DVIDS – NEWS – Hohenfels bowlers enjoy major upgrades at bowling alley and rec center

GMT Prep Center – Strikes, doubles and turkeys may bring the biggest cheers on the bowling lanes in Hohenfels, but further facility improvements are still cause for celebration for customers and staff.

The Hohenfels Bowling and Recreation Center as well as the Spare Time Café, Bar and Grill have been upgraded with furniture, ball returns, speaker systems and more, and the Post Recreation Center has been updated for members of the military community.

Tom Stenson, business manager for the bowling center, points to the benefits of the new furniture, which includes comfortable bank chairs.

“We have furniture that was installed 20 years ago and they’re just plastic seats,” he said. ’ Then he waved towards the new seats, ‘These are much better than the old ones. More comfortable, they offer more room to move. “

The furniture is also modular and removable, giving bowling center staff more flexibility in arranging furniture for games and events, and giving customers more room to maneuver. There are also new standing tables, but the staff is waiting to install new flooring before installing the new tables.

Another obvious big improvement in the center is the ball return, which features a sensor-activated safety feature that stops moving parts if a player’s hands get too close.

“New ones, they shut off automatically,” Stenson said. “There’s a sensor and the buzzer goes off – so it’s going to startle people – but it also shuts off automatically. It also has an energy saving feature, if there’s been no competition for a while, like if someone goes to the kitchen to order food and they don’t Bowling the ball and returning the ball shuts it down.”

The center also underwent a major upgrade to its sound and lighting, replaced parts of the old system that no longer functioned, and integrated legacy working parts into a new, better working system. Stenson gave the example of a customer returning to their fairway from a bar and grill, and after their fairway reactivates the return ball, the thunder of the ball on the fairway and the clatter of pins will surround him.

“From the kitchen counter, a customer comes in and places an order, and they get their ticket, and we have the ticket number,” Stenson said. “Before the chef had to shout as loud as possible. It didn’t work as the bowling and other noises continued. Some of the staff we had didn’t have strong voices. Not as effective. Now [an intercom system] echoes throughout the facility. “

Several of the series of improvements being made by Bowling Center staff; the Bureau of Public Works; the Bureau of Homes and Morale, Welfare and Recreation; and others have been working for some time, Stenson said. Some of the mechanics behind the pins have also been replaced recently. In the future, they hope to put a cover over the beer garden so customers can enjoy the garden in any weather. They seek to acquire new kitchen equipment. They also plan to update the ATMs in the gaming lounge.

Stenson commented on what clients can expect from a bowling center:

“non-stop upgradin.”

Hohenfels Bowling and Entertainment Center and Spare Time Café, Bar and Grill are open Monday and Tuesday 8am to 2pm, Wednesday to Friday 8am to 10pm, Saturday 2pm to 10pm and Sunday noon-7pm For more information, including center specials and what’s on the menu, visit their web page https://hohenfels.armymwr.com/programs/bowling-entertainment-center-and-spare- time-cafe-bar-grill or call 09472-708-4611 or DSN 522-4611.