Cabot Cape Breton

Central Ave,

Inverness, Nova Scotia B0E 1N0

  • Office

    +1 (855) 652 2268 (toll free)
  • Pro shop

    +1 (902) 258 4653
  • Golf pro

    Mike Johnston (Head Golf Professional)

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Open links-style. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland, woodland, clifftop, oceanside (Gulf of St Lawrence).

  • Designer:

    Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, with input from Rod Whitman.

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6764
6090
5059
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
74.3
71.5
71.4

At the same location:

Above distances are for the Cabot Cliffs course. Also at Cabot Cliffs location is the 10-hole par-3 The Nest course. Located 1.5 km to the southwest of Cabot Cliffs, with its own clubhouse & lodging, is the original 18-hole Cabot Links course (par-70; 6,854 yds from back tees).

Location

Latitude:

46.252471

Longitude:

-61.282816

How to get there:

1.5 km NE of Inverness / 155 km W of Sydney.

Cabot Cape Breton (Cliffs course)

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!

Est. 2015

The Cabot Cape Breton resort, with its two stunning 18-hole coastal courses (Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs) provides an unrivalled links golf experience on Canada's Atlantic coast. The younger Cliffs course is located just 1.5 km along the road from the original Cabot Links and the town of Inverness.

Laid out on undulating terrain behind Broad Cove, Cabot Cliffs is another world-class seaside links, crafted by the inimitable team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. As the sensational sister course to Cabot Links, the Cliffs layout is also a championship test of golf that ranks with the best. With six par-3s, 4s and 5s, ten of the holes have you golfing directly alongside the shoreline of Broad Cove on the Gulf of St Lawrence.

The terrain is more undulating than on its sister course, which allows greater elevation changes on some holes. Pockets of trees also put in occasional appearances. But this is certainly not a tree-lined course. Similar in style and length to the neighbouring Links, here you'll find equally impressive man-made dunes, rugged bunkering, large sloping greens and huge chip 'n' run green surrounds.

Mike Keiser once famously contended that the fame and notoriety of golf courses is a reflection of their "holy shit!" holes. If that's the case, then the closing stretch at Cabot Cliffs will be its passport to the top. The incredible par-3 16th plays across a small cove into a green perched above an extraordinary formation of gypsum and sandstone cliffs. It is destined to become a world beater.

The short par-4 17th plays back towards the cliffs, a daunting blind drive has to be made across the cove and over the cliffs. The views from here, and many other parts of the course are simply stunning. The par-5 18th plays straight downhill in the direction of Margaree Island (Cabot's "Ailsa Craig"). The final green hangs out over the coastline. A thrilling closing hole to a spectacular golf course.

List of courses: Cape Breton (Cabot Trail)

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends during the golf season (usually mid-April thru' mid-Nov).

Must book in advance.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes at peak times in high season (July thru' mid-Sept) on Links or Cliffs courses: C$475 (outside visitor); C$380 (resort guest).

Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Non-metal spike facility. Cabot Cliffs is a walking course. Golf carts available only if medically required. Caddies available.

Practice facilities

Limited

Did you know?

Co-founded by Canadian businessman Ben Cowan-Dewar and American entrepreneur Mike Keiser (of Bandon Dunes fame), the Cabot Golf brand started out with two superb coastal courses (Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs) on the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The brand's expansion now includes Cabot St Lucia in the Carribean, Cabot Revelstoke (opens 2024) in central British Columbia, and Cabot Highlands in Scotland (home to the Castle Stuart Links).

Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs are built above former underground coal mines that stretch 2 km out to sea under the Gulf of St Lawrence. The courses take their name from the Italian navigator and explorer John Cabot (c.1450-c.1500). Commissioned by Henry VII of England, "Zuan Chabotto" (in his native Venetian) is thought to have been the first European to explore mainland North America since the Norse Vikings. Cabot made landfall somewhere on the coast of North America in 1497; Cape Breton is one of a number of locations where this landfall possibly occurred.

Published ranking

Canada's No.1 course (SCOREGolf, 2022) and No.1 public access course (SCOREGolf, 2023).
World's 52nd best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 19th best public access course (Golf World, 2023).

Where2Stay

  • Lodge at Cabot Links

    15933 Central Ave, Inverness, Nova Scotia B0E 1N0.

    +1 (902) 258 4653

    Visit website

    Designed by an award-winning architect and interior designer, the 48-room Cabot Links Lodge is inspired by its surroundings. The building incorporates materials that exude a timeless and modern aesthetic, giving the feel of low key luxury. The Lodge is located in close proximity to the Cabot Bar and Panorama Restaurant, fanning south to closely border the putting green of Cabot Links 18th hole.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Cabot Links

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Cabot Cliffs

    • Golf within 30 km:

      No

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