MyGolfSpy Experiences embraces consistency and self-evident truths. The one constant and self-evident fact we maintain quick to is that this: The very best golf buddy journey is the following one.
At all times.
The query we need to reply for you at the moment is easy: Ought to the brand new Cabot Citrus Farms golf resort in Brooksville, Fla., be in your quick listing in your subsequent buddy journey vacation spot?
The reply is sophisticated.
The quick reply is a powerful YES! The 2 new golf programs at Cabot are attractive and a blast to play. The lodging are so luxurious you gained’t thoughts being within the Florida wilderness. In the event you do go, you should have a good time.
However (there’s nearly all the time a “but”) there are some issues you could know.
Ought to or not it’s in your radar? Learn on and you can also make up your thoughts on the finish.
MyGolfSpy Experiences: Cabot Citrus Farms
Perhaps I wasn’t trying in the best locations however I did discover it odd that whereas spending two days at a spot referred to as Cabot Citrus Farms, I didn’t see a single orange tree.
That’s my solely actual criticism.
Cabot Citrus Farms is about an hour north of Tampa and 90 minutes west of Orlando. It’s the primary U.S. property within the Cabot Assortment. The corporate was based within the mid-2000s by Ben Cowan-Dewar, a Canadian entrepreneur. Partnering with Bandon Dunes founder Mike Keiser, Cowan-Dewar opened Cabot Hyperlinks on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia in 2011. Cabot Cliffs adopted 4 years later a few miles down the highway. Each programs usually seem in world top-100 rankings.
Cabot Saint Lucia within the Caribbean was subsequent. In 2022, Cowan-Dewar bought the traditional Fort Stuart Golf Hyperlinks in Scotland and the distressed World Woods Golf Membership in Florida. Fort Stuart now’s the centerpiece of Cabot Highlands the place a second course will open this 12 months. Extra to the purpose of our train at the moment, the previous World Woods has been fully renovated and reworked into the Cabot Citrus Farms resort and improvement.
I say “development” as a result of actual property is an integral a part of the mission. Cabot Citrus Farms options dozens of two- and four-bedroom luxurious cottages for hire, however dozens extra, plus two-story luxurious houses on the market are both already constructed, underneath building or within the planning levels.
Nevertheless, In the event you’re frightened about cottages lining the fairways and overtaking the golf expertise, don’t be. In contrast to different actual property/golf ventures, Cabot retains housing and golf separate. That separation is central to Cabot’s ethos: Nothing will get in the best way of the golf.
Two very totally different programs
In the event you performed both of the World Woods programs, neglect all the pieces you already know. The 2 new 18-hole programs at Cabot Citrus Farms – Karoo and Roost – are full ground-up rebuilds.
Karoo’s 399-yard (center tees) opening gap units the tone for what’s to return. The tee shot performs downhill to a Karoo staple: a break up fairway. Miss the low highway left and also you’re in a big waste space with a strategically positioned tree blocking entry to the inexperienced. The excessive proper path leaves a shorter method nevertheless it’s narrower with deep cabbage approach proper. You even have a compelled carry over bunkers to get residence.
Simply don’t go down the center There’s a deep, nasty bunker there, too.
After one other lengthy par-4, you come to the dramatic par-3 third that performs anyplace from 125 to 292 yards. The slender inexperienced is steeply sloped again to entrance and is so giant it might be as much as a four-club distinction between a back and front pin
Tooth of the Karoo
The remainder of the entrance 9 continues the break up fairway/undulating inexperienced theme. The again 9 is analogous but subtly totally different on the identical time. It appears to be like vast open however you could be in the best place for an honest shot on the inexperienced. The par-5 14th is 530 yards from the center tees. The golf green is beneficiant however should you’re not on the best facet, don’t take into consideration going for the inexperienced in two. The inexperienced appears to be like larger than it’s nevertheless it’s protected by a hill on the best and deep bunkers on the left. The inexperienced itself is a three-putt ready to occur.
