Recreational Opportunities Plentiful in Randolph County
Yearning for a night out under the stars? Love the roar of an outboard skimming across a clear mountain lake? You say there’s nothing like the tug of a largemouth bass on your line. Or maybe your personal heaven is a clean‚ straight drive down the fairway.
However you picture the great outdoors‚ Asheboro-Randolph County has something special to offer. Situated among mountains‚ lakes and forests‚ with an ideal four-season climate‚ the Piedmont region is an ideal spot for nearly any type of outdoor recreation.
The jewel in the area’s crown is the Uwharrie National Forest‚ which comprises 50‚189 acres in Randolph‚ Montgomery and Davidson counties. One of the country’s smallest national forests‚ it offers an exceptionally wide range of activities and facilities.
The forest takes its name from an Indian word‚ "heighwaree‚" of unknown meaning‚ and its long history includes an ancient Native American settlement‚ and the first major gold discovery in the U.S.
Among the park’s attractions are Badin Lake‚ whose 5‚350 acres offer boating‚ swimming‚ fishing and camping opportunities. Nearly 40 miles of trails wind through the forest‚ not including those in the 5‚160-acre Birkhead Mountains Wilderness at the north end of the park. Equestrians and off-road vehicle enthusiasts enjoy their own trails.
Hunting has long been popular in the Uwharrie‚ where deer‚ turkey‚ small game and waterfowl are plentiful‚ while fishermen can try their hand at landing bass‚ catfish‚ bream or crappie in Lake Badin or the Uwharrie River. Primitive camping is permitted throughout the forest‚ and nine campgrounds offer more developed accommodations.
Got something a little less wild in mind? Check out the Asheboro Parks and Recreation Department.
"Our strong suit has always been our youth athletic programs‚ but we’ve just completed a 20-year comprehensive master plan that calls for developing more parks‚ and more adult opportunities‚" says Allen Oliver‚ department director.
Two city parks are graced with lakes‚ and Asheboro operates two swimming pools. Adults enjoy softball leagues‚ horseshoes‚ tennis and a number of picnic spots‚ while Asheboro’s kids are served by outstanding baseball‚ girls’ softball‚ football and basketball programs.
Among the city’s favorite recreation spots is its 9-hole municipal golf course‚ where more than 25‚000 rounds were played in 2000. Built in the 1930s by Donald Ross‚ Oliver says the course "is a great place for kids to learn and for seniors to play."
Serious golfers have a number of other options‚ from high-end‚ private 18-hole courses to 9-hole public greens.
Tot Hill Farm Golf Club is the newest course in the area‚ opened in May 2000 and is already enjoying nearly 24‚000 18-hole rounds a year. The centerpiece of a new residential development‚ Tot Hill draws local players and golfers from North and South Carolina‚ Virginia and even farther away‚ who enjoy its pristine‚ par-72 course set among the mountains.
"Our climate allows us to be open for golf 12 months a year‚" says Tot Hill general manager Doug Knowles. "And the Pinehurst area in Moore County‚ which is contiguous to us‚ is considered one of the top three golf destinations in the world‚ after Pebble Beach in California and St. Andrew’s in Scotland. That helps a lot‚ too.
"These days‚ people travel to play golf‚ and we see players from just about everywhere."
