Florida’s World Woods to Become Cabot Citrus Farms Thirty years ago, World Woods was one of the hottest golf properties in Florida. It featured two Tom Fazio-designed courses, Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks, that opened on April 1, 1993. In addition, the Japanese owner, Yukihisa Inoue, had plans for much more. “The previous owner wanted this to be a destination golf resort that would bring in people from all over the world, especially Japan,’’ said Rick Kelso, now the resort’s director of golf. “He planned to build seven golf courses, plus a beautiful hotel to bring in the top Japanese players – but things changed.’’ Kelso was part of the excitement that World Woods generated in the beginning and is looking forward to a renewal of the resort now that the Canada-based Cabot group has completed purchasing the facility. Ben Cowan-Dewar, Cabot’s founder and chief executive officer, first saw World Woods 20 years ago and has considered buying it for the last ten years. Mike Keiser, whose golfing vision spurred the creation of Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley and Cabot Cliffs, will be involved in some capacity, with Cowan-Dewar. Kelso can’t say to what extent Keiser will be involved, but admits that he and Cowan-Dewar are “very good friends who talk all the time.’’ He suggests that Keiser is Cowan-Dewar’s “mentor’’ for golf projects and World Woods will be Cabot’s first venture in the United States. The company’s portfolio already includes Cabot Cape Breton, home of Cabot Cliffs and Cabot By Len Ziehm
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