Cabot Links...the real deal

[Bryan Izatt]

The 4th - what a hole!  Reminiscent, to me, of Prestwick off the tee and of TOC at the green.  An intimidating tee shot over broken ground.  Dead left or right.  An aiming pole on the ridge would be nice.  And, oh my, what a green.

Ben's description is as follows:

"A medium to long uphill par 4 with its tee shot played over menacing bunkers cut into a high ridge. The fairway is ample but the angle and bunkering of the green favor an approach shot played from the right side of the fairway. A middle to long iron approach is needed to reach the green, which is a double one shared with hole #13. The putting surface is set at the base of a large dune and features the most contours of any green at Cabot, dominated by its severe back to front slope."

From the tee.




The second shot.




From closer in on right side.




Looking across the green from the right  with the 13th flag in the distance - all one green.

[Bryan Izatt]

The fifth is a short uphill par 4 that might have been the closing hole in one routing.  Another hole that loked a lot longer than it was in the context of the grand vistas.  The green will be wicked when up to speed.

Ben's description:

"A short downhill par 4. Fairway bunkers down the right and middle of the fairway dictate the need for a well placed tee ball. One can play left or right of the middle bunkers with the right side leaving a simpler approach. The well contoured green is guarded left and right by small deep bunkers."

From the tee, a confusing tableau;  where to drive the ball?  The fairway is wider than it looks in the picture.  The dark green left side is fairway too.




From further right, looking up the middle of the fairway.




The second shot.




The green from the right side.

[Bill_McBride]

That mowing pattern is very confusing!

[Mac Plumart]

For what it is worth, I find your pictures, Bryan, to be much more enlightening than the photos on the website.  I feel like I'm getting a much better sense of what is out there and I am much more compelled to make the trek up North after seeing these photos.

Thanks!

More please.

[Phil McDade]

That mowing pattern is very confusing!

Bryan:

I'd agree with Bill here -- it is more obvious on the ground there that both the dark and light mowing patterns contain fairway? (I'd note I saw this mowing pattern in person at Milwaukee Country Club a few years ago and it was pretty obvious what was fairway and what was rough.) Maybe it's easier to tell in person.

Great tour so far!

[Matt Kardash]

I really dig how not  "flashy" the couse appears. I feel in the past 10 years architects have gotten so carried away with making intricate flashy bunkers to glam up the course. This course is kind of a throwback to a more bare-bones look you see on many courses in Europe. I dig it.

[Jeff_Mingay]

I really dig how not  "flashy" the couse appears. I feel in the past 10 years architects have gotten so carried away with making intricate flashy bunkers to glam up the course. This course is kind of a throwback to a more bare-bones look you see on many courses in Europe. I dig it.

I'm glad you've noticed this, Matt. Not that we were the only ones in on this, of course, but Rod Whitman and I had a lot of conversation on this very topic early on in the development of Cabot Links. Glad you 'dig it'. Me too.

[Link Walsh]

Love the look of that 5th hole.  I really enjoy having to stand on the tee of a hole and figure out a strategy for my tee ball depending on where the pin is located on the green.  That fairway looks 80 yards wide!  But that one bunker in the left center makes it interesting.  Do you hit right, left, or lay up short? 

[Dan Herrmann]

More, please

[Bryan Izatt]

The 6th reverses direction back into the prevailing wind.

Ben's description:

"This short par 5 playing right to left is protected on the left by a fairway bunker. Another large bunker is cut into the dune on the right but is in play for only the strongest of players. The landing area for the second shot is framed left and right by bunkers and a grass depression. Strategically, the play is to lay up just in front of these hazards or try for the green in two. The angle of the green is set so an approach from the right side leaves a relatively open shot. Immediately left of the green there is an area of hillocks and depressions reminiscent of hole #3 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. The right side is protected by two deep pot bunkers. Although the hole is short, more often than not it plays into the wind."

The inside bunker did me in twice.

From right of the tee.  The angle is greater than this.  Note the walker with the parasol.  It was sunny and hot.




The second shot.




From closer in.  Notice the drain line scarring.  The hills in the background are magnificent, but fool with depth perception.

[Bryan Izatt]

The 7th is the first par 3 - and a long one at that.

Ben's description:

"The longest par 3 on the course. The green has a double plateau with a deep swale running thru the middle, reminiscent of the famous Biarritz par 3 in France. Focus on getting your ball on the same plateau as the day’s hole location as otherwise a three putt is hard to avoid."

It's gently downhill and the front is open, so a running shot is a definite possibility, especially into the wind.  The swale is a bit diagonal to add some diversity to many Biarritz's.  The depth of the swale is not as great as some others I've seen, but is still significant.




