Bowling Green, OH Outdoor Activities

With decades of experience skimming the shores of Lake Erie, U.S. Coast Guard–licensed Captain Sib Randolph has had ample time to hone in on the best spots to nab walleye, bass, and perch. Though he relies on years of successful fishing charters to guide his routes, it doesn’t hurt that his 27-foot SportCraft fishing boat is equipped with fish-finding and navigational equipment. In addition to advice on the likelihood of a fish’s ability to grant wishes, Captain Randolph supplies fishermen with free bait and ice.

The satisfying rattle of golf balls falling into cups soundtracks rounds at Perry Falls Miniature Golf Course, an 18-hole putters circuit that emulates a scaled-down, resort-style course. Placid streams, fountains, waterfalls, and tidal waves run throughout the par 40 course, setting a tranquil tone as golfers stand over tricky putts. Bereft of the windmills and loopty-loop gimmicks that populate most putt-putt layouts, Perry Falls challenges golfers with water hazards that come into the field of play on most holes. The course is open from 3 p.m. to dark on weekdays and noon to dark on weekends in May, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. June to August, but closes in the event of rain or golf-ball mutiny.

Bowling Green Country Club’s nine-hole course journeys across 73 acres of Ohio countryside. Featuring a nine-hole yardage of 2,782 from the farthest tees, the layout adds a sense of variety with four tee options for golfers looking to play the hole twice for an 18-hole round or foursomes who prefer to play without having to interact. A watery ellipse stands in the middle of four holes, including the par 3 seventh, where tee shots must somersault 168 yards over the corner of the pond to find the green. After rounds, duffers can unwind at the outdoor patio of Jeff Szabo’s Fairway Grill, where a wait staff of disguised caddies serves a menu of burgers, salads, sandwiches, and other hearty fare.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par 35 course
• Length of 2,782 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 33.8 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 114 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options

The Oak Harbor Golf Club's 6,493-yard course protrudes into an oxbow on the Portage River, pairing scenic views and cool breezes with an ever-present supply of water hazards and small greens. Along the front nine, players patrol tree-lined fairways dotted by small ponds and bisected by a marshy brook that requires calculated drives and sharp wit to solve riddles proposed by retired caddies turned bridge trolls. The back nine meanders out onto a narrow neck of land within the oxbow and wraps golfers in panoramic views of the river.

Off the course, golfers can bogey-proof their swings with a practice session at the grass-tee driving range or a lesson with PGA–certified instructor Matthew Jennings. After a day filled with aggressive drives, players can relax at Baldy's Roost, which serves a menu of sandwiches, wraps, and salads most enjoyed when eaten with polished divot tools.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,493 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.1 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 121 from the farthest tees
• Six tee options
• Scorecard