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Table of Contents
- Getting to Cabot Cape Breton: How to Get There & What to Expect
- Where to Stay: Lodges, Villas & Dunes Cottages
- Where to Eat & Drink: From Lobster Shacks to Sunset Pints
- Cabot Links: A True Links Golf Experience
- Cabot Cliffs: Golf on the Edge of the World
- The Nest: Cabot’s Scenic Par-3 Gem
- Layering Up: What to Wear at Cabot Cliffs and Links
- Closing Thoughts: A Touch of Scotland in Canada
Getting to Cabot Cape Breton: How to Get There & What to Expect
The courses are located on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. “Nova Scotia” which is New Scotland in Latin was coined by Sir William Alexander who received a grant for the land in 1621 from King James VI of Scotland (James I of England), and the first settlement was established in 1629. Nova Scotia boasts the largest percentage of Scottish Canadians, and many traditions, like Highland Games and Gaelic language, are still celebrated. Cape Breton Island is known for its dramatic scenery, Scottish heritage, and vibrant Celtic culture. The golf property is actually based in Inverness which is also a nod to Cabot’s Scotland property Cabot Highlands consisting of Castle Stuart by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse and their new course Old Petty by Tom Doak which has received rave reviews). The easiest method of transport is to fly as close as you can, as given the different islands you have to drive certain routes to get the correct bridge crossings. Beware of winter roads if visiting in the cooler months, and also look out for moose, which can be as big as a North American 4x4 truck. Cabot Cape Breton is a remote destination, so early travel planning is essential.
Closest airports are:
• Port Hawkesbury (Private Terminal): 50 miles (~80 km), 1-hour drive
• J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport: 105 miles (~168 km), 2-hour drive
• Halifax International Airport: 197 miles: (~317 km), 3-hour drive
There are regular direct flights out of London Heathrow to Halifax International Airport, which I wish I had known before, as I connected through Toronto. If you are visiting just for the golf, and not going salmon or Lobster fishing, camping or hiking, three nights is all you really need.
Where to Stay: Lodges, Villas & Dunes Cottages
The Cabot Cape Breton property has a few options of where to stay. The well appointed “Lodge Rooms” or “Villas” at Cabot Links, or the “Residence” or “Dunes Cottages” at Cabot Cliffs most of which are owned by members. We stayed in the rooms at the Links which all offered beautiful views of the course and water, stunning sunsets, and were all complete with your own putting holes and inspirational golf quotes adorned on the doors. Timber-framed lodges blend into the dunes and frame the ocean views, nothing showy, just perfectly considered. It was really quite magically looking out on the links at midnight, as given it was summertime and how far North you are you can catch the Northern lights, but what was really special was the moon light hit the green fairways and greens below at night – it looked like nature’s version of a light show on a golf course. If on your final day you have to check out of your room before a final round, there is a well-designed shower room area next to the Reception at Cabot Links which is useful to freshen up after your round before heading down the road.
Where to Eat & Drink: From Lobster Shacks to Sunset Pints
There are a number of options here. The Panorama at Cabot Links is really the epicentre of F&B, with breakfast served or as a takeaway including overnight oats, breakfast rolls and fruit. They also have a more formal dining experience upstairs, and a wonderful terrace where you can enjoy drinks whilst watching others struggle to finish the final long 452 yard par-4 18th of the Links course. We ate dinner at Coore's (more on him later) Lobster Shack which is in the Barn serving incredible seafood which offers a relaxed family style dining, just make sure you use the bibs they provide as the lobsters are large and get messy and you wouldn’t want to ruin your Glenmuir golf shirt (the locals still refrain to use bibs, but I would recommend you do!). Whit's Public House is their version of a British Pub, serving comforting food like ribs, pizzas, wings and fully loaded nachos in a relaxed environment with various sports on the multiple TVs.
