Did you know that August is National Golf Month? It’s true! A whole month dedicated to “good walks spoiled.

You don’t have to be a regular golfer to enjoy National Golf Month. There are plenty of ways that a senior living in Cincinnati can use a day out on the links to stay active and fit, even if he or she isn’t a competitive golfer.

Today, let’s take a look at golf courses and golf-related activities in the Tristate area and think about some of the things you could do to make sure the fun memories you make this month will be on par with some of your best.

1. Play the elite courses

If you’re a serious golfer, some of the courses in and around Greater Cincinnati could give you a real challenge. Several were designed by legendary course architects. Here are some of the most well-regarded:

Legendary Run

915 Legendary Run Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45245

Holes: 18 + one bonus short hole

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Legendary Run is an Arthur Hills-designed course located just east of Cincinnati, in Pierce Township. It’s stunningly beautiful, with gentle meadows, wildlife sanctuary areas and seven lakes.

To the delight of regular golfers, the 18-hole course features diverse, cleverly placed hazards. For beginners, its distances are well-marked, so you can get a good feel for range and develop your game. It even features a just-for-fun, par 3 19th hole, with a short shot over one of the lakes.

Fees are pretty reasonable for a private course. Monday through Thursday, seniors can enjoy 18 rounds (including cart rental and a free lunch!) for $39. The club also offers an “Evening Special,” which gives you nine holes, plus cart rental and two drink tickets for just $24.

Legendary Run also offers a great opportunity for golf-loving grandparents to spend time with their grandchildren. Kids play free when accompanied by a paying adult Monday-Thursday after 2 p.m. or weekends after 6 p.m.

Shaker Run Golf Club

1320 Golf Club Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036

Holes: 27

Difficulty: Challenging

One of the best golf courses in Ohio, as rated by Golf Digest, Shaker Run is located about 25 minutes north of downtown in Warren County. Its original 18 holes were also designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1979; a third, nine-hole run designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry was added for the club’s 20th anniversary.

Five of Shaker Run’s 27 holes are par 5. Fourteen have water hazards, so it’s certainly not a course for the faint-hearted.

An 18-hole round is a little pricy, if you’re a senior on a fixed income: $49 on a weekday morning and $59 on a weekend morning.

If that’s too much for your budget, play after 4 p.m. ($35 weekdays, or $39 weekends). Or, you could play the course’s 9-hole Meadows section for only $25 weekdays, $29 weekends.

2. Try out a public golf course

There are some excellent public courses in and around Cincinnati. We’ve previously mentioned the wonderful course over at Shawnee Lookout. That’s just one of the seven well-maintained, fun-to-play golf courses that the Great Parks of Hamilton County system offers Tristate residents.

Closer to Deupree House, there’s:

Little Miami Golf Center

3811 Newtown Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45244

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Difficulty

Holes: 18 (nine-hole regulation course, plus nine-hole par 3 course)

Situated on the banks of the scenic Little Miami River, at the southern terminus of the Loveland Bike Trail, this family-friendly golf center features a nine-hole regulation length course, a nine-hole par 3 course, plus a miniature golf course, FootGolf, driving ranges and a short game practice area.

Senior rates are available weekdays only: $10.25 for the regulation nine-hole, $8 for the par 3 course. Cart rentals are available for an additional, inexpensive charge.

3. Make your home on the range

Don’t feel like taking the links on? How about a trip to the range? A bucket of balls, a 9-iron and a beer or two are inexpensive and easier on the knees. Or, if you’d like a more elaborate driving range experience, you could always head over to the new Topgolf entertainment center in West Chester.

Topgolf features a full entertainment complex, including a restaurant and bar, a family fun KidsZone and a sophisticated, triple-decked, covered range. And Topgolf isn’t just a practice range: it’s a game unto itself. Each Topgolf ball contains a microchip that tracks accuracy and distance. Players are awarded points for hitting targets on the outfield, so you can hone your golf game and compete with your fellow drivers.

4. Take the grandkids out for a game of goofy golf!

Even if you’ve never set foot on a real golf course, miniature golf is an activity that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. Whether you’re dodging the blades of a turning windmill, trying to bank that last shot into the 19th hole for a free game coupon, or just sitting down at the picnic table, enjoying some soft-serve ice cream while you watch the kids play, it’s a fun day out in the fresh air.

5. Live the golf lifestyle indoors

If it’s super-hot outside, or if you have difficulty getting around, you can always celebrate National Golf Month in the privacy of your own home.

Do you have a Nintendo Wii video game system? It’s surprisingly easy to learn to play! The controller is motion-activated, so you don’t have to worry about pushing a lot of buttons.

The Wii Sports Club game package comes with the system and includes a version of video golf. To play, all you have to do is make the motion of swinging your club! It’ll get you up and out of your chair, and it’s a fun opportunity to have your family and friends over for a friendly, virtual skins tourney!

6. Watch a golf movie

If nothing else, pick up a copy of Caddyshack, Tin Cup, Happy Gilmore, or The Legend of Bagger Vance to watch this month. Get ready to do your gopher dance. We promise — you’ll feel all right!