The town of Inverness and the Cabot Links course from the air

Unofficial golf trip guide · Cabot Cape Breton

Where to stay for a Cabot Cape Breton golf trip

Independent guide · Last checked: Nov 6, 2026

In short

For a Cabot Cape Breton golf trip, stay at the resort in Inverness, Nova Scotia, where the Lodge sits by the first tee of Cabot Links. Resort guests pay less (2027 peak rates from 460 CAD a round, against from 575 for day guests) and book tee times with their room, 12 to 18 months ahead, while outside golfers can only book 14 days out. The small town of Inverness is next door, and Mabou and Margaree Harbour are 25 to 30 minutes away. Early July to mid September is peak season, and 2027 bookings are already open.

Where to stay at Cabot Cape Breton

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Live map · Cabot Links LodgeHotels and rentals at live prices, Mon, Sep 13 to Fri, Sep 17

Open the live map for Cabot Links Lodge ↗

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ABCD Cabot Links Lodge1 Cabot villas, cottages and homes2 Inverness town3 Mabou4 Margaree Harbour5

ACourse to play

Plan ahead 2027 bookings opened in April 2026, so book your room and tee times together now, especially for early July to mid September.

Courses you can play at Cabot Cape Breton

  1. Greens and fairways of Cabot Links beside the town of Inverness, from the air Resort guests first

    Cabot Links

    Rod Whitman's links between the town of Inverness and the sea, the resort's first course (first holes in 2011).

    Resort guests book tee times when they book their room, 12 to 18 months ahead on the resort's release schedule. Day guests can book online up to 14 days ahead; day guest rounds are paid in advance and not refundable. Walking only.

    Green fee: CA$460 (2027) · Course site ↗

  2. Resort guests first

    Cabot Cliffs

    Coore and Crenshaw's 2015 course across dunes, woods and clifftops just north of the Links, ranked No. 1 in Canada by Golf Digest for 2026, with Cabot Links No. 2.

    Same rules as Cabot Links: resort guests book with their room, day guests up to 14 days ahead online. Walking only.

    Green fee: CA$460 (2027) · Course site ↗

  3. Resort guests first

    The Nest

    An 11 hole par 3 course on high ground at Cabot Cliffs, quick to play, with night golf under lights from late August.

    Day guests use the same 14 day online booking as the big courses.

    Green fee: CA$90 (2027) · Course site ↗

  4. Open to the public

    Highlands Links

    Stanley Thompson's 1941 public course in Cape Breton Highlands National Park at Ingonish, on the east coast of the island, about 2.5 hours from Cabot. You need a Parks Canada pass to play.

    Public course in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, booked online through the course's tee time system or by phone. Guests of The Keltic Resort next door get lower hotel guest rates. It is about 2.5 hours from Cabot each way. Every visitor needs a Parks Canada entry pass, sold at the clubhouse. Cancel at least 72 hours ahead to avoid a charge. Power carts are available.

    Course site ↗

How tee times work

At Cabot, resort guests book their tee times when they book their room, usually 12 to 18 months ahead, and pay less. Day guests can book online only 14 days ahead, pay in advance and cannot get a refund. Both big courses are walking only; caddies are optional and should be requested when you book. Highlands Links is a public course you book online, with lower rates for Keltic Resort hotel guests.

A sensible plan

Four nights at Cabot work well: arrive and play The Nest in the evening, then Cabot Links on day two (add a same day replay if you can), Cabot Cliffs on day three, and a second round on your favorite on day four. Highlands Links is an optional extra, about 170 km and roughly 2.5 hours each way (longer on the scenic Cabot Trail through the national park). Play it as a long day trip, or add one night at Ingonish for that course only: drive over after your last morning round at Cabot, play the next day, and fly home from Sydney, about 2 hours away.

Getting there

Sydney (YQY) is about 2 hours by road and Halifax (YHZ) about 3.5 hours, according to the resort; Port Hawkesbury is for private flights. There are no taxis in Inverness County, so rent a car or book the resort's van transfer.

Practical notes

Walking
Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs are walking only. A few medical carts are kept for golfers with a doctor's note; book one with your round, and a caddie drives it. Highlands Links rents power carts (31.50 CAD per golfer on the current rates page).
Caddies
Optional at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, by advance request and subject to availability: A caddie 90 CAD a bag, B caddie (carries only) 60 CAD a bag, forecaddie 120 CAD a group, each plus a tip. Request at least 48 hours ahead by email; an accepted caddie cancelled within 24 hours must still be paid. No caddies on The Nest.
Shuttle
A free shuttle loops between Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs. The resort sells private van transfers from airports in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. There are no taxis or ride share services in Inverness County, so most visitors rent a car (Enterprise and Avis at Halifax and Sydney).
Dress code
Casual golf attire is fine in every Cabot restaurant. No on course dress code was found on the official site.
Stay rules
Lodging: 50% deposit at booking, refundable up to 60 days before arrival; the balance is charged at 60 days and is not refundable. Resort tee times can be cancelled up to 48 hours ahead. Day guest tee times are prepaid and not refundable. Rooms carry 14% sales tax plus a 3% marketing levy. Check in 15:30, check out 10:30.
Weather
Courses close only for lightning, and rain is not refunded. The resort describes misty, windy links weather in spring and fall and summer averages around 25 C.
Gate fee
Highlands Links sits inside Cape Breton Highlands National Park, so every golfer needs a valid Parks Canada entry pass.
Practice
The practice range is at Cabot Cliffs, about five minutes' drive from the Lodge.

When to book

  1. NowBook a room with free cancellation as close to the course as you can.
  2. Fri, May 7, 2027Season opens.
  3. Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
  4. September 13 to 17, 2027Your trip.

Free guide

The Unofficial Cabot Cape Breton Golf Trip Guide

Every area, every course, how tee times work and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.

Cabot Cape Breton golf trip questions

Do you have to stay at Cabot Cape Breton to play?

No. Day guests can book Cabot Links, Cabot Cliffs and The Nest online up to 14 days ahead, but they pay more and the round is prepaid and not refundable. Resort guests book with their room, much further ahead.

How much does it cost to play Cabot Cliffs?

In 2027 resort guest rates start from 460 CAD a round in peak season (July 8 to September 12) and day guest rates from 575 CAD, plus 14% sales tax. Early and late season rates start at 230 CAD for resort guests, and Cabot Links costs the same.

When can I book Cabot Cape Breton for 2027?

Now. The resort opened 2027 bookings in April 2026. Rooms and tee times are booked together through the resort's reservations team or website.

Can you use a golf cart at Cabot Links or Cabot Cliffs?

No, both are walking only. A few medical carts are kept for golfers with a doctor's note, driven by a caddie, so book one with your round.

How far is Highlands Links from Cabot Cape Breton?

About 170 km, or roughly 2.5 hours each way by car, a little longer on the scenic route through the national park. If you want to play Highlands Links, a night in Ingonish saves a long round trip.

When is the golf season at Cabot Cape Breton?

The 2027 rate tables start on May 7. Peak season runs July 8 to September 12, while spring and fall are cheaper and bring cooler, misty links weather.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Photo credits