Things to Do in Irmo

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

Palmetto Outdoor Center promotes the preservation of natural rivers and forests. Because awareness is the best way to maintain the environment and cultural heritage, Palmetto spreads knowledge of these local gems with river trips and walking tours. These organized tours and vessels for rent allow amateur explorers to discover South Carolina’s uncluttered riverbanks while learning about how they can be protected. Civil War walking tours illuminate the history of the region, and canoe and kayak rentals plunge into the tree-lined waterways of the Congaree, which flows through protected national parkland with the continent’s largest old-growth floodplain forest.

Jeffery Archery's craftsmen hand shape natural hardwood into traditional longbows, and their pro-shop stocks contemporary compound bows from brands such as Bowtech. The facility also includes a 12-lane indoor range, where archers can practice at distances from 5–20 yards.

Sculpted into 160 acres of rolling hills and forests of oak, pine, and dogwood, Oak Hills Golf Club provides a scenic challenge for golfers skilled and novice. The course designed by Steve Melnyk and Davis Love III features manicured Tifway 419 bermuda-grass fairways and elevated, undulating greens. Players might want to keep a still-life painter in the bag for when they reach the elevated tee box on the par 5 hole 18, where a viewing of nine different holes manifests itself in a verdant panorama of course and countryside. The Oak Hills staff of veteran PGA professionals amends swings during private lessons for adults and youths.

A licensed member of the National Sporting Clays Association, Hermitage Farm Shooting Sports challenges clay marksmen to a course that draws them through a dense forest of wild azaleas, colorful dogwood trees, and leafy hickory trees. Shooters ride a golf cart or walk to make their way across the 1,500-acre parcel, stopping at a number of natural stands to test shooting accuracy on manual and automatic traps situated along a winding ridge. Several traps placed around pond rims simulate the flight of live game, offering shooters a way to warm up for hunting season or play pranks on unpopular pond-dwelling superheroes.