Situated half a mile away from Cabot Links, the Cliffs golf course occupies a more diverse landscape than its predecessor, sitting atop the bluffs that overlook the Gulf of St Lawrence...
Cabot Cape Breton - Cabot Cliffs
Situated half a mile away from Cabot Links, the Cliffs golf course occupies a more diverse landscape than its predecessor, sitting atop the bluffs that overlook the Gulf of St Lawrence...
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Stunning in views and architecture-Canada's Best.
If you've seen the pictures, you'll know that Cabot Cliffs is visually stunning-especially the clifftop holes. It is also, to me, the best public Coore Crenshaw there it out there; which makes it stunning architecturally. They take advantage of the clifftop holes and crafted land with architecture in a way that leads to one of the most dramatic finishes you will find. Despite this, some of the best holes are inland and they don't let you down. It is for this reason that Cabot Cliffs was first compared to Cypress Point and appeared in US Magazines in the top 20 worldwide. It, like Tara Iti, eventually found a place among the top 50 by most US Magazines. I think it is definitely top 30 in the world. Cabot, to me, is one of the best 2 course places on Earth. It is the only one with two courses that are seaside and play like links.
The routing, on the scorecard has 6 of each type of hole. It is also different in that the front nine is actually 10 (you return to your starting point at 10 green not 9) and back is 8. They make sure that you see all points on the compass too so wind is a factor. The routing also visits and returns to the Ocean three times (Like Ballybunion Old). It explores some duneland, holes near a marsh, holes near the ocean and holes in the forest. This might be the most diverse course as far as types of land that I have ever played. Bill Coore just might be the best router of a golf course that the world has ever seen-definitely since the Golden Age and he explores the land wonderfully. The routing goes in all directions. The course does play very firm/fast. You can use ground game and play links types shots here-even on the inland holes. There are some holes where carrying the ball will help set up a shorter shot, but, like MacKenzie, Coore/Crenshaw give the mid-high handicapper alternative routes. A great course is great for all types of golfers and Cabot Cliff's is great for all types. The scratch player will have choices and demand that will make birdies not a given. The mid to high handicapper will still have thrilling shots to play but have routes to the hole where they aren't forced to do so (making bogey in play for them on all holes). The green sites have surrounding contours that will help if you're approaching from the right area or they can hurt your recovery if you leave a ball in the wrong spot. They have the perfect amount of inner contour-makes putting engaging.
There are some holes that play favor the heroic (they still offer a bail out), but mostly this is a strategic golf masterclass. The fairways also have a lot of movement so watching your ball roll out and move on the ground is fabulous here. The green sites vary a lot based on the land forms that they found. One thing they do have is some contour to make things interesting. On approaches and recoveries you have shot options.
The 6 par 3s range from 245 yards to just 126 yards from the tips. They all play differently. The 4th hole has two greens and both are very good to play too. They are 80 yards in length different. The longer one plays downhill while the shorter one is uphill-both have contoured greens and angles that can help a well struck shot. In this case, if going to the lower green, tee shots that cut over the front hazard are rewarded with contours that feed the ball on the green and towards hole locations. The 6th might be my favorite. You are isolated in duneland. The shot is downhill to a green that runs away from you. You can carry it or hit a runner to hole locations. It looks and plays like something in Scotland or Ireland. The 9th is the shortest and plays to an infinity like green. It is open on the left-but if you want to try a direct route bunkers come into play. The green is one of the skinnier ones as you would expect on a short hole. The 12th is the longest one. There is a front bunker but if you play to the right of it with the proper distance control, the contours will feed the ball to the left and on the green. Otherwise, if you bail out left, the contours work against you and you have a difficult recovery. The 14th is visually deceptive. There is a rock surrounded by bunkers. It really doesn't come into play but most will try to avoid it or hit too much club to carry it. The 16th is the showstopper. It calls for a dramatic shot over water to a peninsula green perched on a rock outcropping. You can bail out left and hope that your ball falls off the ledge and feeds onto the green. Otherwise, it is a do a die shot over the water and the front bunkers. There is a bunker behind so you won't hit the green and fall into the ocean behind, but recovery from these bunkers isn't easy.
