There is great golf to be had all over Nova Scotia. Halifax offers a vibrant city with great night life and fantastic golf within a short drive of downtown. Halifax may be one of the most fun cities to visit in Canada with a great nightlife and fantastic restaurants (and I would be happy to chat about both of those things, plus the golf there, any time you want) but for the true golfer it is hard to not look at Cape Breton.
Cape Breton is home to 3 of the top ranked courses in all of the world in Cabot Links, Cabot Cliff and Highlands Links Golf Course. 3 radically different course but each a special experience to play that you will never forget. Much has been written about all of these 3 course so I won’t try to compete with the professional writers other than to say – wow, these are courses you really need to play! |
If you’re playing at Cabot, you should stay at Cabot. While not required, it is actually cheaper to stay at the resort and play the course than it is to drive up from elsewhere and play. That’s a good thing though because it is pure golf (there are even cups in the floors in the hotel rooms) and the food and beverage is top notch (you HAVE TO try the braised short rib poutine – best poutine I have ever had!). |
Beyond the big 3 is more great golf in Cape Breton area. Le Portage is a very good course about 1 hour from Cabot and on the way up to Keltic Lodge (if your staying there for your round at Highlands Links) and further south in Baddeck is the Bell Bay Golf course, a favourite of mine.
Bell Bay is a Thomas McBroom course and is a true championship course. Home to Canadian Tour events, Bell Bay is in fantastic shape with beautiful views around every tree lined corner. Located in Baddeck, you can stay at the Inverary Resort on Bras d’Or Lakes and enjoy all the amenities of this wonderful waterside resort plus be within short walking distance of the town of Baddeck. Great food and fun can be found in town with, amongst many other options, a traditional lobster supper at (shockingly!!) Baddeck Lobster Suppers and for a casual dinner or order in, Tom’s Pizza serves a great pie!!! |
Baddeck makes a great home base to play not only Bell Bay and Highlands Links but also the best hidden gem in all of the Atlantic – The Lakes at Ben Eoin Golf Club.
Located about an hour from Baddeck, just on the other side of Sydney, this course winds it way around, up, and down a mountain that serves as the local ski hill in the winter. A bit short on amenities in the clubhouse area, the course more than makes up for that lack of luxury with what I can only call one of the best conditioned, most interesting golf courses I played our east – a definite must play and true hidden gem. As an added bonus, you can make a stop in Sydney on the way to or from the course and enjoy the waterfront shops and restaurants of that lovely town. |
Cape Breton is the perfect spot for anyone looking to play world ranked golf (I mean 3 course that are, or have been, ranked in the top 100 in the world – wow!) and world class hidden gems while enjoying the great scenery of the Cabot Trail and East Coast hospitality.
By the way, take a look at the PEI Sample trip and if you want, it is possible to combine some time in PEI plus get in Cabot, Highlands and The Lakes at Ben Eoin as a single trip – – I’ve done it myself, it just may require an extra 1 or 2 days but it is more than possible!
By the way, take a look at the PEI Sample trip and if you want, it is possible to combine some time in PEI plus get in Cabot, Highlands and The Lakes at Ben Eoin as a single trip – – I’ve done it myself, it just may require an extra 1 or 2 days but it is more than possible!