Cabot Links Golf Course
Cabot Links Golf Course
4.5
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More than 3 hours
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Restaurants
11 within 3 miles
Panorama Restaurant
149
471 ft$$$$ • Seafood • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Cabot Bar
109
0 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • Gastropub • Canadian
The Cabot Public House
105
432 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
The Joint - Mobile Grill
17
0.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • Fast Food • Street Food
Robins Doughnuts
28
0.1 mi$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Fast Food
Route 19 Brewing
131
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • Pub • Canadian
The Cabot Public House
3
0.1 miPub
Coal Miners Cafe
142
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • Cafe • Canadian
Westside Cookhouse, Bakery & Treats
35
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Canadian
Greco Pizza Xpress
3
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Pizza
Attractions
9 within 6 miles
Inverness County Centre for the Arts
7
0.3 miArt Galleries
Inverness Beach Boardwalk
180
0.8 miPiers & Boardwalks
St Matthews United Church
2
0.4 miChurches & Cathedrals
Stella Maris Parish
2
0.5 miChurches & Cathedrals
Inverness Miners' Museum
8
0.5 miSpeciality Museums
Inverness Visitor Information Centre
6
0.6 miVisitor Centers
Doug Fraser Art Gallery and Sculptural Garden
20
1.4 miArt Galleries
Glenora Inn and Distillery
264
Distilleries
Cape Breton Gallery
0.4 miArt Galleries
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
150 reviews
Excellent
103
Very good
28
Average
14
Poor
3
Terrible
2
John R
Burlington, Canada235 contributions
Couples
Unless you have handicapped licence plate, or other proof on ambulatory issue, you will walk the course. Booking a caddy is the way to go. Caddy does all the expected services and helps you navigate a particularly challenging track. If you spray the ball, the fescue will be an issue. Greens are interesting with lots of undulation. Bump and run is preferred way to attack the greens since they are difficult to hold with high trajectory ball flight. Weather conditions were pretty much perfect - warm with light breeze. It was one of the most incredible golf experiences of my life. Recommend to a friend - definitely. Cost was what I spend on golf in a month. I couldn’t do it often, but I’ll definitely be back to tackle this course again.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jim d
Halifax, Canada1,056 contributions
This is a great golf course. Build along the ocean everything about this course is first class. The fairways are in fabulous shape and the greens are firm and true. It is truly a great golfing experience and this course is deserving of its high world golf ranking.
ONe minor suggestion would be to provide directional signage from the various greens to tee boxes. This could prove problematic for players playing this course for the first time.
ONe minor suggestion would be to provide directional signage from the various greens to tee boxes. This could prove problematic for players playing this course for the first time.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wawa
Toronto, Canada24 contributions
Couples
I never played link course before, honestly I did not know what to expect.
After my husband and I played 2 rounds of Cabot link & Cabot cliff, We can say , we really enjoy these two courses equally! We had such a good time, because everyone work there were sooo friendly! There were one occasion, we were at parking lot, a guy finished his work for the day, was heading to the parking lot. He stopped and asked us, how was our day going….
The golf course was in excellent condition , they did a great job! We appreciate the golf course very much. No wonder people come from over the world to play Cabot link and Cabot cliffs.
We have to give a special thanks to our caddies: Skylar and Robert.
Skylar she is young but she already have 5 years experience. She knows what she is doing for sure, very impressed by her! Robert probably is the oldest caddie there, but he tried his best to help my husband whenever he can.
Playing this two courses, you definitely need caddie’s help, if you want to “ Enjoy the course”.
After my husband and I played 2 rounds of Cabot link & Cabot cliff, We can say , we really enjoy these two courses equally! We had such a good time, because everyone work there were sooo friendly! There were one occasion, we were at parking lot, a guy finished his work for the day, was heading to the parking lot. He stopped and asked us, how was our day going….
The golf course was in excellent condition , they did a great job! We appreciate the golf course very much. No wonder people come from over the world to play Cabot link and Cabot cliffs.
We have to give a special thanks to our caddies: Skylar and Robert.
Skylar she is young but she already have 5 years experience. She knows what she is doing for sure, very impressed by her! Robert probably is the oldest caddie there, but he tried his best to help my husband whenever he can.
