Golf in Olean

Cyber Creek Indoor Golf services all swings with an outdoor driving range and nine indoor golf simulators to help players bolster pin-hunting prowess year-round. With lights, covered hitting bays, and both artificial- and natural-grass hitting areas, the range fosters practice sessions in nearly every element except lava. In addition, the range boasts a practice area with a sand bunker and 20-, 40-, and 60-yard target greens for those looking to practice their short game or see how far they can shot put a bag full of practice balls.

In Cyber Creek’s indoor facility, nine indoor golf simulators vividly emulate the pristine fairways and greens of 30 world-famous golf courses. Golfers can test their meddle amid the Norwegian fjords of Klawhammer Crag or the ominous, granite outcrops of Idaho’s high-elevation Heretic course without having to cope with a jet-lagged 7-iron. The center sates hunger with tangible helpings from an eclectic menu of refined continental cuisine that includes homemade chicken fingers and savory dips.

Originally sculpted into the rolling terrain of western New York in 1920, South Shore’s 18-hole course invites golfers of all stripes to conquer its pristine fairways. The grassy monolith stretches across 150 acres of scenic, parkland terrain, where players must shape their shots around babbling creeks, mature trees, and lakes where discontent golf balls live out fantasies of becoming submarines in search of Atlantis, the Utopian land responsible for the Arnold Palmer drink. A pro shop and clubhouse sit on the scenic hillsides, beckoning players with post-round beverages, upgraded golf accessories, and slice-prone spirits yelling “fore” at one another.

For more than 40 years, golfers of all stripes have swung golf balls through the arboreal alleyways of Fort Erie Golf Club’s 18-hole par 57 course. Stately oak and willow trees frame the emerald fairways and provide shade over interspersed ponds and shallow bunkers placed greenside on multiple holes. The front nine finishes on a peanut-shaped green characterized by dramatic breaks, a treacherous sand trap, and a flagstick with dreams of becoming an Olympic javelin. The driving range and putting green invite swingers to hone their form, and the clubhouse’s patio invites guests to relax with a beverage from Parskey’s Pub as they count the dimples in each of their golf balls and discard any with frown lines.

Beaver Island State Park stretches out over 950 acres at the southern end of Grand Island, on the shores of the upper Niagara River. The park's sandy half-mile beach welcomes swimmers and boaters. Nearby, an 80-slip marina with a boat launch lets mariners set sail in boats, kayaks, canoes, or origami yachts made from newspaper. Landlubbers swing clubs at an 18-hole championship golf course, venture down biking and hiking trails, and unpack picnic baskets on the park's scenic grounds. Guests seeking a break from the sun can visit a nature center with interactive exhibits on local flora and fauna. Guests also can drop by the River Lea house and museum, home to the Grand Island Historical Society and constructed by Grover Cleveland's cousin. In the winter, the park hosts snowmobilers, skiers, and snowshoers willing to brave the frigid air and rabid snowmen.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,645 yards
• Course rating of 70.2
• Slope rating of 108

The tree-lined easements of 27 fairways just north of Lake Erie form Whisky Run Golf Club’s three distinct nine-hole golf courses. The most popular of the courses, the Fox Course, roams through parkland terrain characterized by mature arbors, treacherous ponds, and picturesque panoramas from the tops of Lake Erie sand dunes. The Fox course connects with the links-style Serpent course to form the club’s signature 18-hole, 5,742-yard course, which invites golfers to play two unique golf experiences in one round without having to imagine life from the perspective of their sandwedge.

For a more abridged round, duffers can hack their way through the Owl Course, a par 34 executive layout lined by red pines, black walnut trees, and deciduous briefcases. After a round of divot-tearing bliss, golfers can continue to hone their swing at the Club’s driving range or rejuvenate with a libation or sandwich at the Bootlegger Bistro.

Brisk breezes from Lake Erie and nearby Niagara Falls waft across Emerald Pines’ 6,200 yards of manicured greens and oak-lined fairways, gently eddying past a rustic clubhouse that embodies the club’s homespun charm. Golfers can launch balls across the course’s 18 holes and driving range with name brand products found in an on-site pro shop, where a holographic projection of Mike Weir reenacts his most celebrated putts. The club’s rustic sensibility extends to the fully staffed kitchen’s menu, which comforts tummies with barbeque platters, jumbo hot dogs, and 8-ounce new york strip steaks.:m]]