Things to Do in Olean

In 1930, golf enthusiast and LeRoy resident Donald Woodward, the youngest son of Jell-O magnate Orator Woodward, was determined to bring his dream of a hometown golf course to fruition. He lamented the fact that his fellow townsmen had to settle for miniature golf because regular golf was unaffordable. After turning his personal airport into a driving range, Donald continued spreading his golf seedlings by building LeRoy Country Club, a nine-hole track sprawled across 30 acres.

The first fairways opened in 1931, and after five years of success and the tireless efforts of a 25-man crew, the grounds expanded to the 18-hole course golfers experience today. Golfers must contend with the landscape's rolling terrain and frequent water hazards, then can head straight to the course grill after rounds instead of waiting in the ghost-filled breadlines lingering from a bygone era.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Total length of 6,579 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 71.2 from the back tees

• Course slope of 122 from the back tees

• Three sets of tees per hole

Sean and Hannah Maurer founded Lake Lane Fishing and Hunting Getaway so families could have a place to experience the outdoors together. The fishing grounds—a trout pond, a second pond with bass, bluegills, and bullhead catfish, and a creek—stay open all year for fishing by appointment, and since Lake Lane is a New York State Fishing Preserve, no license is required. In addition to renting gear and selling bait, the staff teaches angling basics, such as how to fly fish or catch a fish directly in your mouth. The 2013 Sports Show on June 1 and 2 features a free youth fishing tournament. Adults must pay a $25 registration fee for a trout and bass tourney, but cash prizes will be awarded to all age groups. Pre-registration is recommended.

Lake Lane's hunting grounds host both small and big game, including wild turkey and white-tailed deer. A shooting range also caters to hunters with bow and rifle targets. In order to help guests extend their outdoor adventures, campsites for self-contained tents and campers are available, and the Maurers have plans to introduce all-season cabins equipped with outlets for sno-cone machines in the near future.

Members of Lake Lane Fishing and Hunting Getaway get special privileges, such as entry in the monthly trout and bass fishing tournament. Additionally, Lake Lane hosts special annual events, including a sports show and chicken barbecue, and the Maurers operate a small lumberyard and sawmill onsite that offers custom furniture from black walnut coffee tables to computers made of solid oak.

Students' minds and bodies are equally important at Grounded By Yoga, where a wide variety of classes help strengthen muscles while fostering a peaceful, balanced state of being. Novices and advanced practitioners find comfortable niches in the studio's repertoire, which includes classes and holistic workshops ranging from prenatal yoga to tai chi and meditation classes. Instructors strive to help students develop a well-rounded yoga practice, combining and balancing postures and breathing as well as concentration and meditation.

Stretched out along the western banks of Silver Lake, a gauntlet of bent-grass fairways leads players along a path that presents challenging play and picturesque views of the water. Though play never wanders close enough to Silver Lake proper to render it a hazard, multiple ponds enter play on several holes. The course adds additional challenges with undulating terrain, tall evergreens that line the fairways, and strategically placed sand traps that double as tanning beaches for displaced tourists.

Adjacent to the course, golfers can find respite at The Club restaurant, which offers a menu of classic American dishes to be enjoyed in a dining room with views of Silver Lake.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Total length of 6,012 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 69 from the back tees
• Course slope of 119 from the back tees