The par 5s are all very good. The use strategic golf-there are routes to get there in two as well as in three. The green sites mean that getting on the green doesn't necessarily mean a two putt is given. The best one is the 15th. It might be my favorite par 5 on Earth. The tee shot offers the first choice as it has a top shelf left or the hill will bring it down right. If you can stay left then you are rewarded with a second shot that might run onto the green; if you can avoid the center line bunker that is well short of the green but in play. End up right, and you have a blind second. You can still go for the green but the contours by the green from that side will repel instead of feed a ball. You can choose the go left side of the fairway and that opens up the green for your third. You then have shot options for your third-fly it or run it on. This is the first of a four hole stretch of dramatic/strategic holes that make up the finish. The 18th is the last par 5 and plays along the clifftops; hugging the right side and putting the cliffs into play is the only way to get there in two. There is a ravine that juts out into the fairway about 150 yards short of the green. Go for it in two and carry it and the green is long and narrow and will receive the shot well. Bail out left and you now have a shot to a thin green.
The par 4s don't let down either. My favorite might be the second hole. The fairway is wide; however, the green is protected by a large dune/mound/hill front and center. This means that, in order to have a great angle for the approach, you need to drive it close to the edge of the fairway without going into the junk. Which side will depend on pin position. A great strategic golf hole. The third hole has higher ground to the left-approaches from this side are preferred as far as reception from the green. However, it is a semi blind approach over a large bunker. If you go right, then you end up in a valley. However the green thins out from that side. The 5th is a great short par 4. It plays around a water hazard. Don't try the carry and bail out right is one option. However, the dog leg is almost at a 90 degree angle so your approach will be quite long still. You can also try to cut off as much as you can on your tee shot. If carried, then you can be on the green or just short of it as the contours will feed you ball down a slope. That same slope makes the approach from the right even more tricky. Do you fly it or run one down? You won't encounter another par 4 until the 11th. It starts the trek into the forest. It is uphill to a green that is more saddle than punchbowl. Still, you will have choices on approach trajectory. The 13th has a hill just short of the green which makes your approach blind or semi-blind (You might see the top of the flagstick but that is it). The green itself is a bowl in nature. It's a lot fun to walk up past the hill and see where your approach is (unless you left it short and it rolled back down the hill, then you know exactly where you stand). The last par 4 is the 17th. It has a blind tee shot with many options. This is due the fact that the fairway, which is thin, is on a steep slope all the way to the green. You can try to carry it all the way to the green. Hit somewhere up on the slope and hope it carries down or hit it way left on top of the slope. Unless on the green, you can fly it, run it or putt. I have seen putts from 100 yard out. The green has some bunkers in front of it but still a pathway for the ball to feed onto it.
Cabot Cliffs is top shelf golf. Coore/Crenshaw took advantage of the all the land forms here (not just the Ocean ones). Ironically, there are some people who find the 16th to be too difficult (and therefore not the thrill it should be-my advice is move up a tee on this one) and the 17th to be too quirky. The only negative that I can think of is that Cowan-Dewar loves his real estate. There are holes where on one side of the fairway there is housing. When I was first here in 2016, there were not any. In 2021, there they were. It is detracting visually. It doesn't change anything about how the course is played though. Cabot should be a bucket list resort for anyone near this time zone. Those coming from the UK have a shorter flight than the USA golf resorts and should consider the visit.