The fifteenth is a brief danger/reward dogleg par-4. In the event you’re daring, you’ll should clear a small pond, a big waste space and a funky-shaped inexperienced. You can hit the inexperienced and nonetheless not have a transparent have a look at the pin. The seventeenth is an uphill, reachable par-5 and the 18th takes the break up fairway theme to a brand new degree with a collection of bunkers bisecting the golf green and an enormous waste space lining the quick approach residence on the left.
(Facet observe: In the event you’re searching for a trash can, look down. Karoo has subterranean trash receptacles. You step on a lever to open the lid. I’m positive they’re at different programs however I’d by no means seen one earlier than. Good!)
Between the waste bunkers, break up fairways and diabolical greens, the Karoo flirts with the gimmicky line however respectfully doesn’t cross it. Streamsong Black is an effective comp for Karoo though the Black doesn’t respect the road fairly as a lot.
Situations have been glorious on Karoo and with 5 units of tee containers starting from 7,500 from the tricks to 4,200 from the ahead tees, you’ll discover it a enjoyable problem.
MyGolfSpy Experiences: Ruling the Roost
Whereas I loved Karoo, I downright beloved Roost. It’s way more conventional than Karoo and never in the slightest degree gimmicky. It’s additionally a a lot sterner check of golf with extra water and tough. Roost is an apt identify, too. It’s residence to flocks of untamed Osceola turkeys.
Like Karoo, Roost begins with a doozy: a medium-length par-4 with an enormous sand dune of a bunker extending into the center of the golf green. The method is a mogul discipline to a deep, skinny inexperienced.
The par-5 third is the “signature” gap on Roost. There’s loads of waste space and pot bunkers lining your method to a multi-tiered inexperienced. You’ll encounter extra break up fairways and pot bunkers on the entrance, culminating with the par-5 ninth, a reachable dogleg guarded by a pond on the best.
The again 9 options the fantastic uphill, three-shot par-5 eleventh adopted by a pair of doglegs. The par-3 thirteenth is the shortest gap on both course. It’s an uphill wedge over an enormous sinkhole to a small, convoluted inexperienced.
The ending gap is a stunner. From the tee, it appears to be like like there’s room to bomb it however appears to be like may be deceiving. The water on the left is able to accumulate something resembling an overcooked draw and the sloping fairway is dotted with bunkers. The higher method is from the left nevertheless it’s a protracted sufficient gap that you just’ll should fly a mid to lengthy iron right into a inexperienced that actually doesn’t need to settle for it. Bogey is an effective rating.
Squeeze, Wedge and different golf facilities
The caddies at Cabot Citrus Farms will inform you the bizarre 10-hole course, referred to as The Squeeze, could be the most effective golf on the property. The holes vary from 110 to 560 yards with very Karoo-like vibes with all of its waste areas and ranging terrain.
The Wedge is an 11-hole par-3 course. It’s a pitch ‘n’ putt on steroids, with waste bunkers, uneven lies and some of the most severe elevation changes you’ll discover on the property. The Wedge is brief, with holes starting from 70 to 115 yards, and is just open to resort company. It’s illuminated for evening play and incorporates a gathering spot referred to as The Porch which options three buddy journey necessities: firepits, pizza and beer.
Cabot’s driving vary is a grand-slam residence run. It’s lengthy sufficient for use from both finish and every stall is provided with Trackman expertise and a devoted monitor to get your information. There’s additionally an enormous, tiered, confounding and completely joyous 18-hole placing course adjoining to the vary. Like The Wedge, the vary and inexperienced are illuminated for after-hours observe or a placing contest to settle an all-square match.
Sleeps, eats and different diversions
If Mayberry was a luxurious golf resort, it could look quite a bit like Cabot Citrus Farms. It’s set as much as give a “small town” vibe with all the pieces inside strolling distance of your cottage. There are presently 36 luxurious two- and four-bedroom cottages on the property. Extra cottages and two-story houses are underneath building or on the planning desk.
