Things to Do in Grovetown

Inside South Carolina’s 47 state-registered parks, visitors explore secluded forest trails, sweeping cerulean lakes, roiling saltwater surfs crashing on white beaches, and streams and rivers overgrown with thick canopies of trees. The protected areas, many of which were assembled nearly a century ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps, encompass more than 80,000 acres and span turf from the rambling Blue Ridge Mountains to the sandy Atlantic-coast beaches. Abundant activities for guests include canoeing, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and accidentally startling long-forgotten lumberjacks wearing headphones.

Visitors experience colonial history up close at some parks, where registered historic homes, plantations, and landmark buildings stand preserved or in their natural state. These structures grant a glimpse into the lives of European settlers, Native Americans, and African Americans through building tours, archaeological collections, and live history demonstrations. Overnight camping is available at many parks, ranging from primitive campsites to cabins, villas, and tent sites that offer running water. Much like a scientist designing a soda-can-powered robot, park administrators follow a rigorous recycling program to ensure the preservation of the wilderness.

A destination for paint-your-own pottery, The Pitter Platter is a place where visitors are free to express themselves, whether it's decorating a mug or painting a colorful canvas. Welcoming students ages five and up, the studio's shelves are lined with raw ceramic bisques, ranging from plates and bowls to heart-shaped boxes. During the summer, kids can fend off boredom and lingering textbooks during daily art classes that keep children engaged and occupied with a host of art projects.

Manned by master artist Jana G. Gambrell, Palmetto Paint & Pour outfits its guests with all the necessary tools to channel their creativity into original paintings. Jana hosts BYOB paint parties for any occasion inside her studio or at the client's chosen locale, steering her pupils through easy-to-follow brush strokes that result in an acrylic opus. Her open-studio hours also allow attendees to compose their artwork in a more freeform setting. Jana welcomes patrons of all ages and artistic backgrounds, from complete beginners to professional American Gothic reenactors.

As golfers stand over teed-up golf balls, staring down the fairway of Indian Trail Golf Course’s 370-yard 14th hole—the course signature—they may be perplexed by its ranking as the round’s most difficult hole. Though the scorecard reads “short par 4,” the hole packs a good deal of hardship into its diminutive stature. Golfers must aim for the top of the fairway hill off the tee, while steering clear of the boulder on the right side and the large pond just beyond. Players are forgiven for going the conservative route with a long iron off the tee, as opposed to risking the driver or a retrofitted t-shirt cannon. If they leave themselves a decent lie on the approach, a two-tiered green awaits just over the water, making three-putts an all-too-common occurrence.

While not every hole features boulders, uphill fairways, and the ever-present threat of boogeyman attacks, the course is characterized by the ubiquitous threat of hazards. In all, nine ponds and more than 40 bunkers haunt players along the 6,272 yards of Bermuda-covered terrain, lending an air of hostility to the otherwise pristine surroundings.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,272 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 69.4 from the back tees
• Course slope of 127 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole