Outdoor Activities

Recreation: Multiple greens, myriad blue, maximum fun.

As home of the most famous golf tournament in the world, the Augusta area and Columbia County naturally offer some fantastic golf, with dozens of superb choices both private and public like Champions Retreat Golf Club and West Lake Golf Course.   While  you may never wear the coveted green jacket of the Masters, you will hear the birds sing the praises of your birdies at the Bartram Trail Golf Course, a Columbia County public course that’s a member of the Audubon National Wildlife Sanctuary program (where you’ll also find Mini Verde fine bladed Ultra Dwarf Bermuda grass on a 72-par course featuring five par 3s and par 5s).

The largest lake east of the Mississippi: As great as our golf, however, when it comes to our palette of fun in Columbia County our blue waters are just as sensational as our greens. Forming the northern border of the county is the 71,000-acre Clark Hill Lake, the largest lake east of the Mississippi and one of the nation’s 10 most visited reservoirs. In Columbia County fun lovers enjoy the perfect setting for this jewel of a lake, now a Go Fish Georgia site, with the 948-acre Wildwood Park hugging the shoreline. Wildwood has been developed for maximum beauty and enjoyment, with beach and picnic areas, camping, horseback and hiking trails. Wildwood is also the home of the International Disc Golf Headquarters.

All together Columbia County has more than 1,400 acres of parks, including Mistletoe State Park, Keg Creek State Park and multiple city parks where activities range from soccer to baseball to tennis to disc golf.  An outdoor lover’s paradise.

Spectacular views of nature and history: For a step up in fun and a step back in history, the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area offers the “most spectacular view of the Augusta metro area,” on the 80-foot high bluff of the Savannah River Rapids Park, overlooking the Savannah Rapids and the head gates of the historic Augusta Canal. Built nearly 170 years ago to divert the rapids to run turbines to attract industry, today the Canal is delightfully diverting to recreation lovers ready to relax and explore the rambling historic trails by foot or bike, and the crystalline waters by canoe or kayak. The waterfalls are spectacular, and even the bank-fishing is good. Or hop aboard a replica canal cargo boat for a guided tour.

The Masters may come only once a year, but with brilliant golf greens, beautiful blue skies and waters, and thousands of acres of outdoor recreation, golden opportunities for fun and relaxation unfold every day in Columbia County.