From a little closer in.  I didn't get a side view of the swale.  The green does tilt some to the right and it is possible to have your tee shot run off that side.

[Bryan Izatt]

Ah, the 8th, This short par 4 just did not fit my eye upon two plays.

Ben's description:

"A short par 4 playing toward the ocean. At 300 yards it is drivable by some players in favorable wind conditions. The hole is characterized by a dune protecting the left side of the green and wetlands flanking the entire right side of the hole. The further left one plays the more the sand dune that fronts the green comes into play. The hole plays slightly left to right with crosswinds from the left further complicating the tee shot as tee balls get pushed uncomfortably close to the wetlands. Some golfers elect to lay well back with their tee shot so that they can have a full short iron shot into the green. Lots of options abound on this little gem!"

Although described as possibly drivable, that would only be for the small minority, and the risks would seem to me to greatly outweigh the rewards.  The main issue for me was the relatively narrow fairway with penal death left, right, short and long.  Hit the fairway off the tee or you're re-teeing and shooting 3.  Although the right side is described as wetlands, it is not red staked.  The only logical choice is mid to long iron off the tee followed by a wedge shot.

The two pimples (dunes) in the fairway affect the shots.  They are tall enough to block the view of the green making judgement of the second shot more difficult.

From the green tee, the fairway running right to left is a lot closer than it looks.  The fairway straight ahead looks very narrow after the very wide fairways on the opening holes. The green is kind of cape-like sticking out into the wetlands.




Ben's picture from the web site - a nicer picture.




From closer to the pimple.  You can certainly get some gnarly lies if you get on to it.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Brian - on 8 where is the ideal layup spot or does it really depend on where the flag is placed on that particular day?

[Bryan Izatt]

Wayne,

I'd think that all pin locations are best approached from as close to the right side of the fairway as you dare.  Anything left is going to be behind the pimple which affects line of sight, but probably not attacking the pin.

[William_G]

From Indianapolis, it is basically two 2-hour fights and then a 3 hour car ride (easier for me than getting to Bandon).  Start making your travel plans.  

TS

Look forward to visiting Cabot Links sometime.

FWIW...Indianapolis to Bandon is 2 flights on Delta thru Salt Lake to Eugene (2hr and 3.5 hr) then a max 2.5 hr drive

thanks

[Bryan Izatt]

The 9th is a longish par 4 in the opposite direction to the 8th, heading back a little uphill towards the town.  The red barn bakery/workshop adds color and character to the background.

Ben's description:

"A tough uphill par 4, designed to be the longest par 4 on the front nine. The landing area has a series of bunkers encroaching into the left and right sides of the fairway. The green has 2 bunkers set front right and one deep pot bunker set middle left. As such, it favors an approach from the left side of the fairway. The deep green was built to accommodate a long iron approach and is sloped back to front with the right side falling off into a grassy swale."

From the tee, an expansive fairway where there are strategic advantages to the left side, not to mention an irrigation pond if you overdo the left side.  The fairway is offset a little to the right of the tee.




The second shot from the left edge of the fairway - a good approach angle.




The second shot from the right centre of the fairway - a less ideal angle.




Looking back down the 9th from the bakery/workshop.  The building in the distance is to be demolished shortly to make way for the new 12th hole.

[Bryan Izatt]

After crossing the beach road and the halfway canteen you come to the 10th, the first of what seems like par 3's on every second hole (when really they are only at 10, 12, 14, and 17).  The 10th is a drop shot par 3 in a beautiful setting looking inland over the salt pond.

Ben's description:

"A downhill medium length par 3, flanked by a large hill to the left and a deep pot bunker to the right. The green is generous in size and the approach is open in front with attractive views of MacIsaac’s Pond. One can play the ball off the hill on the left or play direct onto the green. A picturesque par 3, proper club selection is key to avoid a lengthy first putt."





A look from in front of the green.

[Bryan Izatt]

The 11th, a longish par 4 will, no doubt, become the signature hole of the course.  Running alongside the salt pond, back toward the sea, it is in a beautiful setting with the harbour, fishing boats and a dune ridge along the beach in the background.

Ben's description:

"A medium to long par 4. The Cape hole doglegs right to left with the harbour all along the left. The ideal tee shot will carry the small bunker set into the left side of the fairway. The rolling fairway contours with the ball frequently a bit above the player’s stance complicate the second shot. The green again is open in front, facilitating a running approach. A large dune to the right helps contain stray shots out to the right. The lobster boats rocking in the harbour behind the infinity green provide a striking background and are an apt reminder of Cabot’s seaside setting."