Playing this two courses, you definitely need caddie’s help, if you want to “ Enjoy the course”.
Written September 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
KMCIGARS
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic2 contributions
Don't bother it's a fancy muni. There are better places to play for a lot less money, unfortunately the place is not well maintained and the caddies are not trained well, they just pull people off the street and train them for nine holes, never again.
Written October 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Netless
Toronto, Canada16 contributions
Friends
Please keep in mind that this review is from my round from July 16 2014.
Ok so being a local kid from Cape Breton and never taking the opportunity to play this course, I finally made an effort to drive up to Inverness. After reading all these great reviews about Cabot Links and constantly seeing this course in Top10 courses in Canada I had to give it a shot.
So I went up here on a Thursday, for a quiet afternoon of golf with my 3 friends.
Pros:
+ The scenery is great. Your typical Cape Breton ocean view.
+ Staff was very friendly.
+ Pace of play was great for such a busy course.
Cons:
- Tee boxes are atrocious.
- Fairways were rock hard.
- The greens feel like they're half sand, half grass. and some holes the greens were patched in? (Hole 6?)
- THE PRICE! Sure I may of overlooked all the cons of this course if it wasn't $180.00 with tax. ($220.00 if you're from out of province) That's walking with a push cart.
- No GPS sync for any of your golf Apps!!! This is 2014 and every top course I've played in Canada nowadays has GPS, it's almost a must have, especially if it's a course you're not familiar with. Our theory is they still don't have GPS because they want you to use the caddies and spend the extra $30-$50.
Conclusion:
I could let the quality of the course go if the price wasn't so extreme. I understand Nova Scotia had a bad winter but I've golfed Dundee, Bell Bay, Lakes (Ben Eion) and they are all in way better shape than this course and at a better price.
This was the first, and last time I will ever go to this course.
Ok so being a local kid from Cape Breton and never taking the opportunity to play this course, I finally made an effort to drive up to Inverness. After reading all these great reviews about Cabot Links and constantly seeing this course in Top10 courses in Canada I had to give it a shot.
So I went up here on a Thursday, for a quiet afternoon of golf with my 3 friends.
Pros:
+ The scenery is great. Your typical Cape Breton ocean view.
+ Staff was very friendly.
+ Pace of play was great for such a busy course.
Cons:
- Tee boxes are atrocious.
- Fairways were rock hard.
- The greens feel like they're half sand, half grass. and some holes the greens were patched in? (Hole 6?)
- THE PRICE! Sure I may of overlooked all the cons of this course if it wasn't $180.00 with tax. ($220.00 if you're from out of province) That's walking with a push cart.
- No GPS sync for any of your golf Apps!!! This is 2014 and every top course I've played in Canada nowadays has GPS, it's almost a must have, especially if it's a course you're not familiar with. Our theory is they still don't have GPS because they want you to use the caddies and spend the extra $30-$50.
Conclusion:
I could let the quality of the course go if the price wasn't so extreme. I understand Nova Scotia had a bad winter but I've golfed Dundee, Bell Bay, Lakes (Ben Eion) and they are all in way better shape than this course and at a better price.
This was the first, and last time I will ever go to this course.
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TammyJoD3
Longwood, FL24 contributions
Friends
The course itself is beautiful. They are trying to make this a high end destination with a true links experience. Unfortunately they fail terribly with the high end experience. The cost of a round of golf is definitely on the high end, but the experience ends there. There are no carts, it is a walking course, which is fine, if you are properly set up as such. But they do not have enough caddies to meet the demand for players requesting them, so you either have to carry your own bag or use a push cart. The website suggesting reserving your caddie in advance to be sure you have one. Well, our group did just that. Each of us "reserving the caddie level" we preferred. That was a useless exercise. When we arrived for our round, they did not have caddies for us. When our tee time arrived, they were still scrambling to find caddies to carry our bags.
We were standing on the first tee waiting for caddies, while the groups waiting behind all had caddies. We were told they were waiting for caddies to come off the course from earlier rounds. Now why would groups behind us have caddies, but we were standing around waiting? After much frustration and discussion, they decided to send one of the caddies that were standing around waiting out with us. The starter and caddie master were at a total loss as to how to proceed.
