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CAP ESTATE, Saint Lucia — Our cab driver had apparently performed this drop-off a number of occasions already.
In order we crested a hill on the doorway street at Cabot Saint Lucia, revealing our first glimpse of dramatic golf holes that tumble towards the ocean after which dance alongside the shoreline, he was ready for the gasps from the 2 passengers within the again seat.
“Everybody says ‘Wow’ once they get to right here,” he beamed, clearly proud to be displaying off this northern tip of his dwelling island.
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Have you ever ever seen that along with your most magical holidays, the recollections have a tendency to begin earlier than you’d even arrived, again so far as the packing or the planning or the daydreaming part? That to me, is a measure, of a vacation spot that cranks your anticipation meter and finally meets or exceeds your lofty expectations.
A spherical at Cabot Saint Lucia — the course itself is named Level Hardy Golf Membership — delivers loads of unforgettable moments. It’s, as head skilled Nivel Felicien places it, a “little piece of heaven.”
On this pitched property, you’ll be able to see the Caribbean Sea from nearly all over the place, which is an apparent promoting level for his or her luxurious real-estate choices and instantly explains why the star design duo of Invoice Coore and Ben Crenshaw have described this as maybe essentially the most visually spectacular website they’ve ever labored on.
Of 18 holes, there are six or seven the place you threat splashing a shot into the salt-water hazard. That features one of the best ending stretch that I’ve ever been lucky sufficient to play, a string of 4 straight heart-thumpers alongside the shore. My vote for better of the bunch is No. 16, a calendar-calibre Par-3 that’s all-carry throughout a small cove, though I can perceive why some would argue that No. 17 — the second of back-to-back shortie stunners — is even higher.
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Whereas I’ll be re-playing Level Hardy in my thoughts over and over, my recollections of this particular journey begin with a dialog in our front room a number of months prior, with snow falling outdoors and our golf golf equipment amassing mud within the storage. Hockey season, as us Canadians prefer to name it. Catching up on the finish of a busy week, my much-better-half requested if I’d determined the place I wished to have fun a milestone birthday that was quick approaching. I did, certainly, have a spot in thoughts.
The enchantment of Cabot Saint Lucia, which had opened just some weeks earlier to large hype, was fairly easy.
First, there’s the Cabot half. What began with a pair of must-plays in Inverness, N.S., has rapidly grown into one of many marquee manufacturers in golf journey. Their portfolio now contains 5 of Golf Journal’s High 100 Programs within the World — Canada’s Cabot Cliffs and Cabot Hyperlinks, Lofoten Hyperlinks in Norway, Fort Stuart at Cabot Highlands in Scotland and Level Hardy, which debuted at No. 76.
After which there’s the Saint Lucia half. From household and associates who’d beforehand visited this Caribbean nation, we had heard all concerning the stunning seashores, the nice and cozy hospitality and the scrumptious rum. An interesting combo.
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Once we rolled as much as Royalton Saint Lucia, which isn’t affiliated with Cabot however appeared like a great home-base for our stay-and-play, the bags attendant unloaded our golf equipment and requested the place we’d be taking part in. Once we talked about that we had been fortunate sufficient to be booked on the brand-new course just some minutes up the street, he cooed: “They are saying it’s already top-of-the-line on the earth.”
If not for a pair of tee-times, we wouldn’t have needed to depart the property at our all-inclusive resort, which boasts 9 eating choices, seven bars, a number of swimming pools, a stretch of secluded seaside and a splash park that had me wishing I used to be 30-some years youthful. Sundown at Royalton Saint Lucia is mainly appointment viewing. Whether or not it was over morning espresso or a happy-hour rum and coke, we’d sit on the patio connected to our suite, stare out previous the palm timber and cabanas to the rolling waves and speak about how this trip was turning out to be all we’d hoped it could be … after which some.
As quite a lot of golf-trippers can already attest, and as many extra will proceed to expertise, Cabot has a behavior of exceeding expectations.
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Level Hardy can be a tricky tee-time as a members-only facility — with rumours of some future entry, there are quite a lot of crossed fingers in FootJoy and Titleist gloves — however most of what’s referred to as The Cabot Assortment is open to the divot-digging public.
Because of the Cabot Cliffs/Cabot Hyperlinks combo, Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island is now on the gotta-get-there record for each golf nut. I’ve been twice, and it’s nonetheless on my gotta-get-back-there record.
Often known as Cabot Citrus Farms, their hangout in Florida options 4 decisions — two distinctive 18s, a 9 and a Par-3 loop with 11 areas on the scorecard.
They’re on the brink of unveil a second setup at Cabot Highlands in Scotland and are at present constructing a magnificence in Revelstoke, B.C. Some consider that would be the finest mountain format since Stanley Thompson left his mark in Banff and Jasper. That kind of comparability could be a serious praise.
Amongst their most up-to-date acquisitions, this Canadian-based firm additionally bought two programs and a lodge in a famed space of France, calling the brand new property Cabot Bordeaux and promising “to raise the resort to five-star standing worthy of the world’s most prestigious wine panorama,” and welcomed Lofoten Hyperlinks to the household. I’ve misplaced observe of the variety of occasions that I’ve been stopped in my tracks whereas scrolling on social media, gobsmacked by a photograph of the northern lights illuminating a tiny inexperienced that’s surrounded by craggy rock and calm ocean. That’s a picture of Lofoten Hyperlinks, which is definitely positioned above the Arctic Circle.
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As Cabot continues to develop its lineup, my bucket-list will develop. This journey to Saint Lucia solely elevated my expectations. My first spherical there’ll at all times rank amongst my favorite days on a golf course. We returned later within the week, considering it couldn’t probably get any higher, and it turned out to be opening day for his or her classic pizza truck, parked mere steps from the seaside. Bonus.
I might go on and on about my recollections of Cabot Saint Lucia.
Of the exhilarating tee-shot on the eighth gap, the place you goal your drive throughout the ocean.
Of loading up on gummy sharks and Pitons — a neighborhood beer named for the 2 landmark mountains on the southern a part of the island — within the consolation stations.
Of feeling fairly darn good about myself after hitting the well-guarded inexperienced at No. 16 … after which not so good after I three-putted for bogey.
And I’ll do not forget that cab journey, too, that first glimpse of what’s a particular golf course in a stunning a part of the world.
If I ever get again, I’ll be anticipating that spectacular view. And but I’m positive I’ll be wowed yet again.
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