Cabot Links offers a taste of true seaside links golf in Nova Scotia

INVERNESS, Nova Scotia, Canada -- Cabot Links offers a true seaside links golf course complete with double greens and deep pot bunkers.

Located in Inverness, a former mining town, the course is an unexpected, but welcome surprise. The layout starts from the edges of town and drifts towards the sea before looping back around, a tradition that is essential to a classic links course.

The natural contours of the landscape determined the course's routing, which explains some slight quirks of the layout, like the two par 5s in the first five holes. Situated on the west coast of Cape Breton, which has been praised as one of the continent's best island destinations, the secluded golf course is admittedly a bit difficult to reach but those who have played it have found it worth the trouble.

Cabot Links - 18th Hole

The finishing hole at Cabot Links plays uphill to the highest point on the golf course.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 1st Hole

The opening hole at Cabot Links is a left-to-right dogleg that plays to a challenging green.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - hole 1

Cabot Links starts with a left-to-right dogleg where the wind can either help you or hurt you depending on how it's blowing.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 2nd Hole

Cabot Links' par-5 second hole plays into prevailing wind to a large green that sits beyond a ridge.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - hole 2

Cabot Links' second hole is a demanding par 5 that will require at least three or four good strokes to reach the green, even the most seasoned players.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 3rd Hole

The third hole at Cabot Links offers scenic views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 4th Hole

Cabot LinksThe 4th hole offers a classic links design with native grasses.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links

There's not a tree in sight on the long par-5 5th hole.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - hole 6

Cabot Links' par-4 sixth hole offers a classic risk-reward opportunity with a mound situated in front of the green.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - hole 7

Wind is definitely a factor on the par-4 seventh hole at Cabot Links in Nova Scotia.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 8th Hole

Cabot Links' par-3 eighth hole cuts across the beach for a scenic view of MacIsaac's Pond.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 9th Hole

The ninth hole at Cabot Links cuts across the beach, which offers some shelter from the wind.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 10th Hole

Cabot Links' 10th hole is a challenging example of classic links with deep pot bunkers and rough.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - hole 10

The 10th hole at Cabot Links offers sweeping views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 11th Hole

The 11th hole at Cabot Links features a challenging double green.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 12th Hole

The par-4 12th hole at Cabot Links is a slight dogleg right that plays uphill to a raised green.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 13th Hole

Cabot Links' par-5 13th may seem short but you have to make it past an expanse of natural vegetation before hitting the undulating green.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 14th Hole

The short par-3 14th hole at Cabot Links plays much longer thanks to the prevailing wind.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 15th Hole

Cabot Links' 15th hole is a classic links hole with an undulating fairway.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 16th Hole

Cabot Links' 16th hole is a two-shotter in the classic links style.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 17th Hole

The 17th hole at Cabot Links plays uphill to a large sloping green.

Courtesy of Cabot Links

Cabot Links - 18th Hole

Cabot Links' 18th hole provides an excellent return to the clubhouse, which sits at the golf course's highest point.

Courtesy of Cabot Links