Lumberton, NC Outdoor Activities

Keith Hills Golf Club's three nine-hole courses convene for divergent 18-hole experiences along the cattail-lined shores of Cape Fear River. Daunting wetlands and well-bunkered fairways pose threats throughout the 27-hole expanse, placing a high premium on course management, deft club selection, and web-toed golf balls. The course's bermuda-grass fairways snake through the shadows of towering oaks and pines on their way to slick, bentgrass greens. The stately complex encompasses a 32-acre practice facility, a fully stocked pro shop, an onsite snack bar, and men's and ladies' locker rooms with showers to freshen up or revive comatose golf carts.

The Orange Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par-36 course

• Length of 3,326 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 36 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 127 from the farthest tees

The Black Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par-36 course

• Length of 3,299 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 36.2 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 136 from the farthest tees

The White Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par-36 course

• Length of 3,309 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 35.4 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 129 from the farthest tees

For a few centuries, Carver’s Falls was closed to the public, and it's easy to see how much the area benefited from that solitude. The natural beauty of its forests and the waterfall at its heart have flourished. But today, the tree canopy has been transformed into an aerial playground. Wires cross the sky, connecting tree to tree. Every day, ZipQuest's guides lead birds-eye tours of the pristine landscape on their expansive zipline network or via the Swing Shot that pendulums vertiginously above Carver's Creek.

Whether the lighting comes from the sun or helmet-mounted lamps, no fewer than two experienced guides lead guests through Carver's Falls' 2.5-hour course. Adventurers fly down eight ziplines—each designed for a long, leisurely glide or an adrenaline-pumping plunge—while pointing out local flora and fauna. Groups pause only to disembark on high platforms anchored to centuries-old trees. Floating spiral staircases and sky bridges, the longest of which stretches 210 feet, interconnect the platforms. A suspension bridge carries explorers over the falls to a penultimate zipline that runs parallel to its creek. At the end of the run, guests catch their breath while looking through the pictures their camera-wielding guide took.

The clubhouse at Beacon Ridge Golf & Country Club is an ivory monument of colonial-era gentility with four columns and a neoclassical façade inspired by George Washington’s plantation home at Mount Vernon. Though impressive in its own right, the stately manor is hardly out of place when compared to the club’s golf course. Visitors to the grounds are greeted by a 6,494-yard circuit of well-kept bermuda fairways and penncross-bentgrass greens that winds through towering Carolina pines and bunkers of sand so pristinely white that they appear to be crushed marble or genetically evolved snowflakes that adapted to withstand the summer swelter.

The course reflects the vision of architect Gene Hamm, who showcases the natural charms of the North Carolina Sandhill region with rolling fairways, contoured greens, and water that comes into play on five holes. Tricky shot-making opportunities abound throughout the layout, especially at the 542-yard, par-5 fourth—the course’s most difficult hole—where golfers must clear a pond with their drive before navigating a fairway that doglegs sharply to the left as it approaches the green. To prepare for their round, golfers can stock up on divot tools or tees to use as toothpicks at the pro shop or warm up their swing and putting stroke at the synthetic-turf driving range and practice green.

Nestled on sprawling, tree-lined terrain, Black Creek Hill Farms cultivates horse-human friendships with lessons for students of all experience levels and guided trail rides through local landscapes. The full-service stable is owned and operated by experienced horsewoman Brenda Jernigan, whose love of and dedication to horses has been evident since she was born with one in her hand.

Her experienced guides, both equestrians since childhood, spearhead expeditions into the pond-spotted wilderness, starting with basic equine etiquette for those who have never ridden a horse. They also conduct lessons at the homestead, tailoring each session to individual skill and comfort level and teaching fundamentals such as grooming and affixing saddles onto steeds or little brothers. Therapeutic rides can accommodate special needs, varying in length based on riders' attention spans, and summer camps enthrall kids with crafts, companions, and the nurturing presence of horses.

Originally built in 1930, Spring Hill Golf Course spans 6,665 yards of kempt fairways lined by mature trees and interspersed water hazards. The par 72 course snakes through the charming Spring Hill College campus, challenging golfers with subtle elevation changes, six ponds, and rogue professors interrogating passersby about the lost history of the mashie niblick. The driving range prepares golfers for their 18-hole odyssey, which begins with an unforgiving first hole—a 435-yard par 4 rated the course's most difficult.

PGA professional Shane Allen oversees the stately grounds, employing digital video analysis in lessons for juniors, adults, and caddies desperate to determine their most intimidating post-putt howl.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,665 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.3 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 124 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard

White-sand beaches flank a 6-acre manmade, sand-bottom lake at Fantasy Lake Water Park, a family-friendly destination offering attractions both in and out of the water. There are numerous water slides, including enclosed-tube slides, open slides with foam mats, and drop slides that unleash adrenaline by sending bodies freefalling to a splash landing. Visitors can also glide into the lake on swings or play games of volleyball or basketball waist deep in water. Pedal-boat rentals are included with admission, giving legs a chance to do some of the work after walking around on your hands all day. Kid-friendly ziplines and other attractions populate a children’s zone, and the savory scents of barbecue drift from charcoal grills in a picnic area.