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There is also a Pantry Shop for those wanting to cook breakfast in their villas. If you miss breakfast due to an early tee time, do not worry, you will not go hungry at Cabot. You pass a “Halfway House” four times on the Cabot Links course fully stocked with your favorite drinks and food (try the in house made peanut butter protein balls), whilst the on the Cliffs course their Halfway house serves lobster rolls worth letting the game behind through for, and a friendly cart bar service. Don’t forget to stock up on the beautiful buttery cookies on the first tee, they are worth the calories and one is not enough. Something extra special a Tuesday and a Friday they also have a fully kilted piper who plays with the sun going down behind which really creates an ethereal atmosphere and transported be straight to the West Coast of Scotland.
Cabot Links: A True Links Golf Experience
Cabot Links was the first course of the three courses at Cabot Cape Breton, then came Cabot Cliffs and the latest addition a challenging par-3 Cabot Nest course. Cabot Links, ranked #35 on Golf Digest’s World’s Top 100 Greatest Courses, was designed by Alberta native Rod Whitman, and was the creation of Ben Cowan-Dewar with the help of Mike Keiser, the creator of Bandon Dunes. It offers a pure links experience beautifully woven between the town of Inverness and the fresh Atlantic Ocean. Strategic, honest golf with the wind as your ever-present companion . The green complexes with large undulations are difficult to navigate and really make you think with putts generally breaking towards the water and the greens rolling very quickly.
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I would highly recommend getting a caddy for the main two courses, they will enhance your playing experience and are worth their weight in gold (and Pro V1 golf balls). The fairways are firm, fast and sand based requiring you to really strike ball and then turf. Favourite holes include the 440 yard par-4 6th “Harbour” Hole, look out for the Lobster trawler boats coming in and out selling their catch, the dog leg 355 yard par-4 10th, and the 95 yard par-3 14th with the back of the green merging and falling straight into the ocean reminiscent of the 7th at Pebble Beach.
Cabot Cliffs: Golf on the Edge of the World
In contrast, Cabot Cliffs, ranked #11 on Golf Digest’s World’s Top 100 Greatest Courses, is dramatic and exhilarating in a different sense with holes clinging to the edge of towering cliffs, demanding carries over large drops and elevation changes to fairways rolling through vast dunes. The landscape is breath-taking especially on the back 9. The elevations of the tee shots are nod to Bandon Dunes with the course designed by the legendary golf architect duo of Bill Coore and two-time Masters Winner Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2015. Rumour has it that each hole cost a million dollars each, and given the layouts, I wouldn’t be surprised. Unusually, the layout is made of three par threes, three par fours and three par fives on each of the nines, which makes the course scorable if the wind is not blowing. The par-3 4th was interesting with two greens, “high” and “low”, representing the one time Coore and Crenshaw couldn’t agree on a single aim point off the tee so they decided to put in 2 greens which alternative each day. Our favourite holes include the 379 yard par-4 2nd hole which is shaped in Cabot Links’ beloved red lobster logo, native to the shores, allowing the golfer to select the left or right lobster claw shaped fairway to hit to and avoid the marshland in between. The 538 yard par-5 15th was a spectacular hole played directly into the ocean, whilst the signature 150 yard par-3 16th carry over the cliffs did not disappoint and had our hearts in our mouths. The course is built in harmony with the environment to preserve the coastal dunes ecosystems being maintained throughout and marked which, luckily for us, provided free relief as our caddies constantly reminded us of.
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The Nest: Cabot’s Scenic Par-3 Gem
Perhaps a hallmark of a fine golf property is a perfectly manicured and interesting par-3 course, and The Nest is exactly this. An 11 hole par-3 course, designed by Rod Whitman and Dave Axland, designed perched at the highest point of Cabot Cliffs overlooking the entire property. A more relaxed approach with us playing a 12-ball on one evening maybe gave us the most joy and bets memories of our trip. Music playing, plenty of beverages being drunk and lots of competing camaraderie whilst the sun set over the water – it’s a place where relationships and connections are cemented. The course also offers night golf during the summer months of August where you also have a high chance of catching the Northern Lights.
Layering Up: What to Wear at Cabot Cliffs and Links
Luckily, we had three of the best weather days of the season, 28 degrees clear sunny skies, 10 mph wind and no rain. I couldn’t have been happier. The caddies had told us just 12 hours before they were hitting drivers on a 140 yard par-3.
