Jackson Reid
Ben Cowan-Dewar is the co-founder and CEO of The Cabot Collection, a leading developer of luxury golf resorts. He founded the company alongside Mike Keiser, the creator of Bandon Dunes, who has also been a key investor and
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder and CEO | Ben Cowan-Dewar |
| Co-founder | Mike Keiser |
| Mentor | Mike Keiser |
| Partner | Mike Keiser |
| Designer of Cabot Links | Rod Whitman |
| Designer of Cabot St. Lucia | Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw |
| Location of Cabot Links | Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Location of Cabot St. Lucia | St. Lucia, Caribbean |
| Location of Cabot Revelstoke | British Columbia, Canada |
| Location of Cabot Citrus Farms | Florida, USA |
| Location of Cabot Highlands | Scottish Highlands |
| Location of Cabot Bordeaux | France |
| Location of Cabot Cape Breton | Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Number of onsite restaurants at Cabot Links | 3 |
| Number of rooms in Cabot Links Lodge | 72 |
| Number of Golf Villas at Cabot Links | 19 |
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What You'll Learn
Ben Cowan-Dewar is the co-founder and CEO of Cabot
Cowan-Dewar's journey in the golf industry began at a young age. As a 12-year-old, he built a small hole on his family's farm in Eastern Ontario, Canada. This early interest evolved into a passion for golf course architecture and development. At 19, he founded Golf Travel Impresarios (GolfTi), which organised private golf trips, allowing him to experience some of the world's finest courses.
The idea for Cabot took shape when Cowan-Dewar, in his twenties, scouted a promising seaside parcel in Nova Scotia. He partnered with Mike Keiser, the founder of Bandon Dunes, and together they developed Cabot Links, Canada's first authentic links course. The success of Cabot Links led to the expansion of the Cabot brand, including the addition of Cabot Cliffs in 2015 and The Nest in 2020.
Under Cowan-Dewar's leadership, the Cabot brand has continued to thrive and expand internationally. The company's portfolio now includes prestigious destinations such as Cabot St. Lucia in the Caribbean, featuring the spectacular Point Hardy Golf Club; Cabot Revelstoke in western Canada; Cabot Highlands in Scotland; and Cabot Bordeaux in France. The brand has also invested in Lofoten Links, a remote golf course above the Arctic Circle in Norway.
Cowan-Dewar's vision for Cabot is driven by a focus on unique locations and compelling landforms. He seeks out opportunities that offer something special in terms of setting and terrain. This approach has established Cabot as a marquee name in destination golf, renowned for its commitment to delivering world-class golf experiences in remarkable locations.
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Mike Keiser is a partner and mentor to Cowan-Dewar
Mike Keiser is a partner and mentor to Ben Cowan-Dewar, the CEO and co-founder of Cabot, a leading developer of luxury golf resorts. Together, they have transformed the Cabot brand into a marquee name in destination golf, with a global reach stretching from Canada to the Caribbean, Scotland, France, and beyond.
Keiser, a Chicago native, made his fortune by developing and selling a greeting card company. He is also the founder of Bandon Dunes, which has been described as the East Coast's version of Cabot Cape Breton. In 2011, Keiser partnered with Cowan-Dewar to open Cabot Links in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, with Keiser providing financial backing for the project. This marked the beginning of their long-standing collaboration and friendship.
Cowan-Dewar has described Keiser as an "exemplar" in his life, a testament to the deep respect and admiration he has for his mentor. Their relationship has evolved over the years, and they have worked together on numerous projects, including the development of Cabot St. Lucia in the Caribbean, Cabot Revelstoke in western Canada, and Cabot Highlands in Scotland. The Cabot brand has also expanded to include destinations such as Florida, the Scottish Highlands, and British Columbia.
Cowan-Dewar's journey in the golf industry began when he founded Golf Travel Impresarios (GolfTi) at the age of 19, organizing private golf trips that allowed him to play on some of the world's finest courses. He then worked as a golf tour operator, travelling the globe and gaining exposure to various golf courses. However, it was his partnership with Keiser that propelled his career to new heights, as they worked together to create world-renowned golf destinations.
The guiding philosophy of remote golf development, popularized by Keiser at Bandon and embraced by Cabot, holds that multiple courses in one location are preferable to just one. This philosophy has influenced the expansion of the Cabot brand and its investment in projects like Lofoten Links, a remote golf course above the Arctic Circle in Norway. With Keiser's mentorship and investment, Cowan-Dewar has been able to turn his boyhood dreams into a thriving reality, creating some of the world's most spectacular golf courses and resorts.
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Bandon Dunes founder Keiser provided financial backing
The Cabot Collection is a leading developer of luxury golf resorts, with its flagship location, Cabot Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Ben Cowan-Dewar is the co-founder and CEO of The Cabot Collection. In 2011, he teamed up with Mike Keiser, the founder of Bandon Dunes, to open Cabot Links, a golf course in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Keiser provided financial backing for the project, which became the first authentic links course in Canada.
