Mr. Chicken
Regions: Cabot Trail, Canada’s Musical Coast
Community: Chéticamp & Area
Specializing in chicken, this tasty restaurant won’t disappoint. Open Thursday-Saturday: 11:00pm-7:00pm (Take Out Only) Closed until F...
On one side of me is the Gulf of St. Lawrence; on the other the majestic Cheticamp Mountain range, literally at the entrance of world famous Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Its hard not to smile. More golfers need to experience this place, I say to myself. More should come here to play and see what is all around me.
The reasons are unfolding. So much more is there to Le Portage than merely the challenge Robert and David Mootes 18-hole design provides. This is an opportunity, a rare chance to combine golfrich atmosphere with an Atlantic Canada setting normally reserved for picture postcards. Tying it all together is the quaint Acadian village of Cheticamp, a small French community where culture and history date back to the 16th century. Le Portage? On any Cape Breton golf sojourn this place needs to be considered. Golf here is affordable, the setting is unique and most importantly it’s good fun.
Constructed and overseen to this day by the community of Cheticamp, it sits on a rolling forested plateau amid the majestic setting that surrounds it with enough golf to challenge any players skill and shot-making ability. Club amenities-wise, the driving range is brilliant. You hit balls straight into a Cape Breton Highlands backdrop while the large practice putting green near the clubs entrance is a pre- or post-round gem. It served us well for a laugh-filled 9-hole putting match prior to moving to the opening tee.
Once on the Moote-designed course (with an assist from pro emeritus Terry Burns) what I most enjoyed was Le Portages strong routing, shot values and greens. Ah, those putting surfaces. Nicely defined, they strike an ideal balance between contour and speed, while never appearing overdone.
There are plenty of memorable holes throughout the course, including the 2nd, called Le Cap-Rouge, and the 10th, called simply Cheticamp. It was the short and beguiling 17th, La Pere Fiset, where my round took a wrong turn from being over-aggressive. No matter. At the end of the day the score was still fine, the beer cold and the clubhouse brimming with locals eager to say bonjour. Golf talk filled the air. Later it was fresh seafood at nearby Le Gabriel Restaurant & Lounge to complete the day.
Where Le Portage ranks in the hierarchy of Cape Bretons golf product is immaterial. Golf needs Le Portage. Public clubs just like it across the country are the games foundation, its core. Leaving Le Portage on this day, one thing is certain: I look forward to going back.
A veteran golf writer and past president of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada, Rick Young is currently the business analyst for SCOREGolf.
Regions: Cabot Trail, Canada’s Musical Coast
Community: Chéticamp & Area
Specializing in chicken, this tasty restaurant won’t disappoint. Open Thursday-Saturday: 11:00pm-7:00pm (Take Out Only) Closed until F...
Regions: Cabot Trail, Canada’s Musical Coast
Community: Chéticamp & Area
Gypsum Mine Lake is a 2.6 kilometre out and back trail located near Cheticamp that is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used...
Community: Chéticamp & Area
I am very excited to be taking bookings for the upcoming season. I will be guiding June, July and August this year, and it looks like we mig...
The trail explores a spruce forest, old fields and foundation ruins on a “buttereau” (small hill) overlooking the Chéticamp River and G...
Regions: Cabot Trail, Canada’s Musical Coast
Community: Chéticamp & Area
About Raveston Music School: École de musique RAVESTON Music School, is a private sector organization located in Chétciamp, N.S. From clas...
The Rusty Anchor is Cape Breton’s best kept secret! The halfway point on the Cabot Trail, serving the best lobster roll and fish n chi...
Welcome to Pleasant Bay, a small fishing village nestled along the rugged shores of the Cabot Trail. Steeped in history and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, this charming community offers visitors a glimpse into the authentic maritime way o
If you're craving a taste of authentic Acadian culture, look no further than the charming community of Chéticamp, nestled along the breathtaking Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island. This vibrant village is a treasure trove of local crafts, folk art, an
Just north of the Cabot Trail is a beautiful corner of Cape Breton Island filled with rugged coast lines, mountains that plunge to the sea and some of the Island's most colourful characters.
Whether it’s a slow drive along the old Route 205, an afternoon of golf, or a day spent hiking a nearby trail, the main thing to do in Baddeck is to take the time to enjoy where you’re at.
This region includes beautiful communities like Cape North, Bay St Lawrence, Capstick and Meat Cove.
Ingonish is one of those storied places where all your troubles melt away. It's home to beautiful beaches, mountains, lakes, rivers and waterfalls and they're all waiting for you to be explored.
As autumn's vibrant hues cover Cape Breton Island's hills and coastlines, one event captures the season’s essence perfectly: the Celtic Colours International Festival. Held each October, this renowned festival blends music, culture and natural beauty
As the crisp autumn air settles over Cape Breton Island, the landscape transforms into a vibrant tapestry of red, orange and gold. This season is the perfect time to explore the Island's natural beauty, rich culture and warm hospitality.
As fall blankets Cape Breton Island in brilliant hues, the Island’s culinary scene embraces the season with fresh, seasonal ingredients and comforting flavours.
As the crisp air of autumn descends upon Cape Breton Island, the landscape transforms into a canvas of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. It’s the perfect season to explore the Island’s world-renowned golf courses, where the beauty of the surrounding