Brunswick Bowling & Billiards recently installed two lanes of Virtual Bowling with the United States Army at U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern in Germany, the first installation of its kind in that country and with the U.S. military. The following is a reprint of a press release courtesy of the MWR and Public Affairs Departments at USAG Kaiserslautern.
It’s a big ten strike for bowlers. The U.S. Army Garrison’s Emerald Alley, located at Armstrong’s Club in Kaiserslautern, is the very first military facility in Germany to offer Virtual Bowling.
For bowling fans around the Kaiserslautern military community, the new indoor recreation adventure, which combines the popularity of bowling with today’s high-tech video and simulation games, offers just about everything that a standard alley has to offer.
Gary Smith, marketing director for Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, the company which installed the system, explains, “Virtual Bowling is standard width bowling, in which the only differences are that the lanes are about one third shorter than regular lanes and the pinsetter is a virtual pinsetter. Bowlers roll a ball down the shortened lane, in which sensors detect the speed and direction of the ball as it enters the virtual world.
The first Virtual Bowling alley was installed at the Hard Rock Café in Gothenburg, Sweden over 4 years ago. Since then, its popularity has increased globally and Virtual Bowling has been installed in cruise ships, homes, resorts and clubs in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Russia and the US.
“Regardless of where you are in the world, bowling is tremendously popular. It has been the number one participation sport for several years and up to 100 million people bowl every year,” Smith added.
Steve Pelletier, Kaiserslautern’s U.S. Army Garrison Director of MWR ; “We are very fortunate to be able to offer this new high-tech bowling venue at our club. It’s great to be the first military club in Europe that provides the latest generation of realistic computer- generated bowling fun by using such innovative technology.”
Emerald Alley’s Virtual Bowling uses normal regulation size bowling balls and features sounds of a conventional game, including a realistic impact of the balls striking the pins. Because Virtual Bowling doesn’t operate within the confines of conventional pin bowling, the system features a variety of themes that can be programmed to appeal to bowlers in all age groups. Themes include Classic Bowling, Chicken Run, Space Bowling, Tomato Factory, and Artic Alley.
If you are a bowling enthusiast, check out this next generation of pin action by visiting Armstrong’s Club, Bldg. 1036, on Vogelweh Housing. Emerald Alley, where Virtual Bowling is located, is open Monday through Thursday, 5 – 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.; and Sunday, 4 – 11 p.m.
For more information on MWR activities throughout Germany visit mwrgermany.com.
About Brunswick
Brunswick Corporation, with its headquarters in Lake Forest, Ill., endeavors to instill “Genuine Ingenuity”™ in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Albemarle, Arvor, Baja, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Laguna, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Örnvik, Palmetto, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Savage, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N’ Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; IDS dealer management systems; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Dynamo, Tornado and Valley pool tables, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit www.brunswick.com.