Cabot Citrus Farms is the most exciting thing to happen to Florida resort golf in years, and it earns that by doing something genuinely different: firm, fast, wide-open minimalist routings with bold features on reclaimed Florida citrus terrain. This is the Florida trip for golfers who are tired of manicured predictability.
Courses included
The trip experience
Cabot Citrus Farms doesn't feel like Florida golf, and that's the whole draw. No palm trees framing every approach, no water hazard doing the design's job for it. Just firm, fast ground that moves the ball around in ways your group has never quite dealt with before, and a property built for four rounds a day if you want them.
Karoo is the one everyone's booking the trip to play, and it earns the hype the moment you stand over the third tee: a par-3 that stretches to 292 yards on a green big enough to need its own zip code. The whole course plays like that, big and a little unreasonable, the kind of design that turns a casual four-ball into an argument about which side of the fairway was actually right. Play it in the morning while the group's still fresh, because the greens have three or four different countries on them and you need your legs under you to read the good ones. Stop at the comfort station at the turn; cold Cabot beer, a shaded rocking chair, maybe a cigar if your group's that kind of group. On a firm, hot Florida day it's the difference between finishing strong and limping home.
"The greens have three or four different countries on them and you need your legs under you to read the good ones."
Roost is the better-mannered sibling, four different architects somehow agreeing on one course, and it rewards a second look more than Karoo does; the good angles only reveal themselves once you've played it once and gotten burned. It's the round you schedule for day two, when the group wants real golf without another full argument.
Once you've had enough of full rounds, The Squeeze is where the trip actually turns into a party. Ten holes, drivable par-4s, and within about four holes your group will have invented a game with real money on the line. The Wedge takes over after dark, eleven lit par-3s that keep the competition going well past the point where a normal golf day would've ended.
Grab tacos at Cantina 21 between Squeeze and Wedge loops if you're stacking them, which you will be. But save one night for The Porch, up on the highest point of the property, wood-fired pizza and the course going gold as the sun drops. Get the Figgy Piggy: fig-bacon jam, soppressata, pepperoni, fingerling chips on top. Somebody in your group will try to order a second one and pretend it's for the table.
"Within about four holes your group will have invented a game with real money on the line."
Book the cottages before you book tee times; they sell out faster and you need the home base locked first. A 4-bedroom keeps the whole group under one roof, walking distance to all four courses, which matters more here than at most places because you'll want to duck back for a shower between an afternoon Squeeze loop and dinner. One thing to actually get right: the walking-only window only runs December 14 through the end of February, not the whole winter like people assume. Outside that stretch, carts are available on Karoo and Roost for a fee, so plan your trip dates with real information instead of the rumor everyone repeats.
Cabot Citrus Farms isn't trying to be a relaxing Florida vacation. It's trying to be the trip your group keeps talking about a year later, and between Karoo's greens, the Squeeze money games, and a slice of Figgy Piggy at sunset, it gets there.
Side trips & bonus golf
Streamsong is the natural extension of a Cabot Citrus Farms trip, and the best version of the add-on treats it as a full second destination rather than a day trip. The drive from Brooksville takes about two hours, so plan a two-night stay at minimum. Streamsong Red and Blue are the most accessible starting point: Red delivers the most classically strategic routing, shaped by Bill Coore and Ran Morrissett over phosphate-mine terrain that looks nothing like anywhere else in Florida. Blue is the Tom Doak entry, balanced and readable, and the easiest round to recommend across a mixed group.
Streamsong Black is worth adding if the group wants to be tested. Gil Hanse's design is the widest and most wind-exposed of the three, with broad corridors that invite aggressive play and then punish overconfidence. Save it for the final round at Streamsong, when your group has adjusted to the terrain and knows what the property demands. Together, Red, Blue, and Black form one of the strongest multi-course collections in the country, and the tonal contrast with Citrus Farms -- less social energy, more pilgrimage weight -- is what makes the combination genuinely satisfying.
Brooksville itself offers enough regional context to fill a non-golf afternoon without forcing anyone to travel far. The Withlacoochee State Forest borders the property and has ATV trails, fishing, and nature walks. Weeki Wachee Springs, a Florida classic with a mermaid show that has been running since 1947, is 20 minutes south and worth the detour if anyone in the group needs something completely different. Brooksville's compact downtown has coffee shops and a few casual restaurants for a low-key evening when the group wants to step off property.
Is this trip right for your group?
