47 and new architects. We want to work with the most talented people in the world, and certainly there are great opportunities for architects to come through – Kyle’s reimagining of the Pine Barrens course to create Karoo at Cabot Citrus Farms required a totally different skillset than developing a routing for a dunesland site.” Cowan-Dewar has played almost all the world’s top ranked courses, so he is no stranger to what a great layout looks like. Those visits often include conversations with the people that have made those destinations possible and how they maintain success. “I grew up drawing golf holes, but I don’t want to be a golf architect,” says Cowan-Dewar. “I know my skillset. However, I do have a reasonably good critical eye. I always want to reserve the right to be able to say, ‘what about this’ or ‘could we look at this’ and I’m never going to stop doing that. It is our brand, and we have to manage the facility long after the architect has designed the course, so I’m certainly not a shrinking violet. I’m sure all the architects want to be left with free rein, but collaboration and constraints are something that everybody has to contend with. We are trying to get the best possible product for our customers and that’s what really matters. Although the course is under the Cabot brand, I firmly believe that the designer deserves full credit. There can only be one final arbiter, and it needs to live with them.” Cabot’s most recent strategic investment, Lofoten Links, opened in 2015 along the coast of the island of Gimsøya, in northern Norway. It is known for its spectacular visuals, and golf can be played 24 hours a day during the summer months of midnight sun. “I played there in July and teed off at 11 at night… it was magical,” says Cowan-Dewar. “Our role is about making sure the golf experience really delivers as well as exploring the evolution of lodging and its food and beverage offering. We want it to realise its full potential, but we already have a great foundation.” With four properties joining the Cabot Collection in the last three years will Cabot continue this rapid trajectory? Cowan-Dewar says he is very ambitious but will only move on a project if it is right. “There are limits to growth because there are only so many remarkable locations in the world,” he says. “Also, starting from scratch is more challenging and timeintensive, so we’re now leaning slightly towards acquiring properties we can improve. That said, we’ll always look for the right opportunities to create something extraordinary.” “ We want to work with the most talented people in the world” Cabot recently invested into the remote and beautiful Lofoten Links course in 2024 Photo: Jacob Sjöman BEN COWAN-DEWAR
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