Most golf lovers play 36 holes a day so layering is key, and the conditions can be changeable throughout the day. We would suggest following the below guide.
Morning Round at Cabot Links:
Whether having a sit down breakfast at Panorama or grabbing and going, it is important to wrap up in the morning. The driving range, located at Cabot Cliffs, is worth a visit with their Trackman set up and pristine putting green. We would suggest a pair of g.ROSS trousers, with a smart g.TAIN or g.SILLOTH golf shirt and a zip neck lambswool g.COLL and worth popping on a g.CARLTON and g.NEWTON worth carrying in the bag to keep the cool Atlantic Sea air chill away.
For ladies’ opt for the g.KALEY trousers, a g.MISHA or g.PALOMA shirt, with an g.AMIRA merino zip neck and a g.AYLA gilet.
Wind and Rain Warning:
Whilst you are out on course and enjoying your lobster roll lunch or Tito’s vodka cocktail, depending on how you are playing, it is worth keeping in mind the wind and rain can change quickly. We would suggest for the cooler autumn winter months go for the s.MATTERHORN or s.VALBERG, or for the summer months opt for s.WHISPERDRY PRO-LITE, g.KYLE or g.JOHNSTONE they are lightweight options and will also keep you caddie happy.
For ladies’ go for the s.KILLY for autumn and the s.WHISPERDRY AURORA for the summer months. Worth packing a s.WATERPROOF BUCKET HAT because umbrellas are useless in Cabot Cape Breton winds.
Afternoon Round at Cabot Cliffs:
You have got your eye in now and are warmed up, well fed and watered. Time to where something a little more confident, plus the sun should be shining on you, whether its shining on your game or not that’s besides the point. I would stick with the g.ROSS trousers unless you are feeling brave to crack out the g.JACKSON shorts with g.MACKENZIE belt. Go for the statement g.MUIRHEAD stipe shirt or a g.CARRBRIDGE, and finish with a g.DUNNET and a g.COWAN LOGO cap.
For ladies make a statement in the g.AMELIA shirt, or g.STELLA, paired with g.PHOEBE pedal pushers, and a g.CARINA midlayer and g.LEXI visor to keep the sun out of the eyes.
Evening Knock on The Nest:
For The Nest sun set round, you want an outfit that can take you effortlessly from the course to Whit’s Public House so you can’t go wrong with a pair of g.JACKSON Shorts, g.DRYBURGH socks, the g.GLEN or g.CRAWFORD printed polo shirt, topped off with a g.CAMERON or g.KNOX for those who prefer a round crew neck vs a hoodie.
For ladies, go for a g.JENNA if the weather allows, or even a g.VICTORIA dress finished with a g.AVA cotton zip neck and a pair of g.KALEY trousers or g.EMELI skort.
Closing Thoughts: A Touch of Scotland in Canada
Cabot Cliffs, Links and The Nest are a just visit for any golfing group. Each hole on all courses are well designed with each tee shot having a clear target line, whether an edge of a bunker, a single bush, the edge of a hut in the distance. The remarkable thing about Cabot Cape Breton is each course has its own identity, its own voice, and each course require a different golfer skill to play them which makes Cabot Cape Breton unique. There are many world class golf resorts which boast two or three championship courses, but all merge into one providing no real memory of specific holes or which course you played. Whereas playing Cabot Cliffs, Cabot Links and The Nest all on the same day even, which we did on one day, gives you the feeling that you have played golf in three completely different countries.
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What also sets Cabot apart is its people and the spirit of the area. The staff are genuinely happy to help and seem to enjoy their job, whether that is your caddy going above and beyond, or a team member driving you down to the beach in your room dressing gown and waiting for you whilst you jump in to the ice cold ocean after your round, or drop off your favourite club sandwich, or provide exquisite golf merchandise adorned with the beautiful Cabot Cliffs or Cabot Links logo – it is all consistent and provides a golf experience like no other. There’s no rush at Cabot - just golf, ocean, and the quiet rhythm of the wind and tide to remind you what matters. As they say in Scotland “haste ye back”, and I cannot wait to return to Cabot Cape Breton.
