The classic middle school “group hang” invariably took place in one of three locales: your parent’s basement, the local cineplex or the mini-golf course. With enormous windmills and brightly colored putters to distract from pre-pubescent awkwardness, putt-putt has played a timeless part in pre-teen weekends. While we may have grown out of those painful phases of our lives, hitting a neon pink ball across Astroturf remains strangely satisfying. At Old City's Franklin Square, you can recreate the group date glory days. The square’s eighteen-hole course is, appropriately, Philly-themed — putting through the crack of a Liberty Bell replica is arguably more exciting than visiting the real thing, and golfing next to a miniature Independence Hall feels somehow educational. The course stays open from April to October, so hit it up starting next week. For $8 a person, even the less athletic among us can experience a bit of friendly competition without fear of scrutiny — everyone knows mini-golf is more fun (or, at least, funny) when you suck. And this time around, you won’t have to giggle awkwardly as you wait for your mom to pick you up.

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