Lebanon, MO Outdoor Activities

Dream Valley Golf Course’s 18-hole layout unfurls across 6,255 yards of pristine fairways kissed by seven ponds amid a farmland perimeter teeming with lush foliage. Though mostly characterized by forgiving, tree-lined fairways, the course’s inventive layout requires adept course management with many twisting hole designs and flagsticks that double as jousting sticks during golf-cart battles. A dramatic dogleg right on the par-4 fourth forms the course’s hardest-rated hole, wherein golfers must either attack the 365-yard corridor by crushing a forced carry over a large pond or lay up about 160–180 yards for a safer but less rewarding tee shot. Clubbers can careen across the emerald meadows on their own spiky-soled feet or enlist the help of the club’s stock of rental carts, which help loop the links efficiently while insisting on being called a Mars rover-in-training.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-71 course
• Length of 6,255 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 68.5 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 113 from the farthest tees
• Three tee options
• Click here for scorecard

For 30 years, the staff at Cliff Hartman Farms Quarter Horses has been breeding, showing and boarding steeds, including the nationally renowned stallion Good Terms. The equestrian family channels their expertise into lessons conducted in an insulated indoor ring, two outdoor arenas, a circular pen, and more than 1,000 acres of trail-laden land in the Ozark Hills. The farm's weekly lessons—molded around English and Western techniques—teach beginners how to groom and saddle horses before an hour of riding and a brief cool down. Day and summer camps afford the same opportunities for youngsters. And for those who own their own horse, the facility maintains a robust line of boarding stalls, all of which accommodate equines better than the antiquated storage zones such as the family garage or the family high-dive.

At Greatest Adventures Miniature Golf, an Egyptian sphinx, a towering dragon, and a waterfall cave present fun challenges for anyone from casual mini golfers to skilled putters competing in the US Pro Mini Golf Association, which has been hosted at the 36-hole facility. The USPMGA rated facility showcases two distinct 18-hole courses, both with their own themes and characters. Knights and a giant dragon roam the grounds of the medieval course, whereas a giant ape heckles players as they putt around Egyptian structures at the jungle course. In 2011, the USPMGA invited players to put their skills to the test at Greatest Adventures Miniature Golf for the US Open Championship. Though competition was fierce, the then-16-year-old Olivia Prokopova took home the win with her precise shots, determined swing, and ability to pick out the luckiest color golf ball.

Between games, guests can visit the onsite Pizza Haus for sustenance. The menu features pasta, meatball hoagies, wings, and from-scratch pizza made fresh daily and baked in a brick oven.

A largely digital publication, The Bowfisher magazine champions piscine bow-hunting with recommendations on nationwide chartering businesses and guided ventures in the Ozarks. The editor-in-chief also charters his own local trips, immortalizing each adventure with complimentary digital-photo packages and toasts over a basket of quick snacks and beverages. As bow-fishers engage in a thrilling test of skill, they also take aim at invasive species such spotted gar, buffalo fish, and swamp things. Archers across the country can keep abreast of the sport's latest happenings in The Bowfisher's six digital issues a year, and peruse the online store for polarized glasses and promotional wear.