Fuquay-Varina, NC Outdoor Activities

Subject to the whims of the Tar River, The River Golf and Country Club’s 18-hole course guides players down a winding path with few straightaway holes within its 6,391-yard length. Ten of the holes feature a dogleg turn of some degree, from the slight bend to the left in the fairway of the 1st hole to the violent rightward turn at the 15th hole. These, coupled with the four par 3s, challenge players to swing powerfully without overshooting their targets or accidentally landing their balls in a stork’s nest. Additionally, the river itself comes prominently into play on several holes, calling for fairway hops on the 1st and 10th holes and a dramatic tee shot over water on the par 3 11th.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,391 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 71.1 from the back tees
• Course slope of 131 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

Designed by prolific course architect Willard Byrd, Timberlake Country Club's 18-hole course plots a 6,579-yard trail across a Lake Murray peninsula as it dips southward into the glassy waters. Picturesque views of the lake abound throughout the round—because of its proximity to the lake, the club offers free docking and shore-side pickup for those who wish to arrive by boat or seahorse—and the supersized pool's watery fingers come into play on seven holes. Rounds culminate with dramatic flair at the signature 18th hole, a 483-yard par 5 where a mid-fairway water hazard looms on the business end of a blind tee shot, raising the stakes for players who unsheathe their driver in the hopes of reaching the green in two.

Alongside the grassy course, neon yellow orbs slice through the air at Timberlake Country Club's tennis courts, where tennis pro Mark Gardiner teaches students to hit a forehand passing shot or incite an earthquake with a deafening grunt. The club also houses diverse dining facilities to curb appetites or host social events.

The sun-bathed slopes and immaculate greenery of an 18-hole golf course welcome members and guests to the stately grounds of Timberlake Golf Club. Inspired by the sprawling links of the Emerald Isle, the 6,511-yard, par 71 layout challenges golfers with slick, bent-grass greens, cavernous pot bunkers, and grassy mounds that produce lies more awkward than a middle school dance. Before rounds, golfers can smooth out their swings and putting stroke at the club’s full driving range and recently installed practice green. Members can also work up a sweat while smashing forehands at the club’s tennis courts before tip-toeing, diving, or driving their golf cart into the cerulean waters of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Bent-grass greens
• Length of 6,511 yards from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Link to scorecard

Golf Augusta of North Carolina equips putters for their next round on the green in a 5,000-square-foot facility overflowing with equipment, apparel, and accessories. Golfers can elevate their tee-off through customized fittings, which use Shaft Optimizer technology to pair clubs with an interchangeable variety of heads and shafts alongside irons matched to each player based on their style of play and number of left hands. Alongside an abundance of brand-name garments, gloves, balls, and bags, Golf Augusta of North Carolina fits feet with a selection of more than 4,000 pairs of shoes.

One hundred acres of scenic meadows and forested trails wind around the perimeter of Wildwynn Stables, which features a 5,184-square-foot boarding barn, a 220'x180' arena of jumps and obstacles, a 60-foot wooden ring, and a 100'x80' paneled training pen. Owned by a family boasting three decades of experience with equines, the stables board steeds in comfy 12'x12' stalls. Cynthia Cooke, East Coast Open Show Circuit's 2010 Trainer of the Year, lays the foundation for showmanship competitions in private and group lessons. At weeklong summer camps, Cynthia demonstrates her expertise during daily riding sessions and wrangles kids as they learn riding safety and how to care for their own steed, which covers grooming and braiding carrots into their manes for later.

The clucks of more than 250 chickens harmonize with the braying of goats and the snorts of pigs, composing a pastoral symphony that resounds across 30 acres of lush, sustainable farmland. Lofty woods outline the acreage as the leaves of pumpkins, squash, and flowers dapple the pastures. Brier Creek Family Farm's resident staff patrols these scenic grounds, carefully tending to the ever-changing flocks of livestock that have included sheep, rabbits, cattle, and ducks.

The team bestows its passion for agriculture upon budding farmhands during camps, teaching pupils to intermingle with the animals, till an organic garden, and communicate through subtle pitchfork motions. The farmers further enlighten visitors at an onsite store brimming with eggs, seeds, crafts, and antiques.