Our group stayed in a four-bedroom cottage subsequent to the driving vary and The Squeeze’s first tee. Every bed room has a personal tub. The cottage options an open-concept frequent space with a full kitchen, a lounge with a fire, a big-screen TV and a patio. In the event you’re touring with a bunch, I recommend attending to the cottage forward of your buddies to attain the bed room with the big soaking tub in its lavatory.
One factor you’ll discover about Cabot Citrus Farms is it’s not fairly completed. They’re simply breaking floor on an enormous golf middle which can function the clubhouse and formal eating. Proper now, eating choices are restricted to The Porch and the centrally positioned Grange Corridor which options salads, sandwiches, a bar and a espresso store. Each Karoo and Roost have totally stocked consolation stations with cold and hot meals, snacks and libations.
Additionally underneath building is a market, a racquet sports activities middle, a household pool and an Olympic-sized pool. Cabot just lately opened the Sporting Membership which provides axe-throwing, clay capturing, archery and bass fishing. The 1,200-acre property abuts the Withlacoochee State Forest which provides mountain climbing, biking and nature trails.
Is Cabot Citrus Farms well worth the journey?
As we stated up high, the reply is sophisticated.
The golf is enjoyable, difficult and sometimes spectacular. You’ll get pleasure from Karoo and though Roost might have used one other season to totally mature, we expect it can finally be the property’s jewel. The primary-rate cottages give Cabot Citrus Farms a relaxed Southern consolation vibe. That’s all an A+ in my ebook.
So why is the reply sophisticated? The resort itself isn’t fairly completed. Eating choices are restricted and will probably be till that huge gap within the floor close to Karoo’s first tee turns into the principle clubhouse. As a full-service resort, Cabot isn’t on the Streamsong degree but. On the plus facet, at Cabot, you gained’t really feel such as you’re doing time at a minimum-security luxurious jail such as you would at Streamsong. Cabot Citrus Farms isn’t fairly as distant at Streamsong however off-property eating choices are scarce. Full kitchens in every cottage take among the sting out of that.
The {dollars} and sense: Is it well worth the cash?
That, after all, is determined by your definition of “affordable.” In the event you go, you’ll get pleasure from first-class lodging and excellent golf. These will, nevertheless, come at a price. As a day visitor, Karoo and Roost greens charges are $395 every by way of June 1. That drops to $220 from June 2 by way of Oct. 3. The charges return as much as $430 from Oct. 4 by way of Dec. 31. Each programs are closed from July 7 by way of the twenty seventh.
The Squeeze is $125/$95/$145 for those self same time frames whereas The Wedge is $75/$40/$60.
In the event you keep on the resort, Karoo and Roost greens charges drop by roughly $100 within the early and late seasons and by $35 through the summer time. The Squeeze is $85 year-round for resort company whereas The Wedge hovers round $50. The resort is strolling solely and forecaddies are included in your greens payment (tip is additional). A private caddie will run you $40 per bag plus tip.
A two-bedroom cottage is $1,500 per weekend evening throughout prime season however drops to $675 per evening through the summer time. The four-bedroom items are $3,000 per weekend evening on peak-season weekends and $1,350 per evening low season.
In the event you go together with a bunch of 4 on a peak weekend, you’re taking a look at roughly $2,300 per individual. That features two nights on the cottage and rounds at Karoo, Roost, The Wedge and The Squeeze. In the event you can take the Florida warmth in June, August or September, the identical package deal runs round $1,200.
MyGolfSpy Experiences: The underside line
I don’t know the way that pricing matches into your funds however I can inform you that MyGolfSpy Expertise enthusiastically recommends Cabot Citrus Farms for the golf. You’ll get pleasure from Karoo, love Roost and have a ball on The Squeeze and The Wedge.
The resort, then again, has some maturing to do. Primarily based on Cabot’s different properties, nevertheless, it’s a stable wager Cabot Citrus Farms will turn into a first-class vacation spot.
Even should you can’t discover any orange timber.
We hope you loved this MyGolfSpy Experiences have a look at Cabot Citrus Farms. If it’s out of your funds, check out this Myrtle Seaside Expertise. It’d simply be the most effective values going.
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