Photo By Cpl. Jackeline Perez Rivera | A bowler prepares to roll the ball at the New River Bowling Center, Nov. 17. The...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER -- Whether it is people searching for a place for fierce competition or a family seeking fun, bowling is an activity everyone can enjoy.
Aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, the local community can do it in an inexpensive and comfortable environment at the Bowling Center.
"Bowling is something everybody likes and it’s fun," said Lee Walker, the Bowling Center manager. "It’s inexpensive and it’s something everybody can do together. Even the little ones can bowl."
The game is very accessible, she added. Bumpers can be brought up to keep the ball in lane, ramps help the very young and physically limited and some balls have handles, for those whose are restricted by physical ailments like arthritis.
"I have everything for anyone who wants to bowl," the Levelland, Texas, native added.
Lee is also a bowling coach who is happy to teach people how to play or how to improve their game, she said.
But, bowling is not just for relaxed fun; thrilling competition is also available to the more serious bowler, said Howard Goslee, a bowling equipment worker at the Bowling Center.
"People come in for sport and competition," Goslee said.
Intense rivalries sometimes play out in the hall, but whether it’s an easy-going family outing or a cutthroat game among friends, the bowling center is a place where customers have a great time, the Jacksonville native added.
Since 2012, the air station’s Bowling Center has continuously improved with renovations and frequent modernization.
Its 16 lanes received new 47-inch high-definition monitors, with a new scoring system controlled by touchpad consoles. The touchpad consoles have Facebook connectivity, take photos and have a variety of backgrounds and features, such as lane chat, where players can talk, or block communication, with any of the other lanes.
This comes along with other revamps, like new lane beds and laser lights that fill the bowling alley with glowing, electrifying laser light shows, with what Lee Walker describes as a fantastic sound system for an exciting night of bowling.
"You can listen to good music and have a good time," said Walker.
Thirty years ago, when Walker began to work at the New River Bowling Center, she saw a dark, dingy bowling alley. It was a stereotypical bowling alley, said Walker.
Since then, she became the center’s manager and, along with her staff, turned the place around into a family-oriented, clean, state of the art bowling center.
"This is not a bowling alley," said Goslee. "It’s a bowling center."
The difference is important to Walker and Goslee.
Goslee spoke of the distinction. Some bowling alleys have a reputation for smoke-filled venues with dodgy behavior,whereas the bowling center promotes a comfortable, friendly atmosphere.
"We’re a family-oriented business," the Jacksonville native added. "We always want our customers to come back."
From the moment a customer walks in the door, Goslee can see them drop their worries and prepare for fun.
"We try to keep everything light," said Goslee.
He wants the center to be a constant customers can count on when looking for a comfortable environment, he said.
It’s that desire that drives the employees to work hard to keep the center clean and smoothly operated, he added.
"That’s why we work here," he added.
The staff continuously clean, said Walker. Every moment in the bowling alley is dedicated to creating an environment anybody can enjoy.
"We could not make our center great without the hard work my staff puts into our operation," said Lee.
The bowling center does not only provide its 16 lanes for fun and recreation. There are arcade games, a pool table and a Snack Bar.
"Gleda Temples, the Snack Bar manager, does an outstanding job in maintaining quality customer service," said Walker. "She makes sure the food that is served meets our strict standards for quality and freshness."
While the name may imply that it’s a place just to enjoy some munchies, the Snack Bar serves full, freshly cooked meals, Walker said.
With diner-style breakfasts, serving pancakes, steak and eggs, and hash browns, and as a slew of other early-morning staples, as well as cook-to-order burgers and wraps, hoagies and beer battered fries, for later crowds, the Snack Center provides great meals that have earned them multiple Food and Excellence in Hospitality Awards, including the most recent ones awarded for 2013.
"People say we have the best burgers on the installation," said Walker. "Everything is cooked fresh every day. We don’t precook anything and we use quality products."
All of those attributes, the food, fun and atmosphere, combined create the place to be for recreation aboard New River.
For more information, visit www.mccsnr.com/bowling_center.html or call 449-4921.
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2014 18:28 |
| Story ID: | 149865 |
| Location: | NEW RIVER, NC, US |
| Hometown: | LEVELLAND, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 59 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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