We ended up with two caddies, carrying two bags each. That was not what we had set up before hand, but that was all we were going to get. The caddies did their best, but they were not use to carrying two bags, or attending to two golfers. But we were still expected to pay the same. We had experienced the same situation at the Cliffs course, and were assured by the caddie master, it would not happen at Links.
If you wish to hold yourself out as ha high end walking golf destination, you need to be able to supply the experience you are advertising.
The beauty of the golf course could not make up for the total lack of management.
We were standing on the first tee waiting for caddies, while the groups waiting behind all had caddies. We were told they were waiting for caddies to come off the course from earlier rounds. Now why would groups behind us have caddies, but we were standing around waiting? After much frustration and discussion, they decided to send one of the caddies that were standing around waiting out with us. The starter and caddie master were at a total loss as to how to proceed.
We ended up with two caddies, carrying two bags each. That was not what we had set up before hand, but that was all we were going to get. The caddies did their best, but they were not use to carrying two bags, or attending to two golfers. But we were still expected to pay the same. We had experienced the same situation at the Cliffs course, and were assured by the caddie master, it would not happen at Links.
If you wish to hold yourself out as ha high end walking golf destination, you need to be able to supply the experience you are advertising.
The beauty of the golf course could not make up for the total lack of management.
Written September 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lorne597
Rothesay, Canada29 contributions
Friends
Cabot Links has a 72 hour cancellation policy. If it rains on the scheduled day, there are no rain checks.
On August 6 it rained cats and dogs. The remnants of TS Emily came by and dumped at least 30mm in 4 hours in the afternoon.
Unfortunately the course became unplayable. Some of the greens were flooded and unplayable and every trap had at least a foot of muddy water. A ball in a sand trap became an instant lost ball. Any other golf course would have been closed.
I know they are trying to promote the "Links" experience, but a bit of common sense is required.
Too bad for the golfers at Cabot Links this particular day!
Where was the course management that afternoon?
With green fees costing up to $295.00 plus tax, this is just not fair.
Someone from management should have been proactive enough to realize there was a problem and to volunteer compensation to the golfers.
After our round, I approached the person in the pro shop at 8:30pm and told her about the conditions.
I give Maggie full marks. She handled the situation perfectly. She immediately offered a 50% refund to our group no questions asked.
It is just unfortunate that the management had gone missing that afternoon and had left it up to Maggie to handle the problem after the fact.
I know this place has some new management in place this year, but they better get on the ball. Cabot's pristine reputation is at stake.
Our experience in the lounge/ bar was equally concerning, but that is a review for another day.
On August 6 it rained cats and dogs. The remnants of TS Emily came by and dumped at least 30mm in 4 hours in the afternoon.
Unfortunately the course became unplayable. Some of the greens were flooded and unplayable and every trap had at least a foot of muddy water. A ball in a sand trap became an instant lost ball. Any other golf course would have been closed.
I know they are trying to promote the "Links" experience, but a bit of common sense is required.
Too bad for the golfers at Cabot Links this particular day!
Where was the course management that afternoon?
With green fees costing up to $295.00 plus tax, this is just not fair.
Someone from management should have been proactive enough to realize there was a problem and to volunteer compensation to the golfers.
After our round, I approached the person in the pro shop at 8:30pm and told her about the conditions.
I give Maggie full marks. She handled the situation perfectly. She immediately offered a 50% refund to our group no questions asked.
It is just unfortunate that the management had gone missing that afternoon and had left it up to Maggie to handle the problem after the fact.
I know this place has some new management in place this year, but they better get on the ball. Cabot's pristine reputation is at stake.
Our experience in the lounge/ bar was equally concerning, but that is a review for another day.
Written August 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bobbie M
Ottawa, Canada29 contributions
Couples
Let me begin by saying, I love golf! I have been fortunate enough to play many of the top golf courses in North America and I would rank Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs at the top of those courses.
