Maryville, MO Outdoor Activities

Both awarded a Four Star rating by Golf Digest, the Outlaw and Posse courses at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex hug the jagged waterline of Smithville Lake, jutting out onto peninsulas to incorporate picturesque coves. Sculpted into the landscape in 1982, the original Posse course leads golfers over rolling bluegrass fairways that present multiple opportunities for golfers to appreciate the lake's grandeur and make bets with willing waterfowl. The Outlaw course, characterized by zoysia fairways, large greens, and ample opportunities to bask in the maritime surroundings, was added 12 years later. Wind makes for a formidable foe on both courses, placing a premium on proper club selection and choice of ball flight.

Posse Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,768 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 71.8 from the back tees
• Course slopes of 125 from the back tees

Outlaw Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 7,016 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 74.3 from the back tees
• Course slope of 138 from the back tees

The certified trainers and divers at Big Joe Scuba wade students through all watery courses, from beginner to PADI-certified instructor. They accomplish this through classroom instruction and dips into their heated pool, where students become accustomed to breathing and maneuvering underwater. After they advance to open-water courses, the classroom extends to Beaver Lake, Arkansas, for diving practice in natural surroundings. A full-service dive center, Big Joe Scuba also rents and sells a complete line of gear and organizes diving jaunts to exotic locales such as Cozumel, Mexico.

Wild Rose Equine Center hosts horseback-riding lessons and trail rides on the bucolic expanse upon which it resides. Riders of all skill levels can learn from the expert staff during regular lessons. These sessions are tailored to each student’s goals, whether they would like to compete in shows or take a horse to the prom.

Athletes push the limits of their physical and mental fortitude during 5-kilometer Rugged Maniac races. Runners fling themselves over 12-foot walls and scuttle through swampy terrain under nets of barbed wire and over napping lumberjacks. They careen down a 50-foot water slide and soar over pits of fire, dashing through forests, fields, motocross tracks, and ski slopes along the way. Waves of 300 competitors depart at 30-minute intervals, ensuring zero wait time at obstacles where photographers snap action shots. At the finish line, survivors claim fresh fruit and a beer (for those 21 and older) on entering the after-party. At the bash, live bands and food refresh wearied minds and bodies. Athletes in training can follow Rugged Maniac's online training guide, which primes physiques for the race or interoffice cubicle-hurdling competitions.