Golf in Troy

Glow-in-the-dark palm trees rise above Englewood Fun Center’s 18-hole miniature golf course, greeting guests as they arrive to partake in any of the center’s indoor or outdoor attractions. Clients don Hawaiian leis before taking to the 18-hole, custom-designed mini golf course, where they will lope through a tropical pastiche of tiki huts, misting waterfalls, two ponds, and multiple bearded Tom Hankses. Indoors, scampering tykes can slip on socks and tumble freely among the cushy walls and elastic floors of the inflatable bouncing area, or try their hands at skee-ball and other games in the arcade. The indoor facility also encompasses three batting cages, where hitters shoulder their favorite bat or oversized banana and swing at soft or hardballs delivered at adjustable speeds and heights to accommodate all ages and skill levels.

Golf, known as "the people's sport," is something you should be able to enjoy in rain, shine, humidity, atomic dust, meteors, or on any beautiful day of the week. Lift your winter ban on golf with today's deal: for $15, you get one hour of golf simulator time at Teed Up Indoor Golf in Worthington, up to a $30 value. See how your real-life stroke fares on precise virtual duplicates of 22 different PGA courses. You can use your Groupon toward an hour of time on the simulator. Choose to spend your hour practicing at the driving range ($30 value), golfing a leisurely nine holes ($16 value), or mastering a complete 18-hole round ($29 value). Bring your own clubs and swing away without worry of missing tee time, shagging forested balls, or accidentally showing up your boss.

Designed by renowned golf-course architect Arthur Hills, the 18-hole Kinsale Golf Course features smooth fairways, lush rough, and greens fortified with surface-to-ball defense lasers. Central Ohio’s largest irrigation system ensures that the course is maintained and moisturized like Mother Nature fresh from a day-spa visit. A balanced layout proves challenges to experienced club-swingers while remaining accessible for beginning ball-propellers. Between holes nine and 10, use a food voucher at the concession stand for a quick lunch of a hot dog, chips, and a soda or water.

PGA instructor Paul Newman's resumé includes positions as president of the Southeast Chapter of the Southern Ohio PGA of America and President's Council member of the PGA. Elton Sargent, the outfit's club-fitting and sword-whittling specialist, has worked directly with club manufacturers and brands such as Mizuno. Together they bolster ball-thwacking skills with techniques based on advanced TPI 3D motion-capture technology. The wireless system simultaneously analyzes posture, swing plane, clubface position, and favorite flavor of golf ball, communicating the results through data that are interpreted by an experienced golf instructor. Performance Golf Academies of America also utilizes The Optimal Motion Instructor (TOMI) putting-training system, which assesses putts from backstroke to follow-through and postputt piroutte.

Little Bear Golf Club challenges golfers to part with the traditional 9- or 18-hole course paradigm and try their hand at conquering a 10-hole, par 30 layout. With a front and back five that can each be completed in about 40 minutes, the course caters to those who would like to squeeze in a round during their lunch break or set the record for most rounds played during a solar eclipse. Though short in time commitment, the course doesn't scrimp on hazards, as it is strewn with 22 sand traps, more than 1,000 trees, three lakes, and a stone waterfall. Instead of natural turf, players take shots off hybrid grass, which looks and plays just like the real thing but needn't be watered, fertilized, or fine-tooth-combed like traditional grasses. As a bonus to the 10-hole loop, players may also take a shot at the island green of an 11th hole, an homage to the famous 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass course in Florida. Course at a Glance:

• 10-hole, par 30 course
• Total length of 1,350 yards from the back tees
• Two sets of tees per hole

In 2011, USGTF–certified instructor John Ubbing established indoor golf studio Columbus Golf Academy to spread swing-honing wisdom to eager pupils year round. An active coach at the middle- and high-school levels for the past 15 years, the passionate teacher has earned District and Regional Coach of the Year honors for his work at the varsity level and for once saving a community from a rogue golf cart. As clients pummel golf balls inside the Academy’s indoor hitting bay, John imparts corrective advice with a keen eye for each player's individual skills and physical capabilities. After lessons, clients depart with a better understanding of their swing and with drills such as putting exercises to further drive home new concepts or with strategies for improving unruly nine irons’ course etiquette.