Keiser, a Chicago native, made his fortune by developing and selling a greeting card company. For Cowan-Dewar, he became both a business partner and a mentor, with their relationship evolving over the years. The success of Cabot Links led to the expansion of the Cabot brand, with the addition of Cabot Cliffs in 2015, and The Nest in 2020. Today, Cabot Cape Breton is widely considered Canada's No. 1 golf destination, and the rapid rise of this resort gave Cowan-Dewar the credibility he needed to take his vision international.
The company's expanded portfolio now includes prestigious properties such as Cabot St. Lucia in the Caribbean, Cabot Revelstoke in western Canada, Cabot Highlands in Scotland, and Cabot Bordeaux in France. In 2024, the company made its first continental European acquisition by purchasing Golf Du Medoc Resort, which it transformed into Cabot Bordeaux. This expansion demonstrates the continued growth and success of the Cabot brand, which has been fueled by the financial backing and mentorship of Bandon Dunes founder Mike Keiser.
In addition to their existing projects, Cowan-Dewar and Keiser have also considered acquiring other properties, such as Lofoten Links, a remote golf course above the Arctic Circle in Norway. While the pandemic shifted their focus to their existing assets, their strategic investments and acquisitions continue to shape the world of luxury golf resorts. The mentorship and financial backing provided by Keiser have been instrumental in the growth and success of the Cabot Collection, allowing Cowan-Dewar to turn his boyhood dream into a thriving international business.
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Cabot Links was designed by Canadian architect Rod Whitman
Cabot Links, the first Cabot course, was designed by Canadian architect Rod Whitman. Whitman, an Alberta native, designed the course in collaboration with Ben Cowan-Dewar, the founder and CEO of Cabot. The course was built on the northwest tip of Nova Scotia, Canada, in the town of Inverness. It is located on the rugged coastline of Cape Breton Island, adjacent to Nova Scotia, and offers stunning coastal views.
The idea for Cabot Links came about when the 25-year-old Cowan-Dewar convinced his partner and mentor, Mike Keiser, to consider a promising seaside parcel in Nova Scotia. With Keiser's financial backing, Cowan-Dewar's vision became a reality. The course opened in 2012 as Canada's first authentic links course and was named the world's "Best New Course" by Golf Digest.
Whitman's design for Cabot Links showcases his expertise in golf course architecture. The course is a full 18-hole true links course, built on a former coal mine along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The firm soil and short grass of the links terrain make bump-and-run shots and putting from close off the green popular choices for players. The course is known for its challenging yet rewarding holes, with the par-3 14th hole being particularly deceptive.
The success of Cabot Links sparked the expansion of the Cabot brand, leading to the addition of Cabot Cliffs in 2015, which was designed by renowned architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Today, Cabot Cape Breton, which includes both Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, is widely considered Canada's No. 1 golf destination. The resort offers a range of amenities, including multiple golf courses, upscale lodging, and onsite restaurants, solidifying its reputation as a premier golf destination.
The impact of Cabot Links extends beyond its status as a renowned golf course. The development of the course played a significant role in the rebirth of the Inverness economy. The town had been facing economic decline after the closure of its coal mines, and the success of Cabot Links brought new life to the community. This transformation highlights the potential for golf courses to drive economic growth and revitalise communities, particularly those with underutilised coastal lands.
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Cabot's real-estate program launched in July 2015
The Cabot golf resort launched its real-estate program in July 2015, consisting of nineteen Golf Villas and a discovery centre. The villas are available for purchase and rent. The Golf Villas are located on the rugged coastline of Cape Breton Nova Scotia, where sandy soil, firm fairways, and coastal views embrace golf's early Scottish roots.
The Cabot brand has expanded to several locations, including Florida, the Caribbean, the Scottish Highlands, and British Columbia. The company's expanded portfolio now includes such A-list properties as Cabot St. Lucia in the Caribbean, Cabot Revelstoke in western Canada, and Cabot Highlands in Scotland. The Cabot Collection, a leading developer of luxury golf resorts, has helped shape many such properties worldwide.
Ben Cowan-Dewar, co-founder and CEO of Cabot, has been instrumental in the company's growth and expansion. He has focused on two key things: places in Canada, America, and Europe that are easily accessible from his office in Toronto, and compelling landforms for golf. Cowan-Dewar estimates he has considered hundreds of opportunities to build golf courses around the world.
Cowan-Dewar's career in the golf space began when he founded Golf Travel Impresarios (GolfTi) at the age of 19, which organised and operated private golf trips. He then launched a golf travel business in college and continued on that path after graduation. A watershed moment in his career came when he convinced Keiser to invest in a promising seaside parcel in Nova Scotia, which became Cabot Links.
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Frequently asked questions
Ben Cowan-Dewar is the CEO and co-founder of The Cabot Collection.
Ben Cowan-Dewar is the owner of Cabot Golf. Mike Keiser, the founder of Bandon Dunes, is also a partner and investor in the business.
The Cabot Links course was designed by Rod Whitman, a Canadian architect.
The Cabot St. Lucia course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.