JeffArenson
The Cabot Collection, better known as simply Cabot, is doing its best to set the bar internationally with destination golf. What seems to be an overnight success has been decades in the making. Ben Cowan-Dewar has been involved with golf and golf travel since an early age. In 2004, the portfolio stood at nil but he had a great site and a dream to create Canada's first true links as a world-class golf destination. A promising start could have been derailed by the global recession in 2008, but with dozers on site and with the backing of Mike Kieser, it was full steam ahead. Enter Cabot Cape Breton - Cabot Links. Fast forward to 2015, a second Coore & Crenshaw-designed golf course opened to world acclaim and Cabot Cape Breton now has two Top World Top 100 courses anchoring its first golf destination in the Cabot portfolio. Where most would be content and call it done - it would appear Cabot Cape Breton was just beginning... Cabot Cape Breton The destination in New Scotland (Nova Scotia) that put Canadian golf back on the map. In recent years, the shine has come off Banff Springs and Jasper Park Lodge but Canada now has two dream destinations on the opposite ends of the vast country. What Stanley Thompson did in the Rockies 100 years ago has been replicated in Nova Scotia on proper links land. Cabot Links - Rod Whitman With the most coastline of any country in the world, it's amazing to think that Canada's first true links appeared in 2012 with Rod Whitman's Cabot Links. So authentic is the links, one could be forgiven for confusing this Inverness with the other, better-known one… The golf course is less 'instagrammable' than its younger sibling but for many, it is equal in quality. Image Courtesy Cabot Collection Rob Romard Cabot Cliffs - Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw Cabot Cliffs is the second 18-hole layout by the legendary duo Coore and Crenshaw. Three par 3's, three par 4's and three par 5's on each nine, traverse through woodlands, wetlands and meadows. Some laud it as the best public course in North America, whilst others claim Cabot Links to be the superior of the two… Whenever you enter into the discussion as to the best 36-hole venue on the planet alongside Royal Melbourne, Sunningdale, and Winged Foot, you've done something right. Image Courtesy Cabot Collection Matt Hahn Cabot Cape Breton - The Nest - Rod Whitman & Dave Axland The Nest is a 10-hole par 3 course that ranges from 705 yards to 1304 yards. Individual holes range from 95 yards to 232 yards… the perfect opening round to knock off the rust or cobwebs after the journey to the golfer's paradise. Alternatively, The Nest is the perfect post-Cabot Links or Cabot Cliffs boozer round. Photo Courtesy Cabot Collection Cabot Saint Lucia - Point Hardy Golf Club Point Hardy Golf Club has made waves… with parallels being drawn to Cabot Cliffs but 'on steroids'. The site itself is severe and the routing by Coore & Crenshaw is a marvel. The 375-acre site has 300 building plots and current listings start from $2M USD. The golf course is golf cart mandatory and the par 71 golf course plays to 6651 yards from the tips. If you consider that a disappointment, you've probably missed the point. That being said, Cabot St Lucia Point Hardy Golf Club isn't a pushover… the topography and elements will be sure to offer a test that isn't reliant upon yardage. It's early doors on a severe site with the ultimate aim of selling ultra-high-end real estate to a privileged few. Is it the next Cypress Point? We will have to wait and see - and certainly holes 6 to 9 and 14 to 18 will help. For the golfing purist, however, not being able to walk may just make it one too many hills to climb to reach those heights. Cabot Citrus Farms Cabot's foray into the American market came in Florida. The plan? Buy the 11th-best Tom Fazio-designed golf course in the state of Florida and turn it into Karoo, Roost, The Squeeze and The Wedge. The familiar resort, accommodation, and real estate options are on offer. Karoo A bit of a departure from Rod Whitman and Bill Coore, the nod was given to Kyle Franz to create the 7500-yard 18-hole layout in a true figure-of-8 layout. Photo Courtesy Cabot Collection Matt Majka Roost The second 18-hole layout is a collaborative effort from Ben Cowan-Dewar, Mike Nuzzo, Kyle Franz, Ran Morrisett, and Rod Whitman. The greens are from Cabot constant Rod Whitman. Photo Courtesy Cabot Collection Carolina Pines The Squeeze The 9 or 10-hole par 38, 2957-yard course with a focus on inspiration from the world's best short par 4's. The Squeeze was designed by Mike Nuzzo. Photo Courtesy Cabot Collection Jeff Marsh The Wedge The diminutive 1000-yard, 11-hole par 3 course with night lights... Photo Courtessy Cabot Collection Carolina Pines Cabot Revelstoke - Cabot Pacific Mountain golf is a bit of a conundrum. The vistas and backdrop are rivalled only by the magnificence of the sea. Where rather mundane links land can still offer compelling golf, pulling off truly superb mountain golf, even with the benefit of awe-inspiring vistas, has been attained by only a few. Notable examples are Jasper Park Lodge and Banff Springs. Tom Doak's Rock Creek Cattle Company might also be cited at a push. Can Rod Whitman pull it off at Cabot Revelstoke Cabot Pacific? We're keen to find out in 2026. Combining skiing in the winter and golf in the summer, membership will have its