This mini-golf course is a tour of gaming history

26583_1404714564368_1427496717_31101969_389938_n
Monday, February 13, 2012

My girlfriend and I had our 10th anniversary last week. Part of our celebration was a trip to Family Fun Center, which I flippantly (but perhaps accurately) describe as "The last arcade in Nebraska." I hadn't been there since 1999, and the place has changed since then. This might have a lot to do with the arcade's upcoming relocation, but I was saddened to see that FFC had turned its second floor, previously home to classic cabinets like Spy Hunter and Dig Dug, into 18 holes of glow golf.

Like most people over the age of 12, we decided to play mini-golf while shrugging, and only after we'd exhausted all of our other options. Once we saw the course, however, we realized that it was easily the nerdiest thing in the building...and this place also has Star Wars Arcade and a secret-agent-themed lasertag arena. Here's a preview:

Each hole features a specific game or genre. Some of them even have special rules; for example, the one inspired by first-person shooters has players putting simultaneously in a capture-the-flag-style race to sink their ball first. We had the place pretty much to ourselves, so we took some pictures between poorly aimed swings. Check them out on the other side of the break.

 


The second hole was Pong-themed. I'm not going to tell you how long that took me to figure out.


It was kind of like being in a really geeky Applebee's.
We didn't keep score, so it doesn't matter who won, right? Hey, look at that wall! That's a pretty cool wall.



I like it when I have my choice of which shot to miss.



I don't remember the part in Space Invaders where my ball fell off the side of the ramp and got stuck between the aliens, and I kept trying to get it out until I started swearing, but I haven't played that game in a while.


You can see more pictures of black-lit nostalgia on page two.

 
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EVAN KILLHAM'S SPONSOR
Comments (7)
Default_picture
February 13, 2012

I remeber that course! I also remember a few of my party members cheating when it came time to get the ball through LAN-themed hole. Was this the one near 72nd and Dodge?

26583_1404714564368_1427496717_31101969_389938_n
February 13, 2012

That's the one! I am not a fan of that hole.

Photo_126
February 13, 2012

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle. Omaha on my bitmob? I spent every other Wednesday there in Middle School for their 25 cent Dance Dance Revolution Nights.  It was where all the sweaty nerds hung out.

Sam_photo
February 14, 2012

Evan, are you saying you don't like mini golf? Mini golf is the best!

Even if this course isn't pirate-themed (like all of the best mini golf courses are) it still looks really cool.

26583_1404714564368_1427496717_31101969_389938_n
February 14, 2012

I'm just cranky because I'm not very good at it.

Dscn0568_-_copy
February 14, 2012

I thought Congo River Adventure was the best mini-golf theme...

Sam_photo
February 14, 2012

Here, I'll break it down using science. This is a list of the best mini-golf course themes from best to worst:

1. Pirates
2. Everything else

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