- ✓You want to play a lot of golf across multiple distinct formats in one property
- ✓Your group embraces firm, fast conditions and enjoys playing the ground game
- ✓You're booking a 3-4 night trip with at least 2 full rounds plus short-course sessions
- ✓You've already played Florida's traditional resort courses and want something architecturally different
- ✓Your group is competitive and enjoys format golf beyond just stroke play
- ✓You're comfortable walking 18 holes and treating The Squeeze and Wedge as serious bonus golf
- ✓You want a Cabot experience without the international travel to Cape Breton
- ✗Anyone in your group needs a cart for a full round between mid-December and the end of February
- ✗You expect traditional Florida resort golf with palm-tree framing and water hazards
- ✗You're looking for a relaxed, low-mileage trip with a single round per day
- ✗Budget is a real constraint -- peak-season cottage rates push this into a premium-only trip
- ✗You want a guarantee of calm, predictable weather across your full trip
- ✗You need a full resort amenity suite beyond golf before pool and racquet facilities open
When to go
- Tee fees on Karoo and Roost peak at $295–$395/round from January 16 through April 19
- Walk-only policy is in full effect: carts are not available for most of this window
- Cottage prices peak at $1,595/night (2BR) and $3,360/night (4BR) on weekends
- Availability is tightest in February and March, when demand from northeast snowbirds peaks
- Conditions are at their firmest and fastest: the course plays exactly as designed
- Tee fees drop to $137–$165/round in spring (April 20 through May 31) and fall (October through December)
- Fall season opens with carts available all day, which gives groups more daily scheduling flexibility
- October and November offer the best combination of firm turf and manageable crowds
- Summer (June through October) is available at the lowest rates but heat and afternoon storms limit usable hours
- Property closes for maintenance in early-to-mid July; verify dates before booking summer
What a Cabot Citrus Farms trip costs
| Item | Peak | Shoulder | Off-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds | |||
| Karoo & Roost) | |||
| Lodging (2 nights, 4BR cottage, per person) | $1,250–$1,700 | $1,050–$1,350 | $675 |
| Food & drink on property | $650-$850 | $550-$650 | $400-$500 |
| Rental car | $100-$200 | $100-$200 | $300-$500 |
| Caddie (forecaddie, 4 rounds) | $150–$200 | $150–$200 | $35–$50 |
| Total (est.) | $2,150–$2,950 | $1,850–$2,400 | $1,410–$1,725 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds | |
| Karoo & Roost) | |
| Lodging (2 nights, 4BR cottage, per person) | $1,250–$1,700 |
| Food & drink on property | $650-$850 |
| Rental car | $100-$200 |
| Caddie (forecaddie, 4 rounds) | $150–$200 |
| Total (est.) | $2,150–$2,950 |
Per-person estimates for a 4-round, 3-night trip with a group of 4 sharing a 4-bedroom cottage. Excludes flights and caddie fees. All-in: $3,000–$3,500 peak, $2,400–$2,900 shoulder.
How tee times and lodging actually work
- 1Day guests book up to 6 months outResort guests lock tee times when booking cottages; Day guests open their window at 6 months.
- 2Caddie requests require 48 hours advance noticeEmail the concierge (resort guests) or reservations team (day guests) to pre-arrange a forecaddie or bag carrier.
- 3Walking only from December 14 through the end of FebruaryNo carts are permitted except for documented medical needs during this window; Push carts are complimentary year-round.
- 4Caddies are limited to Karoo and RoostCaddie service is not available on The Squeeze or The Wedge.
- 5The Wedge operates until 11pmNight lighting on The Wedge means bonus golf runs as late as the group wants; Reserve time in your schedule accordingly.
Common mistakes
- !Treating The Squeeze and The Wedge as optionalThese short courses are a core part of why Citrus Farms feels different; Groups that skip them leave the best format golf of the trip on the table.
- !Playing Karoo without understanding tee box selectionThe back tees turn several already-demanding holes into a battle of endurance; The orange tees at 6,431 yards are where most guests find the course most enjoyable.
- !Ignoring pin position before approaching on KarooThe greens are enormous, and a ball that lands on the wrong tier creates a near-impossible putt; Know where the flag is before selecting your line.
- !Underestimating the heat in late spring and summerFlorida in May already demands early tee times, sunscreen, and more water than you think; Booking an afternoon round in June without that framework leads to a miserable back nine.
- !Booking day-guest tee times without reading the cart policyGroups who expect to ride from December 14 through the end of February will not be allowed to, and this changes the physical demands of a multi-round day significantly.
- !Skipping caddie service on first visitKaroo in particular benefits from someone telling you which tier of the green to target and where the bail-out is; The architecture rewards local knowledge.
- !Failing to check the maintenance closureCabot closes for a week of aerification in early July; Groups booking summer trips without checking this window have arrived to a closed property.
What to pack
Sample itinerary
- Day 1Arrive + Pacific DunesFly into North Bend (OTH), 30 minutes from the resort. One course on arrival day — save your legs for tomorrow. Play Bandon Preserve if you get in early enough.
- Day 2Bandon Dunes + Old MacdonaldThe two boldest courses back to back. Bandon Dunes first while you are sharp; Old Mac in the afternoon when you are loose enough to enjoy the creative chaos.
- Day 3Bandon Trails + DepartBandon Trails is the easiest keep on this itinerary. Sheep Ranch is the easiest cut — add it with an early tee time if you want all five and can handle a late departure.
Where to stay & eat
Know before you book.
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