City Leaders, Take Note: Killeen is Ready for a Putt Putt Revival

Recently, I asked residents in Central Texas, “What’s one thing you miss that’s no longer in Killeen?”

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The Missing Piece: How a New Putt Putt Golf Spot Could Transform Killeen

Some people mentioned the old H-E-B that used to be downtown, King Savers — a grocery store that operated from the early 1970s through the early 1990s — as well as Winn-Dixie and Piggly Wiggly. Another name that came up often was Food Liner IGA. But when I tallied up all the comments, there was no debate — the one thing residents miss the most is Putt-Putt Golf & Games.

You Won't Believe What Killeen Residents Are Missing on Date Night

If you moved to Killeen after the early 2000s, you might not know much about Golf & Games, but I can assure you it was an extremely nostalgic family entertainment center that offered tons of fun. It was the perfect place for a family outing, a date night, or even a birthday party. Located right off the highway, it featured an 18-hole miniature golf course. If you didn’t want to be outside, you could enjoy the large indoor arcade, take a few swings in the batting cages, or — my personal favorite — race around on the go-karts.

Putt Putt Plea: What Killeen Says About Bringing Back Family Fun

Unfortunately, in 2012, all the fun came to a halt when three men were accused of killing a 19-year-old man at the establishment. They were later indicted on capital murder charges. The tragedy made major headlines because Golf & Games was one of the most popular entertainment spots in the city at the time. Back then, there were no Dave & Buster’s, no laser tag arenas, and very few other entertainment centers — everyone went to Putt-Putt.

While residents haven’t forgotten the tragic incident, many choose to remember the happy memories — the laughter, the games, and the family fun that made Golf & Games special. Will Putt-Putt Golf ever make a return to bring back that nostalgic family fun? Only time will tell. But before that dark moment, we had some really great ones.

Killeen, Texas 10 Most Missed Restaurants That We Wish Never Left

I asked the good people of Killeen, Texas to go down memory lane and tell me some of their favorite restaurants growing up that are no longer here. They are truly missed, but the memories live on. Did your favorite make the list? If not, let us know! Tap our free app and send us a message with the Chat feature.