Mini golf course planned downtown

Two Commerce residents recently decided to partner up to open an indoor miniature golf course downtown.

Artist Durwood Smith approached his friend and property owner Ray Embro with the idea when one of Embro's properties became available.

"Ray [Embro] had the JCPenney building down there on the square and I've always liked it," Smith said. "I put in Creative Expressions three years ago and became friends with Ray then. He already owned Eagle Properties and the building came up. He wanted to lease it and I just talked him into going in as partners on the golf course, and it's something that has just gone from there."

According to Embro, he was almost immediately on board with Smith and his plan.

"He was overwhelmed and he said, ‘This would be perfect for my dream of having a golf course here,'" Embro said. "The building was empty. He showed me his sketches and what he wanted to do and I said, ‘Okay. Let's do it.'"

Smith originally created a design for an indoor mini-golf course several years ago. However, his plan was originally for a 12,000-square-foot, 18-hole course.

"I was an artist in New York and I designed a miniature golf course, probably 15 years ago," Smith said. "And then we moved to Texas and I kind of put it on the back burner."

The golf course – which will be named Eagle Golf & Gift – will be located downtown at 1209 Washington Street. The establishment will also contain an arcade, a snack bar and a special room for birthdays.

It has only been in recent months that Smith has decided to make his dream a reality. According to him, his wife had a lot to do with the decision.

"My wife passed away seven months ago of cancer, and I decided you better do what you want to do," he said.

Smith is hopeful that the golf course will become something out of the ordinary for people throughout the community to enjoy. Golfer and senior marketing information systems major Andy Kroll is receptive to the new venture.

"I think it is a fun addition to Commerce," Kroll said. "This is a step in the right direction to getting more things for students to do in the town."

Kroll said he is excited at the prospect of being able to widen his range of dating options.

"I'm a broke college student, and going to the movies and out to eat can get expensive," he said. "So it would be nice to have a cheaper alternative for date nights with my sweetie pie."

Smith hopes to have the golf course up and running by Thanksgiving, but he said he will not be constrained by a rigid schedule.

"We're shooting for Thanksgiving, no later than Christmas," Smith said. "We're making good headway on it, but it's one of those creative things. We want to make it Disney quality and we might make it by Thanksgiving. I think we can do it, but I'm not going to compromise on quality to meet a schedule."