Good things come in threes, although it takes two to tango this is about coupleship and the magic of threes. In sports there are three bases on the diamond, a well-timed shot from behind the line to win the big game on the court, and a field goal on the gridiron has always been worth three. There is S.O.S. and 911 for an emergency, nowadays you can txt "lol" and as an FYI your yard work should be DIY (PDQ, if married), and of course there's always M-O-M and D-A-D for security.
Newly married I can be objective on this: 1)Single vs. 2)Dating vs. 3)Married. All three categories present different challenges but have one thing in common – getting out and enjoying your self in your own way. (Granted two of the three categories involve input from outside forces and one of the three categories involve forces which can rival Newton’s 3rd Law of Physics.) My point is that you have to enjoy yourself, THEN find someone to share those moments with. Every enjoyable action can have an equal and opposite reaction depending on your choices.
Ever hear the phrase “people find those in relationships more attractive”? Not necessarily true. I think people find others who are confident, comfortable, and enjoy the environment they’re in attractive (they then tend to be curious about your relationship status). You find those qualities when you are with those you love in a place you love.
For the Single Guys (a.k.a. the “I mights”):
Somewhere between your cigar and your frosty mug there’s always “Bar Olympics” for the bachelor in all of us (or in the bachelor we’d like to be). There’s even If you love to play sports or consider yourself somewhat competitive, watering holes are a bastion for psudo-athleticism whether the surface is a flat screen, a green, or table.
CORN HOLE
Being new to Louisville, the first time this game was offered I was looking for an exit. Now I know that this is almost a sport I love it for the competiveness and safety. Granted I still don’t know the difference between a “shucker” or “leprechaun”, yet the terms “swish” and “air-ball” I think I’ve got figured out. It’s almost as if one day someone decided they were too tired to play basketball, found a hacky-sack from their youth, and invented a game that could be played with a cold beer in one hand. It’s the perfect indoor/outdoor non-lethal drinking game you can enjoy with friends and college team rivals alike. Some ideas for the best haunts for Cornhole (I still giggle seeing it spelled out) other than your back yard are:
- Blue Mule Sports Café, 10301 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 502-267-4994
- Hoops Grill & Sports Bar: 6733 Strawberry Lane, Louisville, KY 502-375-4667
BEER PONG
A sport that was likely invented by a few college guys who bought a used ping-pong table and balls at a garage sale, but the cost of beer prevented them from purchasing paddles and it became the dining table that gave birth to a college pastime. Although generally played in garages and dorm rooms, the fine folks at T.K.’s Pub have perfected the good old-fashioned right to compete, drink, then brag. Every Tuesday at 10:15 this Fern Creek bar hold a beer pong tournament and for $7 each player is guaranteed two rounds and the beer that goes with it. The event may be short on females, but is one reason why it’s fun to be a bachelor.
- T.K.’s Pub, 5442 Delmaria Way, Fern Creek, Louisville, 502-499-5673
For the purest you can always watch a little Forrest Gump and then head down to Marma Duke’s and play table tennis for real (and still enjoy a cocktail) Every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday crowds gather to watch and lose to the best players in the state. Hand-eye coordination, optional.
- Marma Duke’s, 4206 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, 502-452-1390
BOWLING
I’ve never been to a bowling alley that didn’t look like ‘The Dude’ from the film “The Big Lebowski” drop-kicked it back into the seventies. My second date with my wife was at a bowling alley in J-Town and she whooped me into a bad score and great marriage. I love the shag-carpeted walls, silly shoes and groovy light fixtures that tend to surround lanes in any building whose title ends in the word “Lanes”. Bowling alleys are a great equalizer as everyone has to walk a mile in someone else’s goofy shoes. Although it’s hard to look or feel cool anywhere while a wearing stretchy polyester pant suit, a wrist guard, and a mini-pencil behind your ear, in a bowling alley (or golf course) you rule the school.
Here’s a hidden Louisville bowling landmark: The Vernon Club delivers valuable life lessons, such as the startling consequences of loitering in a triangle with nine of your friends. Keep the wisdom pearls rolling.
