New Cabot Wilds Resort Bolsters Canada's Destination Golf Offerings

In this bustling era of destination golf, Nova Scotia has thrown its hat in the ring as a major competitor with another luxury resort bound for the Canadian province. 

Cabot Wilds, a 2,500-acre all-season resort in the foothills of the Cobequid Mountains, will feature an 18-hole golf course designed by Jeff Mingay, as well as an indoor/outdoor restaurant, racquet sports facilities, and residential real estate. This marks Cabot's second resort in Nova Scotia, with Cabot Cape Breton and its pair of top-100 courses just three hours East in Inverness.

“This land has always been a treasured place for my family and it’s incredibly meaningful to now share this special part of Nova Scotia with the world,” said John Bragg, Canadian businessman and Cabot’s development partner on the project. 

The River Philip weaves throughout the 18-hole course routed among the rugged highlands and tree-lined river valleys of Collingwood Corner. Mingay is a well-established, experienced Canadian architect, but Cabot Wilds will be his first solo, new-build project. We spoke with the Toronto-based architect about his new design and how it will distinguish itself from Cabot’s catalog of courses. 

Q&A with Jeff Mingay

Garrett Morrison: Tell me about the property you’re working with at Cabot Wilds. Which aspects of the land excite you most?

Jeff Mingay: As soon as I saw a topo map of the property, it was obvious that River Philip needed to be the star of the show. The river’s renowned for trout and Atlantic salmon fishing. It’s beautiful in spots. On nine holes, you either see the river, or play over or next to it. There are also some interesting features left over from gravel-mining operations throughout the site. Some of those wonderfully random hills and holes influenced the layout in distinctive ways, too. 

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Garrett: A few years ago, you joined the Fried Egg Golf podcast to discuss the art of routing golf courses. You said, “Essentially what a golf course architect is trying to do is get the best out of the natural assets you’re provided on every property.” How have you gone about that task at Cabot Wilds? Were there any challenging spots on the site or problems you needed to solve while arriving at your final layout?

Jeff: There was a narrow gap between a large hill and the river at what are now the short par-4 third and long par-3 ninth holes that needed to be traversed to get across the river at the fourth and then back at the eighth with a single bridge crossing. Thankfully we needed fill material, so we made good use of the aforementioned hill, widening that narrow gap to create the third, which has turned out to be a nice transition hole that unlocked the rest of the routing. 

Garrett: The Cabot portfolio already features a number of renowned golf courses, including a couple in Nova Scotia. What do you think will make your design at Cabot Wilds distinctive?

Jeff: The setting is rural, rustic, and peaceful. The course is intended to present an aesthetic and sensibility to match, similar to the great old courses throughout New England — a bit rough, rustic, and peaceful. I think this will be a nice complement to the seaside, clifftop courses at Cabot Cape Breton. While we’re aiming to ensure the quality of golf matches up, Cabot Wilds will be an entirely different, complementary experience. 

Garrett: Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe this is your first original, new-build 18-hole commission. How has this experience been different from your renovation projects? What has surprised you about the process so far?

Jeff: No, you’re right. I’ve comprehensively remodelled a number of golf courses, which could be considered “new,” but this is my first crack at a virgin site. I also worked with Rod Whitman for 10 years, helping build and watching courses come alive from scratch. So I’m not sure anything has surprised me at Cabot Wilds. However, it has reinforced how important it is to have a reliable team of talented builders and shapers supporting the design. My guys Devon Bjarnason, Bryan Ohnysty, Paul Crough, Mike Rossi, and Clive Henshaw have been invaluable on this project. It takes a team.