Highland Links

Highlands Links sits within Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, a setting that places it among the most distinctively situated golf courses in Canada. Designed by Stanley Thompson and opened in 1941, the 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches to 6,592 yards and is built in the links tradition — open, ground-hugging, and shaped by natural contours rather than imposed on the land. Architect Ian Andrew has since carried out restorations to preserve Thompson's original intent.

The course is carved from genuine wilderness, with mountain terrain and ocean presence framing the round throughout. Thompson's routing makes full use of the landscape, and the 3rd hole — a 160-yard par 3 played over a pond — is among the more memorable moments on the front nine. Links-style conditions mean firm fairways, wind exposure, and a premium on course management over raw distance.

Highlands Links rewards players who appreciate classic design and have some tolerance for the unpredictability that links golf demands. The combination of a Thompson pedigree, a national park setting, and genuine links character makes it a logical destination for golfers making the drive through Cape Breton. Those planning a trip would do well to treat it as the anchor of a broader Cape Breton Highlands itinerary rather than a single-day detour.