Highland Links

Highlands Links sits within Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, a setting that places the course among mountain ridgelines and coastal scenery in equal measure. Designed by Stanley Thompson and opened in 1941, the 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches 6,592 yards and is built in the links tradition — though its terrain is far removed from the flat seaside linksland of the British Isles. The course has since undergone restoration work by architect Ian Andrew, returning it closer to Thompson's original vision.

Thompson routed the course through wilderness terrain, using the natural contours of the Cape Breton Highlands to shape holes that shift between forested valleys, open ridges, and views toward the ocean. At 6,592 yards from the tips, the layout demands strategic thinking rather than raw power — a hallmark of Thompson's design philosophy. The par-3 third hole, playing 160 yards over a pond, is among the course's most discussed moments, requiring a clean carry on what can be an exposed and wind-affected stretch of the routing.

Highlands Links rewards golfers who are comfortable reading natural ground movement and adjusting to variable Atlantic weather. The links-style design means firm and fast conditions are common, and the wind off the highlands can alter club selection significantly from one round to the next. Visitors planning a trip specifically around this course typically pair it with the Cabot Trail, one of Canada's most scenic drives, which passes through the same national park.

• Par: 72
• Length: 6,592 yards
• Format: 18 holes, links style
• Designer: Stanley Thompson (1941); restoration by Ian Andrew
• Location: Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia