First look at Cabot Revelstoke: Is this mountain golf at its peak?

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REVELSTOKE, BC – Mount Begbie is the most famous of the natural landmarks in Revelstoke, BC, standing tall as the most prominent peak in the area.

When I arrived for a preview of the much-anticipated golf course at Cabot Revelstoke, it seems appropriate to say that my expectations – which point across the Columbia River valley towards Mount Begbie – were that high.

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After all, Cabot is a power brand in destination golf, with four entries open Golf DigestThe latest list of the 100 greatest courses in the world. This is their first outing in mountain golf. As a fully public facility, not only members escape, every divot-digger can dream about a visit.

While Cabot Revelstoke won’t open until July 2027, they’ve been hosting select guests for a sneak peek over the past few weeks. My tour of the still-under-construction course included a look at 10 of 18 holes, with an opportunity shot at about six of them.

These were my first impressions…

It is another mountain must-play

From the moment this project was first announced, many wondered if Cabot Revelstoke would eventually enter the conversation about what is Canada’s best mountain course.

For close to a century, it’s been a two-horse race between the world-renowned layouts at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Fairmont Banff Springs.

Any debate about the ranking will have to wait until Cabot Revelstoke is finished, opened and has some time to mature, but I am already convinced of a lot: this new construction will, like Banff Springs and Jasper Park Lodge before it, be considered a bucket lister for all club-toting travelers.

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Right from your first swing on an elevated opening tee, where a well-struck drive can be rewarded with an eagle putt, Rod Whitman’s design delivers both drama and just the right amount of deception.

At Cabot Revelstoke there is a mix of rock and roll. This par-70 circuit is dotted with rugged rock outcroppings, a defining characteristic on some of the holes I’ve played, while this plateau of land serves up enough elevation change to provide some peek-a-boo moments but not so much that you feel like you should be in ski boots instead of soft spikes.

The landscape does not stop, with peaks in every direction. And there’s something about these crazy surroundings that make the clutch shots even more heroic.

Expectations are sky-high but I’ve seen no reason to think Cabot Revelstoke won’t live up to the hype. It is another mountain must-play.

The par-3s are striking

Who doesn’t love a standout shortie?

My tour of Cabot Revelstoke included a first look at three of its five par-3s, and I was deeply impressed by each of them.

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The first one-shooter on the scorecard is No.

Last on the scorecard is number 17, a delicate downhiller. This will be a wedge for many, but don’t let your pride get in the way – anything that falls short will end up in a ravine.

And there may not be a better birdie, if you can pull it off, than on the 8th. I suspect this is considered Cabot Revelstoke’s signature shot.

From the tips, they can stretch this monster close to 250 meters. Even from one or two tee blocks up, you hold one of your longer clubs as you try to shape your ball – from left to right, but not too far right, is the recipe here – into a well-angled and well-guarded green.

There are two more par-3s I haven’t seen – Nos. 5 and 11. If they’re even as good as the ones I’ve seen, this will be one heck of a collection.

Revelstoke is ready

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I remember my first visit to Inverness, NS for a preview round at Cabot Links, another Whitman design in the course that started the Cabot craze.

Every time we chat with one of the residents in this coastal community, we ask where they suggest we go for a beer. Without fail, they all recommend the same place. Let’s just say the options were pretty limited.

What makes Revelstoke different is that it is already a popular destination. The addition of a world-class golf course won’t “put it on the map,” as the old saying goes; rather, it will make the heli-ski capital of the world a place that is just as special in the summer months.

After touring the fairways at Cabot Revelstoke, we enjoyed a drink on a sunny patio at Rockford Bar & Grill, one of several restaurants or watering holes in the village at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. They are within an iron shot of both the Revelation gondola and the 18th green.

There is also a signature steak house in the plans for Cabot Revelstoke Mountain Lodge, a 155-room hotel slated to open in 2027.

Or go ahead and ask a local for a recommendation.

Whether they suggest Mount Begbie Brewing for a beer, Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery for a cocktail or The Village Idiot for pizza and off-the-charts vibes, the options in this small town are many.

I can hardly wait to return to Revelstoke for another visit, and for a first crack at the completed course, next summer.

Until we meet again, Mount Begbie.

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