perks. With a new clubhouse and six residences, the familiar real estate options are ever-present. Golf so good you don't want to leave… invest and you won't have to. Image Courtesy Cabot Collection Cabot Highlands Not a Cabot new build but rather, an acquisition. Having two world-class links golf courses in Inverness by Rod Whitman and Bill Coore wasn't enough… what you need is two more in the other Inverness by Gil Hanse and Tom Doak. Cabot Highlands is first out of the gate with the other highly-anticipated unofficial 36-hole destination of Coul Links and Royal Dornoch potentially coming to fruition… Photo Courtesy Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart The original 18-hole design, Castle Stuart, was laid out by Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinnen with Chris Haspell responsible for much of the iconic bunkering for which it is now renowned. Photo Courtesy Cabot Collection Old Petty Old Petty is very intriguing. Gil Hanse assisted Mark Parsinen in laying out 18 holes at Castle Stuart on the back of his success at Kingsbarns. The bar, in essence, has been set. Tom Doak is too good and too accomplished to worry about what anyone else is doing, even at the same property. You'd have to admit though, he won't want to be outdone by some friendly rivalry. With work ongoing (led by Clyde Johnson), we won't have to wait long to see the course in 2025… Image Courtesy Cabot Collection Cabot Bordeaux The latest acquisition of the Cabot Collection is Cabot Bordeaux. When the formula has worked this well, why fix what's not broken? The 36-hole resort in the north of France is from some familiar faces: Bill Coore & Rod Whitman. The familiar ingredients exist with resort trappings and real estate. Chateaux Chateaux is the third-ever solo golf course designed by Bill Coore in France in 1989. His first was Rockport CC in 1984 and his second, King's Crossing Golf & CC from 1986 no longer exists. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw would have their big breakthrough at Sandhills in Mullen, Nebraska, USA in 1995. Early work from Bill Coore might be considered a sleeper and Cabot sees untapped potential. Photo Courtesy Cabot Collection Cookie Jar Golf Vignes Rod Whitman, a familiar face in the Cabot portfolio, was the project manager for Bill Coore at Chateaux. He returned a few years later to lay out 18 holes which is now known as Les Vignes. Early work from big names in the architecture game can represent value. Tom Doak recently returned to High Pointe to reignite the fire from his early years… what happens next is Cabot Bordeaux is yet to be seen. Lofoten Links On September 9, 2024, it was announced Cabot added Lofoten Links to its growing portfolio. The golf course is currently rated the best in Norway, fourth in Europe and 96th in the world. Photo Courtesy Jacob Sjoman Lofoten Links is difficult to get to even with private charters and helicopters. Virtually all who visit are blown away by what they see and experience. More than one course is the current formula for these remote destinations so we wait to see what will come of Lofoten Links. The Cabot Formula World-class golf is the obvious foundation at the heart of everything Cabot does. What is a golf destination without accommodation and equivalent amenities? With most designations offering 36 holes or more, you won't make the trip to play just 18. Offering compelling golf to travelling golfers means meals and overnight occupancy, a lucrative endeavour if you can get it right. If you enjoyed your visit that much, you may just be tempted by the real estate brochure before you go. Most visitors will have a second home already and are probably more than able to stretch to add a third. Attract them with golf, give them the stay of their life, and convince them they never have to leave… pretty simple in concept but difficult to deliver unless, it seems, your Cabot. The Cabot Difference Great golf destinations have, well great golf. What sets a golf destination apart is the details that imperceptibly make the difference. Cabot Couches They first appeared at Cabot Cliffs and have become a staple of Cabot properties throughout the portfolio. More popular in St Lucia than Scotland in December, they are synonymous with the Cabot experience. Cabot Cups The best sound has been borrowed from the best golf clubs in Japan. The gong is a reminder of the Cabot difference 18 times a round. Cabot Pin Flags Traditions can be overrated… no two Cabot flags are the same. While the formula appears to be rinse and repeat, the pin flags most certainly are not. Cabot Cookies IYKYK - small parcels of goodness can be found at Pine Valley and Old Elm. The lesson? Even at the most prestigious sites, cookies don't go amiss. Each Cabot Cookie is prepared as a reflection of the local area. Whether it be Cacao Cabot Cookies in St Lucia or Scottish Shortbread Cabot Cookies at Cabot Highlands, it's the little things that make a big difference at Cabot…
