Bowling center renovations offer updated features Published Dec. 2, 2009 By Angela Cutrer Keesler News staff KEESLER AFB, MS -- If you, your family and your friends are feeling the need to work off some of that Thanksgiving pie, grab your bowling bags and head over to Keesler's bowling center, Gaudé Lanes, for some old-fashioned exercise. Thanks to recent renovations, you may be surprised at the difference from your last trip. "We've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go," said center manager Bart Bosarge. That doesn't mean you can't bowl right now, though. "Bowling is available -- we've never closed because of renovations," Mr. Bosarge said. "We're just waiting for the rest of the furniture to arrive, and things like the projections systems, the televisions and the new pit furniture -- you know, just waiting for the last of the bits and pieces." Funded by Air Education and Training Command and local nonappropriated funds, the renovations paid to rebuild all 24 pinsetters and renovate the snack bar. It took about three months to do the main upgrades that should make the bowling experience more fun. Why all the work? "It was a matter of raising the quality of a bowling center that was behind the times," said Tom Golden, 81st Force Support Squadron community services flight chief. "A year ago, it was archaic. The pinsetters were more than 30 years old and the snack bar equipment was at least 10 years old." Mr. Golden said the center, which employs 18, was losing league games because the equipment would break down and cause long wait times. "And the snack bar took longer to get things done," he said. "Now we can be more efficient and have a better quality operation." "We did some self-help projects to retile the floor and pull up old carpet," Mr. Golden added. "The center is now more handicapped accessible with a more open layout." When all is said and done, Mr. Bosarge said, the center will be like what other local centers offer, but at a much lower cost. The bowling center opens at 6:30 a.m. each morning except Sundays, when the center is closed all day. It closes at 3 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at midnight Fridays and Saturdays. The center features a lunch special, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday, when games and shoes are $1 each. Daily games from 1-5 p.m. are $2.75 and shoes are $2. Bowling after 5 p.m. is $3.50 a game, with shoes $2. For more information, call 377-2919.