“Try it with Tabby” is a weekly article chronicling the adventures of Tabitha Bower as she searches for out-of-the-ordinary and budget-friendly activities for Boise State students.
Let’s be honest: I’ve never been good at mini-golf. While my long-shot is just shy of impressive, my putt is so pathetic that even my hole-in-ones mean nothing once it comes time to tally up the points.
This week for “Try it with Tabby” I decided to switch up my usual mini-golf practice by moving indoors to a black-light, 3-D, 18-hole mini-golf course like none other (or more likely none other I have even
experienced).
My first decision upon entering Shankz Glow Golf and Arcade on Fairview Rd. in Meridian was whether or not to spend the extra $1 for 3-D glasses. My initial decision was no. But then the sales-savvy cashier who promised a full 3-D experience with a side of depth-perception alteration and the occasional feeling of floating talked me into them.
Floating? Why of course I forked over the $1 for magic glasses.
Not to mention, I figured the depth perception could work in my favor if I could find ways to peek over the top of my glasses unnoticed. Wrong. As it turns out, the perception alteration did nothing but hinder my game further.
The course itself was impressive, pairing monstrous fiberglass dinosaurs, elephants and gorillas with 3-D effects and complex holes with tunnels and bridges.
My favorite hole paired a pirate theme with an uphill ramp which was nearly impossible for me to manage. Piece of advice, do not try to power-hit a golf ball.
The 3-D glasses, however, did alter my vision. So much, in fact, I ended up doing more tripping and air hitting instead than stable-walking or connecting with the golf ball.
Although, to be fair, I miss the ball more times than not in the light of day as well.
About nine holes in, the headache, which one can expect to have after being bombarded by florescent glow-in-the dark dinosaurs for 30 minutes, kicked in.
But my competitive nature kept me going through the back half of the course, where after hole 18, I ultimately admitted my defeat.
After hitting over a seven on two separate holes, there was no way my two hole-in-ones had a chance of improving my score.
All in all, glow-golf was a fun way to spend an hour, minus the headache.
