Golf Post visits Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida and sits down with founder Ben Cowan-Dewar to discuss the company’s first U.S. property and its global vision.
Ben Cowan-Dewar, founder of the Canadian luxury golf company Cabot, invited Golf Post to Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, Florida, for an exclusive media outing during the PGA Show week in late January. The property, located roughly 90 minutes north of Orlando, marks Cabot’s first development in the United States—and Cowan-Dewar was eager to discuss how this 1,200-acre resort differs fundamentally from the typical Florida golf experience.
What emerged during our round-table interview was a portrait of a developer deeply invested in preserving natural landscapes while creating world-class golf destinations. With two 18-hole courses—Karoo and Roost—along with a 10-hole course and 11-hole par-3 venue, Cabot Citrus Farms has already begun to establish itself as a destination beyond the residential-lined fairways that characterize so much modern Florida golf.
Finding the Right Site: A 15-Minute Decision
When asked how he identifies potential properties for development, Cowan-Dewar was candid: “I almost always just know within 15 minutes.” He elaborated on his philosophy of site selection, explaining that he has examined hundreds of locations globally, yet the initial gut feeling remains his most reliable indicator.
For Cabot Citrus Farms, the choice was informed by years of familiarity. Cowan-Dewar first visited the property when it operated as Worldwoods in 1999. “I loved the location, I loved the land, I loved the landscape,” he said. After multiple failed acquisition attempts, Cabot successfully purchased the site just over three years ago.
Critically, Cowan-Dewar views site selection as foundational to long-term success: “If you choose the wrong site, you almost can never outwin it.” This philosophy shaped his approach across all DP World Tour and international properties, from Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia to Cabot Highlands in Scotland.
What makes Citrus Farms exceptional, he noted, is its geological distinctiveness. Unlike much of Florida, which requires extensive water management and pond construction to create elevation, Citrus Farms offers 100 feet of natural elevation change and 1,000-year-old moss-covered oak trees. “It doesn’t feel like Florida,” Cowan-Dewar remarked, reflecting feedback from visitors and locals alike.
Design Philosophy: Golf in Harmony with Nature
Cowan-Dewar’s involvement in course design is notably hands-on. He credits his childhood passion for drawing golf holes and 25 years as a panelist for the World Top 100 rankings as sources of his architectural perspective. Working with designers like Kyle Franz on the Roost and Karoo courses, Cowan-Dewar emphasizes collaboration grounded in understanding the final product—the guest experience.
“I grew up drawing golf holes. I wanted to be a golf architect. Thankfully, I realized I was better suited to be a developer,” he said with characteristic self-awareness. Yet his involvement extends far beyond conceptual input. Tom Doak, one of the world’s most respected architects who designed Old Petty at Cabot Highlands, reportedly told Cowan-Dewar that he was “by far the most involved owner he’d ever had.”
The redesign of the courses at Citrus Farms illustrates this philosophy. While Kyle Franz reimagined much of the original routing, some elements were retained—notably the third hole, which plays through a corridor that once served as the reverse of the 16th hole during the Worldwoods era. However, the primary goal was creating diversity across the two 18-hole courses that reflects the site’s geological composition.
Karoo features sand mines and scrubby vegetation, while Roost showcases the moss-covered oaks and higher ground. “It literally is just a total shift of what the soils were from when the gulf receded all those years ago,” Cowan-Dewar explained. This approach—letting the landscape dictate the design rather than imposing artificial features—distinguishes Citrus Farms from the typical residential-golf model prevalent in Florida.
A Village Model, Not a Housing Complex
A critical differentiator at Cabot Citrus Farms is the residential component. Rather than lining every hole with homes, Cowan-Dewar drew inspiration from Pebble Beach—a property with significant real estate but positioned away from the playing corridors. At Citrus Farms, residences are organized into villages of cottages that respect the natural landscape and preserve the experience of playing golf immersed in nature.
“The beauty and elegance of a little village doesn’t mean every hole is lined with homes,” Cowan-Dewar emphasized. This distinction matters profoundly. Visitors frequently comment that Citrus Farms “doesn’t feel like Florida”—a compliment Cowan-Dewar takes seriously, as it reflects the property’s commitment to authenticity and environmental stewardship.
The property’s broader amenities—including a Sporting Club offering axe throwing, archery, and clay shooting beneath towering oaks—reinforce this philosophy of integrated leisure. Every element is designed to enhance a sense of peace and connection to place.
The Development Journey: From Cape Breton to Florida
Cabot’s journey began 21 years ago when Cowan-Dewar launched Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Comparing that experience to developing Citrus Farms revealed important lessons about infrastructure and permitting. “Florida was the easiest place to develop and do business,” he said, crediting the existence of maintenance buildings, pump stations, and pre-existing infrastructure—luxuries not available in Cape Breton or Saint Lucia, where Cabot built from scratch.
Cabot’s portfolio now spans North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Each property—from Cabot Bordeaux in France to Cabot Revelstoke in British Columbia—reflects the company’s commitment to pairing golf with authentic lifestyle experiences rooted in local culture and landscape.
When asked about future expansion, Cowan-Dewar acknowledged numerous irons in the fire but emphasized patience. The acquisition of Worldwoods in 2008 wasn’t finalized until 2021—a 13-year wait. “These things take a long time to get over the line,” he noted. While Asia and South America present compelling opportunities, Cabot remains strategically focused on North America and Europe, where customer accessibility and personal engagement remain central to the brand’s philosophy.
A Rebranding Rooted in Local History
During the interview, Cowan-Dewar also revealed Cabot’s recently redesigned logo—a tangerine replacing the historical reference to John Cabot’s ship. The choice was deliberate: Citrus County and the surrounding region were once the “Tangerine Capital of the World,” and this nod to local heritage resonated strongly with the community.
“Celebrating that sort of felt like a really great one,” he said. The new branding underscores Cabot’s commitment to honoring the places where it operates, a principle that extends across the entire portfolio of properties.
Tournament Ambitions and the Amateur Game
Regarding hosting professional tournaments, Cowan-Dewar expressed measured interest. While not ruling out future events, he emphasized prioritizing tournaments that celebrate the amateur game—Cabot’s core customer base. “They don’t pay for green fees,” he noted of professionals, whereas amateurs represent the lifeblood of the resorts.
What matters most is exposure and showcasing the properties authentically. Cowan-Dewar mentioned that tour professionals occasionally visit on vacation with family members, and those experiences reveal who truly loves golf versus those for whom it’s simply a job.
A Portfolio Without Hierarchy
Asked to rank his properties, Cowan-Dewar declined, comparing the question to asking a parent to choose a favorite child. However, his litmus test is consistent: “I’m excited to go back” to each location. This standard has served him well across 21 years of development.
Whether it’s the coastal drama of Nova Scotia in autumn, the tropical allure of Saint Lucia, or the peaceful oak-studded corridors of Central Florida, Cowan-Dewar finds reason to return. As Cabot Citrus Farms matures—having recently celebrated its grand opening—it appears poised to cement its place as a distinctive alternative to the typical Florida golf resort, one rooted in respect for the land and commitment to an authentic, community-centered experience.