Golf, like sending trash into space, is the practice of shooting objects into the air with the hope that they’ll be sucked toward all-consuming holes. Believe in the vacuum power of fate with today’s Groupon: for $28, you get 18 holes of golf at Catalina Island Golf Course in Avalon (up to a $56 value).

The nine-hole Catalina Island Golf Course reigns supreme as one of the oldest-operating golf courses west of the mighty Mississippi, originally designed in 1892 by the Banning brothers and since updated to span 2,100 yards of scenic maritime terrain. The course meanders down a narrow canyon toward the water’s edge, featuring small greens and bunkers deep enough to house a regiment of renegade golf balls. Five par 4 holes and four par 3 holes encourage lengthy drives during the challenging journey, with two sets of tees for a mix-and-match swing. Deer and hawks browse through the area to enhance the woodsy atmosphere; after watching pros such as Tiger Woods and Corey Pavin play the course during junior tournaments, they can also provide technique advice out of the corner of their mouths.