By Alexander Britell
The developers of Canada’s famed Cabot Links in Nova Scotia are expanding to the Caribbean — and the result could be a significant addition to the region.
Cabot’s first-ever international property will be a major new golf resort community on the island of Saint Lucia.
The project will be set on Point Hardy, a 375-acre peninsula on the northern tip of Saint Lucia, which will include a resort, a residential community and a golf club, the brainchild of visionary course developer Mike Keiser, perhaps most famous for the now-legendary Bandon Dunes in Oregon.
It will be the company’s third global project, along with Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia — and a potential game-changer for the world of Caribbean golf, with the potential to become one of the world’s greatest courses, at least given the development team’s history.
“Mike Keiser and I have long-awaited the perfect opportunity to expand the Cabot brand internationally,” said Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and Co-founder of Cabot Links. “With the tropical allure found in Saint Lucia and the magnificent ocean views from every corner of this spectacular site, we feel honored to be involved with such a special property within an incredible country.”
The “crown jewel” of the project will be an 18-hole golf course by the hottest design team in golf today, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw called Cabot Point — the first Caribbean golf course for Coore and Crenshaw.
The course will feature dramatic clifftop greens, “meandering valleys” and meadows by the sea.
“Our goal is to create a golf course with a sense of enjoyment and interest to complement and hopefully equal the site’s overwhelming natural beauty,” said Bill Coore, Co-principal of Coore & Crenshaw. “If we can accomplish that goal, we believe Cabot Point could become one of the Caribbean’s most sought out courses. Ben Cowan-Dewar and Mike Keiser have certainly found another spectacular property for golf.”
The hospitality component will include a 50-suite boutique hotel, along with three restaurants, shopping and a Cabot Spa.
That will be accompanied by luxury real estate ranging from single-family homes to beachfront lots and townhomes.
“We’re thoughtfully planning an unparalleled experience that will celebrate one of the world’s top destinations by providing guests and residents once-in-a-lifetime encounters at every turn supported by well-appointed amenities and sustainability efforts,” said George Punoose, Principal of Cabot Saint Lucia. “Cabot Saint Lucia plans to fully accentuate the rich local culture and the island’s extraordinary offerings so that all members and guests get to experience the beautiful country to the fullest.”
Cabos Saint Lucia will break ground on its first phase this summer, with the golf course set to debut in 2021.
— CJ