Cabot Cape Breton (Links course)

The Cabot Cape Breton resort, with its two stunning 18-hole coastal courses (Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs) provides an unrivalled links golf experience on Canada's Atlantic coast.

Opened in 2012 to rave reviews, Cabot Links is a big dimension rolling layout, with sea views matching the splendour of the golf. As one of the world's great "new" links layouts, it joins an illustrious peer group that includes the likes of Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania and Castle Stuart in Scotland. Cabot even has its own "Ailsa Craig" rock, à la Turnberry in Scotland. Here the offshore skerry, which doubles as a bird sanctuary, is known as Margaree Island.

A wonderfully rolling, rustic front-nine, unashamedly sets the tone for this "through the dunes" links golf outing. The undulating generous width fairways lead to roller-coaster greens, including one or two double-greens. The par-3 7th is the only one-shot hole on the front-nine; if played into the wind it's going to feel more like a short par-4 than a long par-3. The front-nine at Cabot Links establishes its full-blooded links credentials. Like Ballybunion in Ireland, the back-nine lifts this golf course to something very special.

The stunningly scenic and even more exhilarating back-nine gets you right alongside the shoreline of the Gulf of St Lawrence. But not before the par-4 11th takes you around an inlet known as MacIsaac's Pond. At the far end of this beautiful and contrasting corner of the course sits an impressive ridge of authentic dunes (although not part of the course).

Emulating Royal Troon's "postage stamp" 8th hole, the delightfully short par-3 12th at Cabot Links lays down a comparably mischievous short iron challenge. Another "wee demon" awaits at the par-3 14th, played to an "infinity" green in front of the beach.