Although it is called a cape hole, the drive is not really a bite-off-as-much-as-you-dare shot for most.  The recommended line over the left side bunker led to a lost ball in the gunch bordering the pond. If you can carry it 270 yards, it might be the line.  Also the green does not project out into the pond like the original NGLA cape green.  Despite the nit-picking, this is one fine golf hole in a wonderous setting.

From the tee, keep it right of the bunker for the best line.  The tide is out.










The second shot from the left side, near the bunker.




From closer in on the left side.




From the front of the green.  There is a lot of slope there towards the pond.  When the greens speed up, this green will be a challenge.  An approach shot from the right side to a right pin may well be impossible.




Looking back down the pond and over some saving bunkers on the pond side of the green.  No easy recovery from there.




Looking back down the fairway toward town.  The slope of the green is flattened in the picture, but it is severe.




Looking back to the 10th green and the 11th tee in the distance.  A picture postcard place!

[Dan Herrmann]

How's the walkability?   Looks quite doable...

[Jeff_Mingay]

Very nice walk, Dan... no real issues at all, other than maybe climbing steeper hills at #2 (bigger of the two) and #13.

[Bryan Izatt]

Dan,

It is certainly walkable.  But, for us older folks, I wouldn't call it a very nice walk.  It was tiring; there's a fair amount of up and down.  Also, being good links ground, it is very firm throughout which I find hard on the feet.  If you walk regularly you shouldn't have a problem getting around.  It's probably a little hillier than Pacifc or Bandon Dunes - perhaps more like Old Macdonald or Trails.

 

[Bryan Izatt]

The 12th is a short par 3 that wasn't really memorable.  They are building a new 12th up the hill toward the ocean, also a short par 3. 

Ben's description:

"A short par 3 playing toward sand dunes and the ocean. The left, front and right sides of green are all protected by a series of bunkers. The bunkers get progressively more severe front to back, with the back right bunker being the deepest. A high fade is the preferable shot to this short par 3."

From the tee:




The picture from Ben's site - taken from the left of the tees and higher up..




From the front of the green.  Interesting contours.




The new 12th is seeded in and appears to have a better setting with the ocean in view and a more linksy look to the land between tee and green.  Perhaps it will be a better hole than the original.





 

[Bryan Izatt]

The 13th is a very good par 5 that may be reachable by many.

Ben's description:

"A long par 5 with the green set on a plateau overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The tee shot can be difficult, requiring a forced carry over native grass to the fairway with the correct line being farther to the right than the golfer first suspects. The second shot must carry a large ridge with bunkers cut into it in order to enjoy a good view of the green for one’s third. A second shot slightly left of center leaves the best approach. The green itself is well contoured, often requiring a running approach to get close to the day’s hole location. Bunkers left, a grassy hollow right and a deep swale behind protect the massive double green."

The tees are disconnected small rectangles set low in wetlands.  At this time of the year the wild grass surrounding the tees is perhaps chest high creating a very intimidating tee shot.  A high launch angle would be good.  My tee shot decapitated a few tassels on the way by.  The fairway is generously wide, but again, anywhere off the fairway, left or right is a lost ball.

From behind the forward tee.  And, yes, you need to get your tee shot up fairly abruptly and over the tall grass from the men's tees.  The flag you can see up the fairway turns out to be the 4th.  The 13th flag is on the same double green as the 4th, but is 70 or 80 yards down and to the left.




From the driver landing zone there is a ridge to be carried on the second shot.  Most drives will be closer to the ridge than this picture.  This is another blind shot where an aiming post on the ridge would be useful for those who play the course once or infrequently.




Looking at the green from the left side of the upper fairway.  That's the 14th pin directly in the background.

[img with=800]http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee260/350dtm/CL%202012/IMG_1811.jpg[/img]


Looking across the upper fairway to the sea.




From short far right of the fairway.  There is a shared fairway with the 4th near the green which accommodates bailouts right on the second shot.  It's hard to hold the green from this side, as it slopes away from you down to the sea.




Looking across the green from the left towards the 4th pin and the 14th tee up the ridge to the left.  The green is enormously wide.




From left of the green taken from the boardwalk.

[Eric Strulowitz]

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed these pictures.   This is on my list in the next year or two, the course looks wonderful.

Might be a wonderful venue for a CGA get together.  Are there other decent courses nearby that would make this suitable for a multiday golf trip?.

[Don Hyslop]

Eric, You may enjoy Cabot so much you might just want to play it s often as you can but if you are in the area you really should play Highland Links, rated in the top 100 of the world.
Check out these Cape Breton layouts:
http://www.golfcapebreton.com/

One couse not part of the above group is Bell Bay. You might want to check it out as well.
http://www.bellbaygolfclub.com/