Founded in 1886, Vernon Lanes claims to be Louisville's oldest bowling venue. The eight-lane bowling alley boasts an intimate, cheerful retro vibe and provides ideal environs for schooling orderly rows in the law of entropy. After two riveting rounds of pin-pummeling with three friends, slake your appetite with a large pizza. Like a gopher hole with an uninvited garden hose, the lanes fill up fast, so call ahead for availability.
Ten Pin Lanes, 200 Ten Pin Ln
St. Matthews, KY 40207-3558
(502) 896-1727
GOLF
The Cardinal Club
Now that it’s warning up, plan a guys day or bachelor party and putt down just $40 for a round of golf (for one), cart rental, range balls, and access to country club amenities at Simpsonville's Cardinal Club. Take the gang for a day on the links you all can bond via golfing frustration. The Cardinal Club's par 72, 18-hole championship course is set against Kentucky's rolling terrain and features bent grass tees, greens, and fairways. Measuring 6,945 yards from the golds, the course offers five sets of tees, making it accessible for golfers of all skill levels.
Cardinal Club Golf Course, 401 Champions Way, Simpsonville, (502) 722-2500
www.cardinalclub.cc
Charlie Vettiner Golf Course
This is a gorgeous golf course with rolling hills, bent grass greens, and zoysia fairways. If the 50 white sand bunkers and tree-lined fairways aren’t enough to get your attention, how about the creek that meanders through several holes, with ponds on #5, #14 and #18. This has been rated as the 7th most challenging course in Kentucky. However, there are enough different tee markers to either help or challenge every level of golfer. A fully stocked Pro Shop and snack bar will help round out any day at this beautiful course. Along with spectacular golf, Charlie Vettiner Park also features a fishing lake, fitness course, hiking trails, and playground for complete family entertainment.
Course Pro: Mark Kemper, PGA
Phone: 502/267-9958
http://www.charlievettiner.com
BILLIARDS
What guy doesn’t love a good game of pool? The phrase “It’s better to be lucky than good” comes to mind whenever I manage to win a round. Billiards are played at the pace of baseball without the peanut hawkers, stirrup socks and bright sunshine. Instead it’s generally dim lighting, the place when the racking of balls is allowed without a fight, and contains the only table where it’s taboo to put your drink on even with a coaster. Here’s some ideas of a few great Louisville billiard halls.
- Bank Shot Billiard Inc: 403 East Market Street,
- Louisville, 502 587-8260
- Oliver's Billiards: 4001 Dupont Circle,
- St. Matthews - 502 895-6990
- Steepleton CC Co: 282 N Hubbards Ln,
- Louisville, 502 585-2396
- Billiard Club of Louisville: 5404 Bardstown Road,
- Louisville - (502) 491-3810
- Diamond Pub & Billiards: 3814 Frankfort Avenue,
- The Vernon Club, 1575 Story Avenue, Louisville
- Phone: 502-584-8460, www.vernonclub.com
For the Single Gals (a.k.a, The “I wannas”):
Pillow fights and pajamas; beyond that I don’t know much about what you ladies do behind closed doors (or should be doing when we’re not watching). But if you’re looking for single guys who will compete for your attention, try either the frozen foods section at your local grocery store, a sports arena, a barber shop, or any sports bar giving free beer to those guys agree to getting the much needed haircut (that’s a hint for you local bar owners – it would support many good causes). Food and sports are bait for boys, and well-groomed boys who compete and also offer dinner & drinks are how we try to reel in you gals.
As for other bar games they are never ending and one is being invented now. I’ll take darts at ZaZoo’s, Foosball at Cahoot’s, amazing quizzes at Molly Malone’s, card games like Poker at O’Shea’s but please keep line-dancing and karaoke to the professionals
The mother of all bar sports bring me to the next portion: "Coupleville: Dating"
Photo: Kyle Doremus shoots pool at the Inner Town Pub, a corner bar dating back before prohibition in the city's East Village neighborhood June. life.com
