-seared diver scallops. There’s an indoor dining area and full bar as well as patio seating with fire pits.
The Porch is a casual outdoor restaurant located at one of the highest points on the property, allowing you to take in views of the golf courses, practice facilities, and spectacular sunsets. Grab a wood-fired pizza or alligator sausage Caesar salad and enjoy the full bar (including an impressive bourbon bar). String lights, fire pits, cozy lounge seating, and upbeat music combine for the perfect post-golf hangout.