The Cliffs has only been open for preview play for 2 months and is not finished or matured by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however, a jaw dropping site for a golf course with a wide variety of distinctive holes and stunning vistas. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this course and would return in a heartbeat. I was prepared to be underwhelmed by the Links which I played the next two days. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Cabot Links is pure golf with exceptional shot values. It unfolds like a finely crafted novel with unique challenges at every turn. It is one of those experiences that has you wondering how the next hole can possibly be better and yet it is. My personal favourite was number 6, a sharp dogleg left around the harbour with a rocky beach and sailboats left and huge dunes to the right. Other holes of particular note are the 233 yard second with a huge green with a deep swale running through the center, number 8, a staunch par 5 with one of the best designed double greens I have seen and number 11, an epic par 5 with a daunting uphill second shot and memorable third to a plateaued sloping green. Actually, every hole is memorable. A real shot makers paradise and an absolute "must play" for true fans of golf architecture. I can't say enough about what, for me, was an almost mystical experience. It will do nothing but get better with age.
The Cliffs has only been open for preview play for 2 months and is not finished or matured by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however, a jaw dropping site for a golf course with a wide variety of distinctive holes and stunning vistas. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this course and would return in a heartbeat. I was prepared to be underwhelmed by the Links which I played the next two days. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Cabot Links is pure golf with exceptional shot values. It unfolds like a finely crafted novel with unique challenges at every turn. It is one of those experiences that has you wondering how the next hole can possibly be better and yet it is. My personal favourite was number 6, a sharp dogleg left around the harbour with a rocky beach and sailboats left and huge dunes to the right. Other holes of particular note are the 233 yard second with a huge green with a deep swale running through the center, number 8, a staunch par 5 with one of the best designed double greens I have seen and number 11, an epic par 5 with a daunting uphill second shot and memorable third to a plateaued sloping green. Actually, every hole is memorable. A real shot makers paradise and an absolute "must play" for true fans of golf architecture. I can't say enough about what, for me, was an almost mystical experience. It will do nothing but get better with age.
Written September 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MarkfromtheIsland
Duncan, Canada840 contributions
Couples
This is a nice setting for a links course. Right along the ocean - the windswept dunes and scrub make for a fine vista.
Unfortunately Cabot Links knows how to charge but not how to deliver. The course is rough - really rough. Not in the sense of a links course rough but in the sense that they don't seem to spend any of their very high greens fees on the course.
There are few (if any - I don't recall seeing any) ball washers. The tee blocks are pieces of 2x6 lumber with fading writing on them. The paths - when there are any - are a horrible reddish gravel that doesn't pack worth a damn and is tiring as heck to walk on. The flags, flag poles, cups etc. are the cheapest, crappiest ones that I've seen anywhere to date.
The fairways are in okay shape - nothing great. The greens run the gamut of very rough to very good. All in all it's a real mixed bag of some-good, some bad, some very bad, nothing exceptional. The construction quality around the course is sub-par and reflects poorly on the course itself.
Apparently the management likes to consider it 'rustic'. I think that's just a cop out way of saying 'we aren't gonna spend a penny more than we need to'.
My feeling is that this is a $65 course that touts their 'links' title to lure people into spending $150.
Maybe it needs a few years to mature - maybe it needs some operators who don't mind throwing some money back into the course. I know I won't be back for this quality of play at this price point.
On a bright note the restaurants and bars are very good and the wait staff are really nice.
Unfortunately Cabot Links knows how to charge but not how to deliver. The course is rough - really rough. Not in the sense of a links course rough but in the sense that they don't seem to spend any of their very high greens fees on the course.
There are few (if any - I don't recall seeing any) ball washers. The tee blocks are pieces of 2x6 lumber with fading writing on them. The paths - when there are any - are a horrible reddish gravel that doesn't pack worth a damn and is tiring as heck to walk on. The flags, flag poles, cups etc. are the cheapest, crappiest ones that I've seen anywhere to date.
The fairways are in okay shape - nothing great. The greens run the gamut of very rough to very good. All in all it's a real mixed bag of some-good, some bad, some very bad, nothing exceptional. The construction quality around the course is sub-par and reflects poorly on the course itself.
Apparently the management likes to consider it 'rustic'. I think that's just a cop out way of saying 'we aren't gonna spend a penny more than we need to'.