Three new golf course developments to watch In spite of the slowdown in the development of golf courses in the United States, there are many new projects either in the planning or beginning stages of construction that still accepts investors. Below are three new golf course developments to watch. The criteria we used was based on safety of the location, other amenities that are available to golf aficionados as well as any family members that may travel with them; and, of course, the overall strategy of the venture. 1. Forest Lakes Country Club – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Nestled in the northern region of Canada, the Forest Lakes Country Club and golf course – a project in progress by Terra Firma Development Corporation and Nicklaus Design is finishing stage one of construction of their first 18-hole course to open the first 9-holes in mid-2016. Additional courses in the next phase include the balance of the 18-holes followed by the clubhouse and an Executive course thereafter. The only accommodations currently available in the immediate region are described as “horrendous” and Halifax, boasting of many first class hotels, is 100 km away. 2. Crystal Lagoons’ Porto Golf Marina – Alexandria, Egypt The Sharm-el-Sheikh Project in Cairo has announced collaboration with Porto Group for its fourth project phase to include a mixed-use golf marina overlooking the Pyramids. Crystal Lagoons is known for its Middle Eastern development projects and investing in this project opens up more opportunities for the company in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Jordan. Golf is one of the most desirable activities for businessmen visiting these locations. And the inclusion of luxury resort amenities only increases the potential for profits. 3. Ground Floor Golf Course Investment – Cuba The last on our list is the London & Regional golf resort, which was approved by government in June 2015. With the U.S. embargo lifted, the expectation for a dramatic increase in tourism is definitely on the horizon: the island currently lacks in all types of facilities to house and entertain visitors. This golf course and resort will be located near the Varadero Beach Resort which is north of Havana. The resort will include a 100-room boutique hotel as well as private residences. As an emerging market, Cuba offers those seeking long-term investments an excellent opportunity. Cuba desires foreign investments in specific sectors and while golf courses are not specifically on the list, when combined with a resort hotel it does meet the law. Several U.S. companies that travelled to Cuba with President Obama in mid-March are requesting a green light to do business on the island. Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide is one that has been approved to manage the local hotels on behalf of the Cuban government. There is a warning sign provided by Canadian businessman, Mr. Tokmakjian, who was jailed for “bribing” his workers with dinners at local restaurants, televisions and vacations as rewards for performance. After being sentenced to 15 years in prison, he was released and deported back to Canada and all his investment property in Cuba over the last 20 years was confiscated, as confirmed by Wall Street Journal. The distinction of what’s legal and what’s not is somehow not clear in Cuba where Laws can change just like weather. Thus, this element of investing in Cuba landed it at the bottom of our list. Just between us, there are several rumors that a top rated binary options broker named Binary Uno is behind one of these projects. Sadly, we have yet to confirm the rumors or nail down the particular site of interest. Article by Groove Media Services Limited
Fergal O’Leary’s trip around the Cabot Trail Cabot Links With just 12 months of operation under its belt as an 18-hole golf course, Cabot Links has already established itself as Canada’s only authentic links with a breath-taking future ahead of it. Nestled between the rural town of Inverness and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the golf course offers a magnificent view of the ocean from each hole and certainly gets your heart beating. There is a welcomed sense of convenience and reward at this isolated club. Golfers have everything they need in one spot and with world-class accommodations and cuisine onsite, all you’re literally left to worry about is how many shots you have to give on each side! Ben Cowan Dewar partnered with Mike Keiser and first visited the land in late 2004. Most of the usable links land in the world has been developed and the few remaining pieces of land have been snapped up (e.g.: Castle Stuart and Trump International). During our visit, we had the great fortune of playing the course three times, each of them vastly different from each other. Our first round was in a 35mph wind from the black tees at 6,854 yards, followed by two more rounds from the green tees at 6,455 yards with different wind directions each time. Mother Nature ensures that most shots will be played along the ground, and if you don’t instinctively know how to hit a low stinger, then don’t worry, the links at Inverness will quickly force you to figure it out. The entire golf course is made from fescue grass seed. One impact that this has on such a young course is that the greens are never going to get above 8.5 on the stimp metre (by design). There is so much undulation on the greens, and the slower speeds actually contribute to faster play. Once you convince yourself to hit the putts a little harder than you want to, you’ll appreciate what the architects were doing with the fescue feature. On first glance, the course looks nicely packed between the town and the nearby oceanfront, but it’s only until you get out on the property that you realise how vast it is. There are huge distances between