South Dakota Guide and Deals

Landshark Scuba is one of South Dakota's only Professional Association of Diving Instructors–certified centers; the facility has been educating landlocked locals in the diving arts since 2005. With the Discover Scuba class ($35), novice divers will be introduced to scuba diving within the safe and relatively shark-free confines of Landshark's pool (a $5.35 pool fee is included with this deal). Diving basics will be covered by Landshark's staff of friendly and experienced masters of maritime mobility. Should you choose to pursue further diving instruction at Landshark, credit from this beginner's class will count towards your PADI Open Water certification.

Consult the arena seating chart and choose one of the following seating sections and price points:

Four Midwestern locations bear the Crossfire Paintball name, together covering more than 200 acres of natural wooded terrain and open battlefields peppered with logs and drain-pipe bunkers. During typical high-speed, team-based battles, soldiers splat each other with watercolor-tipped spears and biodegradable balls filled with nontoxic paint as they attempt to capture the enemy's flag. Just as games for small groups and birthday or bachelor parties boost camaraderie among friends, corporate outings foster vital interoffice skills such as problem solving, quick thinking, and coordinating ties with colorful shirt stains.

When the Skyforce joined the Continental Basketball Association in 1989, it became the city of Sioux Falls's first-ever professional-sports organization. It wasn't until 1994 that the Skyforce truly established itself as a powerhouse, earning its first playoff berth to set off a string of six consecutive postseason appearances—highlighted by a CBA championship in 1995–96.

Over the next decade, the Skyforce remained a perennial playoff contender, including during a brief stint as part of the International Basketball League in 2001. The team won its second CBA title in 2005–06, then promptly stuffed its trophies and the entire Sioux Falls Arena into a carry-on suitcase for a move to the NBA Developmental League. Since the switch, the Skyforce has helped launch the careers of a dozen NBA players, bringing the organization's total to more than 40.

For nearly a quarter century, Ultimate Golf & Academy founder Chad Westra has been instructing golfers of all abilities while developing original methods for improvement in his book and instructional DVD, The Ultimate Way. Through Chad's methods, golfers discover the components of a balanced swing, including the turn of the clubface and the point of impact. By focusing on clubface connection, the instructor asserts that golfers can develop natural swings attuned to their unique form and golf bag full of modified soup ladles. Ultimate Golf allows visitors to practice their swings on its 22-acre facility, which features a well-lit driving range, 19-hole miniature golf course, and digital golf simulator. The simulator allows golfers to play on digital replications of 100 legendary golf courses.

Bookended by the rippling waters of Lake Madison and Round Lake, The Lakes Golf Course’s nine-hole layout arches over 3,128 yards of rolling, lush terrain. Conscientious clubbers will spend time at the adjacent driving range before the round to prepare swings and motivate lazy golf carts in time for the first hole, a par 5, 533-yard monolith rated the course’s hardest hole. Throughout the layout, gentle elevation changes create the occasional tricky lie and give way to splendid views of the lakes and the surrounding countryside topography. Those looking to extend their golf outing to an overnight trip or romantic getaway with their sand-wedge can hunker down in the rustic but modern accommodations at The Lodge, or pitch a tent made of polo shirts at the Camping Grounds.

Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par 36 course
• Course rating of 72.2 (adjusted for 18-hole round)
• Slope rating of 121
• Three tee options