Burlington, NC Outdoor Activities

Built in 1969 and having hosted the 2001 National Golf Association Triad Classic, Pine Knolls Golf Club has brought a long and sparkling history to its location in northeast Forsyth County. In 2006, two brothers-in-law from Ireland—Graham, a retired professional motorcycle racer and Pearse, a PGA professional—purchased the course. Today, they carry on its tradition of challenging and enjoyable play. To conquer the 6,338-yard layout, golfers must decipher the course’s small and complex greens, which requires even more concentration than geocaching for holes on a course that spans an entire city.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Total length of 6,338 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 72.4 from the back tees

• Course slope of 123 from the back tees

From their home base at Deep River Golf Range, PGA-certified instructors Scott Duerscherl and Riley Kurtz help students along the path to lower golf scores. The teachers adhere to an overarching philosophy that there is no single perfect swing that works for every player. Instead, they tweak an individual's natural mechanics to create a comfortable swing that can be repeated even when hitting from difficult lies such as hillside dirt or camouflaged snares. During lessons with either Scott or Riley, students focus on the fundamentals of making proper contact with the ground in relation to the ball and controlling the ball's flight path. Casio high-speed cameras capture each cut for analysis with SwingView Pro software, which can spot swing-inhibiting problems such as backswing hitches and straitjacket polo shirts. On days when inclement weather prevents practice on the range, players can head to the indoor teaching area, complete with a sheltered putting green.

After a day plowing the fields, the young Dan Andrews would jump from the tractor, feel his boots sink into the freshly turned earth, and then grab his rifle for an evening of hunting on his family's farm. Once he graduated college, Andrews found himself wanting to share his passion for the outdoors, forged by experiences such as hunting trophy buck and stalking duck along the farmland's creek beds. He returned to the land that had sustained his family for five generations and founded Drake Landing.

Today, Andrews and his team—which includes staff claiming accreditation by the National Sporting Clays Association—oversee a preserve that spans separate ranges for shooting sporting clays, pistols, and rifles. In addition to maintaining rigorous safety standards at the ranges, crews also supervise a 3-D archery course out in the forest. For outdoorsmen desiring live field experience, Drake Landing's team leads guided upland hunting for pheasant and quail as well as hunting trips for dove, deer, and Red October.

World-renowned course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. dreamed up the challenging layout of Mariners Landing Golf’s 18-hole, par 72 course, where players putt on bermuda grass under the watchful eye of verdant mountains. Golfers shake their Magic 8 balls to decide among five sets of tee boxes before they play through the sand trap- and pond-studded fairways, which wind through residential areas. Players can also practice swings at the driving range’s 12 hitting stations or rehearse chipping and putting on the practice green. The course’s golf professional and an assistant golf professional instruct students in the proper way to thrust and parry during a golf-club duel, and the Dew-Sweepers pro shop outfits swingers with Titleist and Nike equipment. After facing down the fairways, golfers can relax in the clubhouse restaurant with a burger and fries.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course

• Length of 7,155 yards from the farthest set of tees

• Course rating of 74.2 from the farthest set of tees

• Slope rating of 130 from the farthest set of tees

• Five tee options

A fishing bobber quivers atop the water's surface and plunges swiftly downward to indicate a fish has taken the bait. At the other end of the line, a young girl takes hold of the rod as her family cheers her on. Greggofish Guide Service owner Greg Griffin forges memories like these, leading lighthearted family trips or aquatic excursions to catch specific species such as largemouth bass.

The captain welcomes groups aboard his Carolina Skiff—a 24-foot vessel with a T-top that offers shade and cover from fishes' spy satellites. Though an accomplished fisherman, Greg doesn't cast his own line during charters. Instead, he gives full attention to his passengers, helping them use provided supplies such as rods, reels, and bait. Greg also maintains an online tutorial page, where fledgling fishers can go for tips or to send fish e-vites to their next barbecue.