some of the parallel fairways as the land tumbles all around you. The 10th and 11th holes are even across a road on a somewhat separate piece of land surrounding Mac Isaac’s Pond offering some of the best holes at Cabot. With the wind flapping in your clothes and the waves hurdling towards you, this golf course is an incredible experience and is a tough slog despite being just 6,854 yards from the tips. On the front side, the 2nd hole is the index 1 par five measuring 620 yards which we somewhat farcically played into the wind. It’s not too often you hit a driver followed by two 1 irons just to get to a green in regulation. The 3rd moves away from the clubhouse, with the 4th and 5th bringing you back in. The fairness of this golf course is that although a par four may be 450 yards into the wind, you rarely have two holes back-to-back in the same direction. The architects made brilliant use of the prevailing wind while imagining the routing, and yet maintaining an awareness of golfer’s playability. The first par three is the 7th hole, but it measures 247 yards from the tips. With the wind howling in our face, out came the drivers once again. We joked walking towards the understated Biarritz green that “when was the last time you hit driver on the opening 7 holes of a golf course, including a par three?!”. This hole really grew on us and its topology is wonderfully incorporated into the surrounding dunes. As the hole is so long and the holes don’t have descriptions in the yardage book, the Biarritz hits you by surprise and offers fabulously challenging pin positions. The 450-yard 9th hole has a tight tee shot between bunkers and its raised green only adds to the yardage for the approach, inevitably into the wind. There was an understandable feeling of exhaustion after just nine holes of breathtaking golf. The anticipation for the back nine was off the charts and it didn’t disappoint. Once you cross the road and behold the par three 10th hole, you’re greeted by a green wonderfully fitted into a splendid back-drop with brutal fall offs all around the dance floor. It’s a very large green complex and at 178 yards from the back tee, it could be a two club green. Yes, Cabot Links even has a Cape hole. This Cape hole doglegs sharply left around an estuary filled with local fishing boats. Bite off as much as you want, you’ll still have a tough approach shot no matter what. The fishing nets probably have as many golf balls as fish! Crossing the road brings you back to the par three 12th hole. This hole was recently reconstructed and moved to its current location. The green is pushed back closer to the water and despite a 192-yard tee shot, the hole has a punishing fall off the back side down a slope towards the hay. We learned to play the front yardage and pray that it holds up. This is true links golf! The 13th is parallel to the 4th and they have a shared green. It’s wonderful to see this unique feature and draws an immediate comparison with the Old Course. With only thirteen holes played, it’s arguable that the best is just unfolding. Who would think that the town of Inverness would offer a 95-yard downhill par three playing towards the Gulf? In my opinion, it’s more spectacular than the 7th at Pebble Beach. Words don’t do justice to this treacherous hole. Everybody talks about it and everybody looks forward to it. Short is death, left or right isn’t much better and if you go long, you may as well pack a wet suit. The vista is stunning and the demand for a perfect “chip” would give you heart palpitations. The 15th and 16th are the signature holes running along the water with fairways pitching towards the waves and most of your photographs will come from this spot of land. As mentioned above, you cover a serious amount of land on your way around the routing, with each hole being a complement to its predecessor. Making the turn for home gets you up to the par three 17th green with a long iron before you prepare yourself for the toughest 18th hole I’ve ever played in my life. Index 2 at 475 yards into the wind to a narrow plateau fairway, leaving you a very long club into a narrow green which sits just inches from the glass clubhouse! It’s the type of championship finishing hole where par feels like eagle. I still shiver just thinking about the tee shot and then things don’t really improve when you stare down a 250-yard approach with nothing in your favour. The deep bunkers don’t help either; although they are wonderfully created and each throughout the course is as natural as the landscape. When I aggregate the design variety, the challenge, the hospitality, the passion, the adventure and the sheer brilliance to create an authentic links course, Cabot Links made me weak at the knees. The long drive from Halifax is worth it, but hopefully more convenient flight schedules will become available in the future to airports closer to the facility. With Cabot Cliffs destined to make its debut in 2015, the town of Inverness better prepare itself for a global golfing invasion. I was delighted to hear that Cabot Cliffs will have a driving range, which is probably the only feature that is missing from Cabot Links. Being in Nova Scotia on ‘Canada Day’ and getting to experience all the joys of Canadian traditions, means my next visit up along the Cabot Trail is just a matter of time. Highlands Links Designated a national park in 1936, Cape Breton Highlands covers 950 square kilometers and is one of the largest protected wilderness areas in Nova Scotia. