Cabot Cliffs Course
Inverness, Nova Scotia, CA
Cabot Cliffs, hewn from the dramatic coastal bluffs of Cape Breton, delivers a golfing experience where the relentless North Atlantic winds and the land's rugged contours are as central to the challenge as any strategically placed bunker. Coore & Crenshaw, respecting the raw character of the landscape, crafted a links-style layout that presents exhilarating shotmaking demands, favoring players who can control trajectory and embrace creativity. The wide fairways belie the difficulty, for wayward shots can disappear quickly into the fescue. While not steeped in a century of championship lore, Cabot Cliffs has swiftly garnered global attention, luring discerning golfers seeking a pure and unforgettable seaside test. The club’s modern sensibilities have established it as a sought-after destination, drawing an international membership appreciative of the minimalist design and the unadulterated beauty of its setting. Beyond the golf, the convivial atmosphere of the Cabot Cape Breton resort has quickly become a highlight for visitors. The warmth of the local staff and the vibrant culture of the nearby town of Mabou have transformed it to one of the more talked about golf destinations in the world.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Public: #17
Best in Canada
Public: #1
Best in Nova Scotia
Public: #1
Golfers say Cabot Cliffs delivers a stunning visual experience with dramatic oceanfront views and challenging links-style play, though opinions diverge on whether the course lives up to its lofty reputation. Most praise the property's remote setting, exceptional hospitality, and memorable atmosphere, comparing it to world-class destinations, while several reviewers note the greens feature extreme undulations that make ball control difficult. Some find certain holes—particularly the famous clifftop 16th and blind 17th—more scenic than strategic, with overly punishing layouts that prioritize difficulty over playability, and a few express disappointment with the quality of on-site lodging given the premium pricing. Reviewers consistently highlight standout holes like the short par-4 2nd and oceanside par-3 9th, though debate continues over whether Cliffs or its sibling Links course offers the better round.
9.2
126 players
Awesome!
Amazing layout and some of the best views in golf. Greens still pretty slow. 15-18 are the highlight but there are plenty of worldclass holes along the way. Links is tough competition. Plus love the Canadian vibe and hospitality.
Such a fun golf course with tons of risk/reward decisions and fun slopes to get creative with. Views are spectacular and the 17th might be my favorite hole in golf. Caddies are second to none.
Unforgettable experience at Cabot Cape Breton. Cabot cliffs is the main draw here for its stunning cliffside views and oceanfront golf. The course is pretty challenging and is very linksy. The greens have some insane undulations and it’s hard to stop the ball from running from one end of the green to the other. Overall Cabot does a phenomenal job in managing this property and it is truly a golfing heaven. I would compare this to Te Arai in New Zealand - very remote and the only thing you should be doing is golfing!
Drove up 18 hours shortly after the border opened post covid (Aug 2021) and was treated like royalty. Cliffs is the scenic track that isn’t necessarily the greatest setup but while you’re making double you’ll also be looking out onto the most perfectly blue ocean and be reminded that this is what it’s all about. Also met Sidney Crosby and he was insanely nice, calves like a clydesdale.
Played the cliffs when it was completely burned out. Cabot is a strange brand, I like the courses but I can’t get over how poor the lodging is. They decided to put up an incredible amount of embarrassingly small and poorly built lodges. These little cabins take away from the experience and leave me sick to my stomach thinking that some idiots willingly gave Cabot millions of dollars for a poorly built shack. 16 will be in the ocean soon and is an embarrassment.
Cabot Cliffs is the better received course, by raters, of the two Cabot Cape Breton courses. Let me explain why that isn’t true. Cliffs does a few things better than its Links counterpart. Its best holes are better, its views are better, and it’s a Coore & Crenshaw design. Thats it. The bad holes are bad! It is an overly punishing golf course, and while it is amazing, it isn’t deserving of its 52nd best course in the world spot (Golf Magazine 23-24). The course is known for its finishing stretch of holes, 15 through 18. Of these holes, only 18 is a good golf hole. 15 is a shorter par 5 that punishes every single shot. 16 is their world famous par 3 over the cliff, which is objectively beautiful, but it’s a horrible golf hole. The green might be the dumbest thing in the world. 17 is a drivable par 4 that requires a 210-230 yard shot off the tee into a blind fairway. You don’t see the ball at all — you walk down the fairway to the green hoping your ball rolled down to the right spot onto the green. Pure luck. 18 is a good par 5 that runs along the water. No notes there. The best on the Cliffs course are 2, 9, and 13. 2 is a shorter par 4 with a downhill tee shot into a split fairway. The approach is a wedge or short iron into a green that is elevated and surrounded with beautiful waste bunkers. 9 is a short par 3 overlooking the water. The green is properly undulated and makes for a fun hole. 13 is a long par 4 not on the water. It requires a long straight drive which sets you up for a longer blind approach. In front of the green is a big grass mound. Come up short of the mound, and you’ve got a nearly impossible chip. Just cover the mound, and there’s a good chance your ball trickles down to the hole. 6 is also a really fun par 3 that plays similar to the approach on 13. I believe the really bad holes on Cabot Cliffs are 3, 5, 15, 16, and 17. 3 is a long par 4 that punishes any drive or approach that are slightly off target. There are deep runoffs on all sides of the green. 5 is another long par 4. This hole plays like a cape hole, and the landing area is so awkward, then you have an incredibly long approach with death left and long of the green. If the golf course wasn’t ranked so highly, I wouldn’t have these expectations or be so critical. But it is, and I am, so here we are. If I had 10 rounds at Cabot Cape Breton, I’d play 8 on the Links and 2 on the Cliffs.
Public courses closest to Cabot Cliffs at Cabot Cape Breton.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Cabot Cliffs at Cabot Cape Breton has a Course Vaults score of 9.2 out of 10 based on 81 explicit golfer ratings.
Cabot Cliffs was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.
Yes. Cabot Cliffs at Cabot Cape Breton is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Cabot Cliffs is 72.
Cabot Cliffs plays 6,764 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Cabot Cliffs is 145.
