Salmon Pools Trail
Region: Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Community: Chéticamp
Ideal for a fitness walk or a stroll, this level trail follows the bottom of the Chéticamp river canyon with cliffs almost 400 metres (1300...
Come join us on Cape Breton Island – Canada’s Golf Masterpiece!
The Cape Breton Highlands Links, opened in 1941, is constantly ranked in the Top 10 Best Courses in Canada and in the Top 100 Best Courses in the World.
Located in the heart of one of North America’s most beautiful national parks (Cape Breton Highlands), this 18-hole journey showcases breathtaking mountain views and ocean vistas. Designed by Stanley Thompson, the Cape Breton Highlands Links is one of his finest works. The layout is a testament to the man’s brilliance, capturing the wonderful land forms and incredible scenery of the Atlantic Ocean coastline and the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. He separated each unique area with a long walk. So why was this important? Because the course unfolds like a series of chapters from a great book, each chapter, or set of holes, has its own unique setting. When they are combined together they make for a wonderful journey through, or story of, the local landscape. Historically, Highlands Links celebrates the Celtic heritage of Cape Breton and Thompson himself christened each hole with a Scottish name.
Many have referred to Highlands Links as Thompson’s homage to golf’s Scottish roots and St. Andrews in particular. Holes have names like “Heich O’ Fash” (which means “Heap of Trouble”) and many of the fairways are remarkably similar to Scottish topography. The seventh hole, Killiecrankie, resembles the long narrow pass of Killiecrankie in the Highlands of Scotland – a wooded gorge that played a significant role in Scotland’s history in 1689.
The Restoration of Highlands Links
Over the past several years, Parks Canada’s dedicated crew, under the guidance of architect Ian Andrew, have been restoring the golf course to its original old glory. All bunkers have been completely restored to their original shapes and locations. Turf conditions have improved dramatically and the green sizes are back to the original shape. With our selective tree removal program we are opening up more of the original view-planes.
Bar & Grill
The bar & grill is the perfect way to end your round at Highlands Links.
Nearby Things To Do
Freshwater Lake Look-off Trail
Region: Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Community: Cape Breton Highlands NP
Short but steep, or, steep but short! A picturesque vista unfolds before you: Ingonish Beach, Freshwater Lake, Middle Head and Cape Smokey. ...
Pjila’si Unama’ki!
Region: Cabot Trail
Community: Chéticamp
Kwe’! Welcome to the Land of Fog. Learn about the Mi’kmaq and their culture, and find out what is going on in the five vibrant communiti...
Fishing Cove Trail
Region: Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Community: Cape Breton Highlands NP
You are 355 metres (1165 feet) above sea level! Hike from the top of the mountain about 6 kilometres down to a small ocean cove and grassy c...
Hines Oceanview Lodge
Region: Cabot Trail
Community: Meat Cove
5 rooms, two shared baths (3-pc (S) & 2-pc); common kitchen and sitting room. Overlooking cove; beautiful view of ocean and mountains; s...
Coastal Life Discovery Program
Region: Cabot Trail
Community: Chéticamp
Ever wonder what types of creatures live in our coastal waters? Come find out! Help Parks Canada staff do important research and uncover the...
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