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is part of a system of national parks protecting significant landscapes throughout Canada. The park is known for its spectacular highlands and ocean scenery. Steep cliffs and deep river canyons carve into a forested plateau bordering the Atlantic Ocean. One third of the Cabot Trail, a world-famous scenic highway, runs through the national park along the coasts and over the highlands. Inside the park is Highlands Links Golf Course routed along Ingonish Beach and is the creation of Stanley Thompson. Having being the mastermind behind splendid golf courses in other Canadian national parks, namely Banff and Jasper, Stanley Thompson was engaged to build 18 holes throughout the densely forested and rugged terrain of Cape Breton. Having flown into Halifax airport, the sheer logistics of getting up to Highlands Links is mammoth. If you don’t like the option of connecting up to Sydney airport in a puddle-jumper, then get ready to spend time in the car. None the less, it’s all worth it and there’s always the chance to see a Canadian Moose along the way! An immediate observation about this course is that each hole has one thing in common: there’s a corridor of grass lined on both sides by tall trees. You’re either on the grass, or your ball is lost. Given that this is a municipal golf course with limited funding and run by park rangers, the maintenance of the fairway grass and the speed of the greens is something which you will just have to accept and focus more on the breathtaking landscape of the fairways and the spectacular nature of the green structures. Being from Ireland, I loved the fact that each hole has a name of Irish/Scottish decent. Nova Scotia has a significant Irish/Scottish influence with many of the road-signs being written in both English and Gaelic. Even while speaking to the locals and hearing their accents, I felt like I could have been at Lahinch or Machrihanish! Never before have I played a parkland course with fairways that look like elephant burial grounds and pitch so dramatically from one side to the other. There is a continual ripple of bumps on each hole which begins right from the start. The 2nd hole is a downhill par four dogleg to the right and has been listed amongst the top 500 golf holes in the world. The downhill approach shot from a contoured lie makes this 447-yard hole a total adventure. The golf course offers a string of challenging short par fours, some of which only an iron is required off the tee. It’s amazing how Thompson created so many short holes that either the tee shot or the approach shot is blind. For example, I fell in love with the 324-yard 4th hole called “Heich O’Fash” which means Heap of Trouble. The green sits up high above the fairway in an upside down saucer shape and heavily bunkered. You can’t see the bottom of the flag, even with a 70-yard approach shot. The par three 5th hole was my favourite single shot hole on the course. It’s 164 yards downhill to a shallow, almost punchbowl green with a deep swale in front which repels balls that land short. Tremendous fun! You quickly begin to realise why this course is listed amongst the Top 100 Golf Courses of the World. The par five 6th hole called Mucklemouth Meg has been listed as amongst the top 100 holes in world. The dogleg right takes you around the Clyburn River with wonderful bunker complexes lining the left-hand side. It’s a glorious sight from the elevated tee box, especially with a backdrop to render you speechless. The back nine continues to deliver world-class short and long holes running in all directions. To think that horses pulled their way through the forests to cut out the holes all those decades ago is mind-blowing. The pitch on some of the fairways would even be difficult for today’s technology and machinery. Golf courses like this couldn’t be built today and it reminded me a lot of the charming nature of Swinley Forest. It’s a complete step back in time and the simple nature of the operation is a very welcomed break from the luxuries of many of the world’s top clubs. People here can put their shoes on at the back of the car and get right down to business. No shoe shine service or valet parking required here. If it wasn’t for the 5 hours and 10 minutes it took for our two-ball to play the course in a golf buggy, we could have played 54 holes in a heartbeat. I was enjoying myself so much that it broke my heart to finish the round. We all wanted to go straight back out, but we’ll just have to wait until next time. Please make every effort to visit this masterpiece as the renovations have done wonders to bring it back to its very best. Many of the tee boxes have a photograph of the hole from 1941, so you can compare how the hole looked over 70 years ago. If you don’t fall head over heels in love with Highlands Links, then you don’t love golf. Article written by our US Consultant, Fergal O'Leary, who continues his mission to become the youngest person to play the Top 100 Golf Courses of the World. Images of Cabot Links and Highlands Links courtesy of Cabot Links and Highlands Links.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
England, United Kingdom
Montana, United States
Nova Scotia, Canada
England, United Kingdom
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
