
Jeff Marsh

Matt Majka

Matt Majka

Jeff Marsh


Matt Majka

Jeff Marsh


Jeff Marsh

Jeff Marsh
Overview
When arriving at Cabot Citrus Farms you’ll understand why Ben Cowan-Dewar sought this property for decades. A prehistoric ridge in Brookville, Fla., created rolling topography on sandy soil—a golf developer’s dream. In the early 1990s, World Woods opened with two acclaimed public courses and what was once the world’s largest driving range that hosted Tiger Woods commercial shoots. But playing conditions had deteriorated at World Woods. Its Pine Barrens course, once the 75th-best course in Golf Digest's ranking of America’s 100 Greatest Courses, quickly fell off that list in 2013. Cowan-Dewar inquired about the property with the previous owner, Japanese businessman Yukihisa Inoue, in 2014 and 2016, to no avail. Others also tried to buy it. Finally, as COVID-19 restricted travel, Cowan-Dewar chatted with Inoue through translators over Zoom and negotiated to purchase the property in 2021—giving his burgeoning Cabot resort and real estate empire its first U.S. offering.
That decades-long courtship has now paid off with Cabot Citrus Farms’ Karoo course, which opened this winter. Kyle Franz—known for his meticulous remodeling of North Carolina Sandhills courses such as Mid Pines, Pine Needles and Southern Pines—transformed the existing Pine Barrens course with Karoo, the first course to open. He reversed playing corridors in some cases, completely changing what was in the ground in many cases.
You see that immediately on the first hole—a massive double green for the first and sixth holes. Franz dubs this design style as “adventure golf.” Eleven holes boast double fairways—and the 18th has a triple fairway. “George Thomas was doing massive double fairways 100 years ago,” Franz explains. “So this was a really fun way to make people think a little differently while still staying rooted in good, classical architecture.”
The modern trend of pushing width and options is amplified with “super width” here, with some fairways over 100 yards wide, though strategy is still present—as large, exposed sand hazards often split the playing areas. Choosing the ideal side of the fairway will often open up an easier approach. —Stephen Hennessey
For a complete review of the newly opened Karoo course, click here.
About
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
Reviews
Review
“Outstanding layout and course conditions. Variety of tee shots and approaches to difficult, but fair greens. Greens were firm and receptive, but needed to play several yards short of the pins to allow for runout."
Read More2025
Review
“Cabot Citrus Karoo is a remarkable golf course designed and built in the genre of Pinehurst #10 and with hints of Tobacco Road. This is not surprising given Kyle Franz's exposure and experience working in the NC Sandhills. The course easily reminds the player of Southern Pines GC with some equally challenging green shapes and movements. This trend in golf design is most welcome - no long grass rough, only a single fairway/tee cut then off into sandy scrub natural areas. The key thought here in 'options' - many split fairways, myriad tee locations and greens that are huge, varied, complex and sloped and bowled. Changing hole locations from one side to the other, or back to front, can completely change the character and strategy of the golf hole. Sand based conditions are very firm and fast and greens are very true. There are definitely places not to miss shots as recoveries are difficult and require immense imagination. It's a good thing that caddies (at least forecaddies) are required. Karoo is a big and open golf course and a lot of fun to play."
Read More2025
Review
“Very interesting renovation of the former World Woods site. Layout tee to green is exceptional with amazing vistas leading to high shot options and aesthetics scores. Varied length of holes and the wind, which feels unique to an inland Florida course, led to using almost all of the clubs in the bag. Unfortunately, the shaping of the putting greens (and speed of the greens) felt a bit like mini-golf. Massive greens with enormous swales led to a relatively tedious feeling once on the putting surfaces. The contours created two issues - approaches to the green felt like they had relatively random bounces upon landing AND the contours are just overly severe for higher handicaps on a resort course."
Read More2025
Review
“Can't wait to come back. Perfect spot for a guys trip. Hoping they keep conditions nice, if so it will be a must play destination for any golfer."
Read More2025
Review
“An interesting course with tons of massive bunkers with natural grasses. Green complexes are quite severe as well. Fun though probably not somewhere you'd want to play every day"
Read More2024
Review
“An interesting course with tons of massive bunkers with natural grasses. Green complexes are quite severe as well. Fun though probably not somewhere you'd want to play every day"
Read More2024
Review
“A very radical golf course design with excessive huge sand traps and large greens with excessive slopes on the site of the old Pine Barrens World Woods course. Play it at least once. The old Pine Barrens course was better and more fun."
Read More2024
Review
“Karoo is an update of the previous World Woods Pine Barrens course. Much of the course follows a similar routing, with #2-3 and #16-17 having been reversed through different corridors. Whereas the original course had a few really bold holes that stood out, the update is bold all around. Some will debate whether there's too much going on. Most trees were removed, and significant amounts of sand have been uncovered. The greens are huge and the contours wild in spots."
Read More2024
Review
“Karoo represents the thought experiment of building a course with 18 Lido contest entries."
Read More2024
Review
“Kyle Franz has masterfully designed a course that balances challenge and enjoyment. Nearly every hole offers varied strategies, with 11 holes featuring split fairways and greens that stretch up to 125 yards wide. While the fairways are generous, they demand thoughtful navigation as strategically placed bunkers await any misstep. The expansive greens provide plenty of room for creativity but can be punishing if you find yourself on the wrong side of the hole—making a two-putt feel like an accomplishment. The course is filled with risk-reward opportunities, complemented by kick points and backstops that invite heroic shots from almost anywhere on the course. Even the par 3s are dynamic, allowing players to use slopes creatively to get closer to the pin. Though the course plays long, its firm conditions and open feel encourage confident swings. Some sightlines are intentionally deceiving, but overall, the course is more approachable than it appears. Karoo offers a captivating mix of strategy, variety, and excitement, making every round unique and engaging."
Read More2024
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