Miniature golf glows with new appeal at city mall

By ANGIE PARKINSON

VIEW STAFF WRITER

A new golf concept in town is getting glowing reviews.

Creators of Glowgolf in the Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Parkway, used phosphorescent paint and black lighting to create a unique miniature indoor golf course.

"I wish I had a five-dollar bill for every time I heard someone say, 'Wow, this is cool,' " said John Wright, CEO of Opry Glowgolf.

The company, now in its third year, has about 30 locations across the country, but the Boulevard site is the first in Nevada. The concept was born when the glowing golf ball was invented by one of the Glowgolf founders. The ball is so unique it's patented.

When golfers arrive at Glowgolf, they send their normal-looking golf ball through a tunnel of light and it comes out the other end glowing with phosphorescent light.

"When the kids see that they're just like, 'Wow,' " said Patty Sherman, manager of Glowgolf in the Boulevard.

Glowing golf ball in hand, patrons then take to the 18-hole course, with its tropical jungle theme. There are glowing parrots and other elements of the wild on the walls and forming parts of the course.

Sherman said the best score so far was 31 and the man who achieved it was a semi-pro golfer. It usually takes people many more strokes and about an hour to get through the course.

There are various obstacle courses for the ball at each hole. The 18th hole is called the Plinko hole because the ball has to fall through a series of pegs. Anyone who gets a hole-in-one on that part of the course wins a special prize.

Glowgolf also has a party room in the back with tables set up for special occasions. Groups that rent the area receive unlimited golf for their guests and a place to celebrate birthdays or any other occasion. The entire space is kept dark, except for the glowing course and golf balls. Some light seeps in from the mall but passersby see what appears to be cave-like darkness until they get a good look. Once they check out the inside, many stop to ask for more information.

Even on a Thursday morning, with small crowds at the mall, Sherman fielded several requests for information about the course and the party room. Mall patrons would peek in curiously and ask questions.

That's one of the reasons most Glowgolf courses are in malls, as opposed to freestanding locations. Miniature golf is certainly not new but the glow is, Wright said, so the added exposure helps bring in business.

"The concept has been around for a long time. We just brought it inside," he said.

Sherman said she had worked for the heads of Opry Glowgolf in Kansas when she lived there. When she found out they were starting another business and bringing a branch to Las Vegas, she knew she wanted to be involved.

Most businesses are only about the bottom line, but Glowgolf also is about having a good time, she said.

"It's fun for me to work here because I get to see people have fun," Sherman said. "We want to be a wholesome, family atmosphere."

Glowgolf is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. An 18-hole round costs $6 and replay rounds cost $2. Party packages cost $10 per person for a minimum of 10 people. For more information, call 866-0052.