My feeling is that this is a $65 course that touts their 'links' title to lure people into spending $150.
Maybe it needs a few years to mature - maybe it needs some operators who don't mind throwing some money back into the course. I know I won't be back for this quality of play at this price point.
On a bright note the restaurants and bars are very good and the wait staff are really nice.
Written September 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tom R
Plymouth, MA12 contributions
Couples
Just got back from a great week-long vacation in Nova Scotia. But the highlight has to be playing Cabot Cliffs in a 25 mph wind, losing half a dozen balls, and still having the time of my life.
This is the most amazing course I've ever played (folks I talked to were comparing it to Royal County Downs in Northern Ireland and it reminded me of pictures of Pine Valley) and certainly the hardest. The pictures of the 16th hole are already circulating, but the early holes, like #2, where you have to carry a canyon with 150 yard tee shot, are equally dramatic.
I don't think we're going to be calling Crenshaw (who designed it with Bill Coore) Gentle Ben anymore. Cabot Links is great fun as well, but it doesn't have the drop dead spectacular holes that the new Cliffs has. Still, the two courses together and the small modern resort there have just become one of the top 5 golf destinations in the world (with Bandon Dunes, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, and western Ireland), in my view.
If you go, don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the fantastic seafood chowder at the bar overlooking the 18th hole of the Links course. Doesn't get much better than that. Only thing off is the lack of umbrellas on the patio to protect you from the sun. Hope they fix that before my next visit!
This is the most amazing course I've ever played (folks I talked to were comparing it to Royal County Downs in Northern Ireland and it reminded me of pictures of Pine Valley) and certainly the hardest. The pictures of the 16th hole are already circulating, but the early holes, like #2, where you have to carry a canyon with 150 yard tee shot, are equally dramatic.
I don't think we're going to be calling Crenshaw (who designed it with Bill Coore) Gentle Ben anymore. Cabot Links is great fun as well, but it doesn't have the drop dead spectacular holes that the new Cliffs has. Still, the two courses together and the small modern resort there have just become one of the top 5 golf destinations in the world (with Bandon Dunes, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, and western Ireland), in my view.
If you go, don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the fantastic seafood chowder at the bar overlooking the 18th hole of the Links course. Doesn't get much better than that. Only thing off is the lack of umbrellas on the patio to protect you from the sun. Hope they fix that before my next visit!
Written September 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Doelakelori
Gravenhurst22 contributions
I am a VERY beginner golfer. My husband less so, but certainly not an expert. We both love golf and these courses are sort of a bucket list because....well do I need to expand? The question is will I be intimidated and frustrated by this course? I can't imagine anything more beautiful than golfing alongside the ocean, but I don't want to feel like groups are wanting to pass me because frankly I consider par when I get to the green.
surf_seekers
Fredericton, New Brunswick125 contributions
The links course is very doable for beginners. There is one hole that requires a first shot of over 150 yards. That may require simply acknowledging and taking a drop! Slow play is always frustrating for some golfers, however being willing to allow a group or twosome behind you the chance to play through, should solve that easily and allow you the chance to play an amazing course!
How difficult are the tips at both cabot courses? I'm a 10 handicap but have good distance, I have played coursed over 7500 yards but that was too long for me to enjoy. Both cabot courses under 6800 seems reasonable... any recommendations?
wayner92
Toronto, Canada13 contributions
I am about a 10 handicap as well and the Green tees are plenty unless you are a scratch golfer.
Cabot Links Golf Course (Inverness) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Cabot Links Golf Course
- Hotels near Cabot Links Golf Course:
- (0.01 mi) Gables Motel
- (0.02 mi) Modern open concept Home Overlooking Cabot Links!
- (0.10 mi) Cabot Cape Breton
- (0.09 mi) Newly renovated beachfront home across from Cabot Links Golf Course
- (0.63 mi) Inverness Beach Village
- Restaurants near Cabot Links Golf Course:
- (0.00 mi) Cabot Bar
- (0.09 mi) Panorama Restaurant
- (0.08 mi) The Cabot Public House
- (0.13 mi) Robins Doughnuts
- (0.14 mi) The Cabot Public House