Martinsville, IN Outdoor Activities

Paintball Indiana's owner and operator Chris bought his first marker––a PCS Storm––almost 20 years ago. He was hooked from the very first paintball shot, and within five years began refereeing games and designing his own equipment. Six years ago, his passion led him to purchase Paintball Indiana's expansive 20 acres of fields, which revolve around a central defensive castle. Chris now employs his own referees, a staff of young and passionate players that regulates games of speedball, woodsball, or scenario play on the three fields and lobby sofas. Chris' fields also play host to three- and five-man speedball leagues, which help players hone their marksmanship before upcoming tournaments. Large-scale games are de rigueur as well, as Chris and the staff takes down the nets between fields for the Big Game––an event hosting vast armies of players battling across 700 feet of terrain in the hopes of capturing the castle's prized Beanie Baby collection.

Players have to find peace and serenity while they're on a golf course. The gentle babbling of the Blue River as it cuts through the Bear Chase Golf Club's par 72 Championship course helps golfers uncloud their minds when setting up for booming drives and precise approaches. But Bear Chase Golf Club is more than a place to play a round of golf. A 1,600-square-foot banquet room with attached outdoor patio overlooks the club's 127 acres of swaying trees from alongside the course's 18th hole, where hosts can invite guests to enjoy the fresh air and try to catch passing tee shots during wedding receptions or other celebrations. An onsite pro shop also helps players prepare for future games by pairing them with gear and apparel from trusted brands.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,506 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70.7 from the back tees
• Course slope of 123 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

Cardinal Hills Golf Course caters to players of all ages and skill levels with three sets of tee boxes and a traditional layout strewn with manageable challenges. On the front nine, two ponds loom menacingly on holes 5 and 6, forcing wise club selection to avoid its murky depths or wise snorkel selection to search for ancient cartwrecks. Elsewhere on the course, eight bunkers impose their powers of intimidation and dense forests line the fairways, extending their boughs into many a flight path.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Total length of 6,338 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70.2 from the back tees
• Course slope of 125 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole.

High above a lush vineyard, the morning sky brims with creatures of flight: an eagle, a large bumblebee, a pigeon that forgot how to land. These were just some of the sights Airbus Balloon Rides' owner Andy Richardson imagined would greet his future down-gazing passengers. He first fell in love with the roar of a hot air balloon's flame just before entering the second grade, and that passion has driven his dreams ever since. Ten years after buying his first balloon at age 14, Andy now commands a fleet of rainbow-colored balloons that come in standard and specialty shapes. These colorful vessels set the elevated stage for individual flights and tethered rides helmed by Andy and his talented team. Flights lift off at sunrise, in the afternoon, and at sunset, when the low sun paints an orange-red glow over water, fields, and reindeer still stuck on rooftops.

Back on land, Airbus Balloon Rides also educates visitors on hot air balloon creation inside their balloon factory, which welcomes tours. At the end of each tour, the guides lead guests in a champagne or mimosa toast with accompanying hors d'oeuvres, celebrating their skyfaring adventures together.

Sprawling over 500 acres, eXplore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat entertains guests with a swath of old-fashioned adventure in the middle of Indiana. Fourteen ziplines, two sky bridges, and a rappelling tower offer a bird's-eye view of the scenic forest year-round. As zipliners soar back and forth above land and lake, guides lead tours of ATV riders on off-road explorations below. The rhythmic cough of paintball guns echo through the trees as teams compete for dominance on one of 10 scenario fields, some of which feature crashed planes. After a day of fun, visitors retire to the climate controlled cabins or open campgrounds for a night spent in the embrace of Mother Nature.

Ulen Country Club's golf course spans up to 6,310 yards over 110 acres of bentgrass greens, manicured fairways, and challenging rough. Designed in 1924 by Indianapolis native William Diddle, the dynamic course was originally designed for walkers, back when golf was played with caddies and cars were driven by a team of caddies pushing from behind. As many as 80 bunkers permeate the verdant terrain, a lake comes into play on three holes, and a creek snakes through eight fairways, placing a premium on club selection leading up to Ulen's undulating greens.

A shining example of Diddle's design is the 475-yard par 5 14th hole, whose massive left-hand bunker leaves drivers shaking in their marshmallow head covers. From there, approach shots must carry a creek and a bunker to land safely on the green, which is surrounded by sand traps on all sides. Though the course has undergone recent renovations, including new tee boxes, fairways, and an irrigation system, the original design is still mainly intact.

As a private facility, Ulen Country Club treats members to myriad amenities amid its stately clubhouse. Executive chef Nick Townsend and his staff serve up lunch and dinner menus in the professional dining room, with catering and banquet options available for special occasions. The club enforces a strict dress code that bans all T-shirts, cutoff pants, and baby holsters.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Bentgrass tees and fairways
• Length of 6,310 yards from farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard