Golf in Philadelphia

Though it's often said that the game of golf requires a lifetime to master, it seems the world neglected to mention that to Philadelphia Golf Lessons’ maestro Adz Kozlowski. Adz's ascendancy to membership in the PGA of America required only eight years; he first started golfing as a 14-year-old and won his pro certification by the age of 22, beginning a 20-year-and-running career as a reputed instructor with an impressive competitive resume, as evidenced by the sizzling round of 67 he carded at a 2006 New Jersey pro invitational.

Adz focuses on making the most of his pupils' natural swing motions by placing emphasis on the "impact position," or the orientation of the clubhead as it makes contact with golf balls or neighbors' flowerbeds. Adz has also created two golf instructional DVDs—"'N Synch Golf" and "Stroke Savers Golf"—which cover concepts such as how to adapt a smoother swing tempo, tackle every type of short-game shot, and hypnotize fellow golfers into giving pupils a gimme on any putt within 10 feet of the cup.

Golf is a sport of physical precision and aerial dynamics, won and lost upon the pendulum of your swing. Use today's Groupon to brush up on your golf physics and practice blasting balls with your refined stroke. For $30, you get a 30-minute video swing analysis (normally $50) and large bucket of balls ($10) from Par Breakers Golf Academy, a $60 total value. This comprehensive indoor golf facility is a short 30-minute golf-cart trip from Philly in Oaks.

Springfield Golf Center's 18-hole course encompasses 6 par threes, 10 par fours, and 2 par fives. Its many shorter-length holes make the course ideal for beginners or advanced golfers looking for casual rounds. For practice, players can head over to the driving range or sign up for lessons with P.G.A. professional Michael Beal. Springfield Golf Center is also home to a Mayan-themed mini golf course.

PGA-certified instructor Michael Lanzetta imparts golf wisdom from the expansive practice facilities at Mansfield Golf and Learning Center, which he has owned and operated since 1997. The passionate pedagogue sleeps on a bed of neatly mown bentgrass to maintain the pin-hunting skills that led him to victory in more than 100 competitive tournaments, including the New Jersey Head Professional Championship. A simple teaching philosophy of improving clients’ ball-striking fundamentals is the driving force of every lesson, during which pupils crush orbs from a 36-stall, 14-acre driving range, which features covered, enclosed stalls to offset meteorological uncertainties. Lessons may also include the use of video analysis, which plays back shots in slow motion and introduces players to a digital doppelgänger soon to be their inferior. Mansfield Golf also showcases a pro shop that carries golf equipment from top brands and offers club fitting, repair, and regripping services.

Horsham Family Golf takes up more than 16 acres of space where players of all ages can fine-tune their skills. Guests can practice putting at a gold-rush-themed 18-hole mini-golf course, aiming for holes in one while avoiding dips and obstacles. The facility also houses a driving range equipped with laser-precise distance markers and buckets of high-quality golf balls yearning to feel the wind in their dimples. 28 of the 50 golf stalls are private and remain lit for evening play, and a new practice bunker challenges golfers with a large sand trap. After practice, guests can visit the onsite pro shop, where they can stock up on golfing accessories or purchase a set of custom-fitted clubs.

A traditional layout of kempt bent-grass fairways and greens, Wedgwood Country Club's gently rolling 18-hole course wends through a dense thicket of trees, bunkers, and ponds. Measuring 7,100 yards from the farthest tees, the par-72 course eases clubbers into the round with a relatively open front nine before testing their accuracy and squirrel diplomacy on a tight, tree-lined back nine. With four sets of tees, the course presents a par-hunting test to all players, from beginners to those who can wallop a drive more than 300 yards.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course

• Total length of 7,100 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 74.4 from the back tees

• Slope rating of 133 from the back tees

• Bent-grass fairways and greens

• Four sets of tees per hole

• Scorecard