As the area thaws out from the winter doldrums, local golfers will surely be eager to get back out on the course of their choice. In Pennsylvania’s North Tier, the options are aplenty for both newcomers and seasoned veterans on the links.

Alongside courses within the immediate Bradford area, country clubs at Smethport, Kane, Emporium and Coudersport are up and running, and are eager to welcome golfers to their courses.

These clubs all boast courses that are both playable and affordable, which is a sticking point for Craig Stanley, the new Pro Shop manager at the Kane Country Club, and Dan Schott, a board member at the Coudersport Country Club.

“We have a nice 18-hole course, and it’s well-maintained,” Stanley said. “The rates are fairly reasonable, too, so it’s a nice play to play golf. We really try to keep the course affordable.”

Kane boasts roughly 150-200 members and is semi-private, meaning the public can pay to play on the course.

Coudersport Country Club, which has about 95 playing members, features an 18-hole, semi-private course, and this year there are a few new redesigns at a few of the holes.

“We’re continually making improvements on what we have,” Schott said. “And it’s one of the better-kept courses in the area as far as mowing and upgrades go.”

Both Kane and Coudersport feature notable events this summer that are open to the public.

At Kane, various companies hold tournaments for employees, and in addition, there are tournaments open to the public such as the UPMC Kane Tournament and Kane Lutheran Home Tournament.

“These are some really good events, and they’re for a really good cause,” Stanley said, and added that those interested should call the Pro Shop at Kane at 814-837-9491 for more information.

Meanwhile, at Coudersport, no official tournaments have been scheduled yet, but there is the Ham and Leek Scramble set for May 5. The four-person scramble has a shotgun start at 1 p.m. and a ham and leek dinner will follow the golf tournament. Members of the club can get into the tournament for $35, while non-members must pay a $55 or $50 reciprocal price should they be a member elsewhere.

Call 814-274-9122 to register or for more information.

In addition to these two courses, Smethport Country Club and Emporium Country Club offer similar services.

Smethport is a nine-hole, semi-private course that “will reward good shots and provide a fun golf outing for everyone,” according to the Club’s website.

The course is open through the end of October, and the club also features the standard Pro Shop as well as league play for members.

On Mondays, a Senior League for those aged 60 and older runs from 9 a.m. to noon. During that time, the course is still open to the public, but busy. Ladies Day is each Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the course is closed to men. Men’s Day is each Wednesday, and so the course is closed to women.

The course has a “Couple’s Club” each Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a male and female team. The nine-hole tournament features a buffet-style dinner at the conclusion of golfing.

There are no leagues on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Contact the Club at 814-887-5641 for more information on leagues and memberships.

The Emporium Country Club is open each day from 7 a.m. until dusk, and is an 18-hole, semi-private course that’s open to the public unless a special tournament or event is taking place.

The course is challenging, according to Emporium’s website, and each hole has a unique look and obstacle to it.

Like Smethport, the Emporium Country Club offers various leagues for men, women and couples. Men play a nine-hole tournament on Wednesdays and an 18-hole scramble on Sundays, while a men’s retiree league takes place on Thursdays. Ladies take the course on Tuesdays, and a mixed scramble takes place on Saturdays.

Call 814-486-7715, ext. 1 to schedule tee times or learn more about memberships.

Both Emporium and Smethport offer various tournaments and events through the summer.

You can also find each course online at the following websites: https://www.emporiumcc.com/, http://www.smethportcc.com/, http://www.kanecountryclub.com/, https://www.emporiumcc.com/.