FAQ

General

Cabot is proposing to operate, maintain, and manage a golf course across no more than 35% of the park land within the provincial park in West Mabou. The remaining park land will remain as is, consisting of beach access, beach, recreational trails, and conservation lands.
Beach access will in no way be restricted, and we are committed to improving beach access for everyone.
There is no plan to develop the West Mabou site beyond an 18-hole golf course and accompanying facilities, including a golf shop and a maintenance structure. There is no plan to build accommodations or to sell, develop, or build any real estate on this site.
Nova Scotia Provincial Parks are designated to protect heritage values and opportunities for outdoor recreation, nature-based education, and tourism - all of which would be honoured through the building of a golf course on a portion of the park land.

Provincial Parks are not Wilderness Areas or Nature Reserves. Wilderness Areas are designated to protect nature and support wilderness recreation, hunting, sport fishing, trapping, and other uses. Nature Reserves offer the highest level of protection for unique or rare species or features; they are used mainly for education and research.
Yes, there are several examples of golf courses being built in parks across Canada, including but not limited to:
- Highlands Links in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
- Herring Cove Provincial Golf Course in Herring Cove Provincial Park, New Brunswick
- Mactaquac Provincial Park Golf Club in Mactaquac Provincial Park, New Brunswick
- Green Gables Golf Club in Prince Edward Island National Park, PEI
- Fundy National Golf Course in Fundy National Park, New Brunswick
- Banff Springs Golf Course in Banff National Park, Alberta
- Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club in Jasper National Park, Alberta
There are also many provincial and national parks that offer recreational activities. For example, Sugarloaf Provincial Park in New Brunswick is home to a well-known ski facility, Sugarloaf Provincial Park Ski Hill.

Environment

Without intervention, coastal erosion due to the effects of climate change on rising sea levels is a threat to the longevity and conservation of coastal land across Nova Scotia.
Just as Cabot does in Inverness, we plan to mitigate dune erosion in West Mabou to protect the dunes and their respective ecosystems for generations to come. To combat dune erosion at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, through the guidance of Audubon environmental experts, we plant marram grass, a naturally occurring species of beachgrass with an extensive root system that allows the plant to trap sand, reinforcing the dunes and making them more resilient to high winds and ocean waves. These measures would help prevent erosion at West Mabou Beach, strengthening our coastline and protecting the habitat for birds that nest in this area.
There will be no development on the beach. Cabot conducts annual water testing, ensures best management practices near all bodies of water, and implements generous shoreline buffer zones to ensure the health of waters and wildlife.
In 2018, Cabot was first certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) for golf, an award-winning international environmental education and certification program. Cabot has since become the first multi-property brand to enroll in Audubon International’s Platinum Signature Sanctuary certification program.
This program helps courses protect the environment, enhance natural areas and wildlife, and minimize impacts of golf course operations. Cabot undertakes leading turf management practices. We use a drought-tolerant fescue grass which is durable, requires less water and can co-exist with wildlife, reducing the need for applied products.
In addition to using drought-tolerant fescue grass, Cabot uses the latest technology to help us make informed decisions on water use. Regular irrigation auditing is performed to ensure efficiency of our irrigation system, and most of our irrigation is predominately performed with a hand watering hose, allowing for efficient and targeted watering.

Community Benefit

Cabot has a strong record of supporting community organizations and causes, including those in Inverness County and Cape Breton Island.
Between 2024 and 2025, Cabot has donated over $529k in value, including:
- Over $425k of in-kind value
- $80k in monetary donations
- $24k in gifted items to the community
These donations span across a variety of deserving causes, including The Inverness Racetrack, The Inverness Boardwalk, youth sports organizations, The Inverness Foodbank, The Inverness Fire Department, The Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital, Inverness Education Academy, Inverness Playground and Recreation, Mabou Blooms, United Way Cape Breton, Mill Road Social Enterprises, and much more.
Our Cabot Cares program encourages employees to volunteer hours in the community while being paid their regular salary or wage by Cabot. This has been a benefit to local community organizations who are actively recruiting volunteer
Cabot gives back to the local community in multiple ways, including direct grants, sponsorships, volunteer hours, and programs to make golf more accessible to everyone. As part of our vision for Mabou, we are also proposing direct annual investment of $125,000 across several local organizations:
- Mabou and District Community Development Association
- Mabou Athletic Commission
- West Mabou Development Association
- Strathspey Performing Arts Centre
- Mabou Gaelic & Historical Society.
This annual funding would provide additional support for the people of the community, its infrastructure, and its goals for the future.
Cabot is committed to improving the current access infrastructure, making the beach more accessible for all to enjoy.
Yes, the public will continue to have access to beautiful hiking and walking trails at West Mabou Beach Provincial Park. Cabot is committed to dedicating resources to improving and maintaining public trails on the park land.
During peak season, Cabot Cape Breton employs approximately 800 people in the surrounding area. The addition of a course in Mabou will increase direct and indirect employment opportunities including new businesses and consistent employment opportunities for local tradespeople.