Before golf was invented, grassy pastures were viewed as the exclusive territory of roaming sheep, herds of cattle, and overzealous Civil War reenactors. Celebrate turf's competitive utility with today's Groupon: for $26, you get 18 holes of golf and a cart rental at The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel Island (a $51.94 value with tax included).

The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club transports players to a tropical 75 acres of water-hemmed fairways and greens, enticing club hefters of all skill levels to confront its par 70 PGA-rated course. Redesigned by 10-time PGA Tour winner Mark McCumber in 1995, the verdant range challenges swingers to mediate between focused ball launching and equally competitive sightseeing. The back nine holes roost within a wildlife preserve, recognized by the Audubon Cooperative Society, where keen gazes can conduct reconnaissance on colorful birds and other fauna while riding through on the provided cart. Classic hazards, such as ever-present aquatic traps and conniving packs of terrestrial barracuda, challenge golfers, who can look to the staff of PGA professionals for help at any time. After venturing through the green, guests can quell insistent stomach gurgles at The Dunes Steakhouse & Seafood, the only Sanibel Island restaurant serving certified Angus beef, or satiate their appetites for golf equipment at the full-service pro shop.