If bowling is how you roll: New upgrades for the Bowling Center

Published Jan. 23, 2017
By Philip Carter
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- An Airman stands quietly with a bowling ball in hand, gets ready to send the ball down the lane then stops and thinks: it sure is nicer here since my last visit.

The Peterson Air Force Base Bowling Center just completed state-of-the-art upgrades to its facility due to worn out lanes and outdated lighting Dec. 22, 2016.

These upgrades should give patrons a more unique experience than before.

“We have between 150 to 300 people a day using the bowling center not including the people that come in for lunch at the Strike Zone Café,” said Larry Mullis, Peterson AFB Bowling Center manager.

Since Mullis took over the center there have been many upgrades.

“There’s been a new air conditioning system, a new ceiling installed and the snack bar was renovated,” said Mullis. “The last couple years we got all new pin spotter machines, furniture and carpet.”

The latest upgrades revolved around new lane boards, gutters, bumpers, lighting and laser lights. All of this cost around $146,000.

“It’s been more than 20 years since we had new lanes,” said Mullis. “With all of the lanes being redone this was a major reconstruction. It took contractors with only four people 12 days to complete the install.”

During glow bowling when the lights are turned off and the black lights are turned on, the lanes light up with a boomerang pattern. There are also lights on the running boards, mimicking the lights on an airport runway.

The lanes are made of synthetic materials, and with constant ball strikes, oiling, and cleaning with chemicals, over time the lanes start to deteriorate.

The new lanes are made of a stronger material which come with a lifetime guarantee from peeling and cracking. This will save Peterson a lot of money over time.

A few more projects scheduled in the near future. One of them is moving the front counter back to make room for more tables and seating. In the future the Air Force will be giving all their bowling centers funding to install kids play areas, upgrades to glow bowling and new sound systems.

When Airmen visit the bowling center to bowl a few games they should see and experience a lot of the changes.

For more information about leagues and bowling schedules go to the 21st Force Support Squadron web page at www.21fss.com