Cabot Links
On the northwest coast of Cape Breton, on the site of a former coal town, sits the course that put Canada on the world golf map. Cabot Links, opened in 2012, was the country's first authentic links, and with its clifftop sibling Cabot Cliffs it forms one of the great modern golf destinations anywhere. Every hole sees the sea, the turf runs firm and fast, and the whole resort is built for the travelling golfer who wants the real thing.
Photo: Cabot Cape Breton via Google.
The verdict
Cabot Links was designed by the Canadian architect Rod Whitman and opened across all eighteen holes in 2012, the first genuine links course in Canada. It runs along more than a mile of sandy shoreline beside the Gulf of St Lawrence at Inverness, a par 70 of around 6,850 yards, and every hole has an ocean view, with several played right along the beach. The ground is sandy and fast, the greens are exposed to the wind, and the routing makes the most of a dramatic, treeless coastal site.
Our verdict is that Cabot Links belongs on any serious golfer's list, and that the trip is best taken as a pair with Cabot Cliffs, the Coore and Crenshaw clifftop course that opened next door in 2015. Links purists will love the firm, ground game golf and the constant presence of the sea, and the resort's lodging, dining and caddie programme are all built around walking, links style golf. It is remote, weather dependent and not cheap, but it delivers a golf experience that rivals anything in North America.
Cabot Links at a glance
- Opened
- 2012
- Designer
- Rod Whitman
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 6,854 yards from the back tees
- Green fee
- Indicative resort guest peak around 450 CAD per round, plus tax
Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases; the indicative green fee is a 2025 to 2026 peak resort guest figure, plus the 14 percent Nova Scotia tax, and rates vary by season and guest status, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
This is true links golf, which means the ground game is back in your hands. The fairways are firm and the ball runs, the greens are open at the front so you can chase shots in under the wind, and the smart player thinks in terms of trajectory and roll rather than carry numbers. With par at 70 the card is tight, but there are real birdie chances, including a drivable short par 4 and reachable par 5s when the wind allows.
The sea is the constant companion. Several holes play directly along the beach, the closing stretch returns toward the town and the harbour, and the short par 3 over an inlet near the end is one of the most photographed holes in Canadian golf. The wind off the Gulf is the defence, swinging the difficulty of the same hole from a flick to a full blooded long iron depending on the day, so two rounds here can feel like two different courses.
It is a pure walking resort with a strong caddie programme, and that is the way to play it; the routing was built for it and the experience is the better for the company and the local knowledge. The season runs roughly late spring to mid autumn, with summer the warmest and busiest and the shoulders offering firmer turf and softer rates. Pack for wind and changeable weather even in high summer, and budget the time to play both Links and Cliffs.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course; tee times prioritise overnight resort guests, with limited day visitor access in season |
| Indicative green fee | Around 450 CAD per round at peak for resort guests, plus 14 percent tax; lower in the shoulder season |
| On foot | Walking only, with an excellent caddie programme; no buggies on the links |
| Season | Roughly late May to mid October; summer is warmest and busiest, the shoulders firmer and better value |
| Getting there | Inverness on Cape Breton, about a 3 hour drive from Halifax airport; many fly in for several days |
Cabot prioritises overnight guests for tee times and the trip works best as a multi day stay playing both Links and Cliffs; rates carry Nova Scotia tax and move with the season, so confirm current figures and availability directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Cabot itself, which offers lodge rooms and villas overlooking the course and the Gulf, all within walking distance of the first tee, the clubhouse and the restaurants. Staying on site secures the best access to tee times across both courses and turns the visit into the immersive, walk everywhere golf retreat it was designed to be.
Beyond the resort, the town of Inverness has a handful of inns and rental options, and the wider Cape Breton island, with the scenic Cabot Trail and its national park, rewards a longer trip for non golfers in the group. Halifax, about three hours away, is the gateway, and many visitors fold a night there at either end of a Cabot stay.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Cabot and around Cape Breton.
Play Cabot on a Nova Scotia golf trip
Tell us when you want to play and who is travelling, and one concierge books Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, secures the on site lodging and caddies and plans the Cape Breton logistics, costed to the head with no obligation.
Cabot Links questions
Who designed Cabot Links and when did it open?
Cabot Links was designed by the Canadian golf architect Rod Whitman and opened across all eighteen holes in 2012. Built on the site of a former coal mining town at Inverness on Cape Breton, it was the first authentic links course in Canada, a par 70 of around 6,854 yards where every hole has a view of the Gulf of St Lawrence.
How much does it cost to play Cabot Links?
Peak season green fees for resort guests are in the region of 450 Canadian dollars per round, with the 14 percent Nova Scotia harmonised sales tax on top, and lower rates in the shoulder season. Tee times prioritise overnight guests. These are indicative 2025 to 2026 figures that vary by season and guest status, so always confirm the current rate directly with the resort or your trip planner before booking.
Should I play Cabot Links or Cabot Cliffs?
Both. Cabot Links, the original Rod Whitman links from 2012, runs along the beach and the town, while Cabot Cliffs, the Coore and Crenshaw course that opened in 2015, plays along dramatic clifftops above the sea. They are different in character and both rank among the best modern courses in the world, so the trip is best taken as a pair over several days.
Is Cabot Links walking only?
Yes. Cabot Links is a pure walking links with an excellent caddie programme and no buggies on the course, in keeping with its design and traditions. The routing was built for walking, and taking a caddie is the recommended way to play, both for the local knowledge on the firm, windswept ground and for the experience itself.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.