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Midway Golf & Games, the par-3 golf course and entertainment center just west of Columbia, has been recently renovated. Whether you’re an avid golfer or adventurous teen looking for a place to spend a summer afternoon, the new facility likely has something you’re looking for.
Midway Golf & Games opened in the 1990s under the name Perche Creek Golf Club. At the time, the complex only offered a driving range and par-3 golf course, but over the years, mini golf, batting cages, and a go-kart track were added.
Kory Neisen, general manager at Midway Golf & Games, has been with the company since May 1, 2015. Perche Creek Golf Club officially changed its name to Midway Golf Complex a few months later, in August. Changes didn’t stop with a rebrand, though: The facility’s variety of attractions now includes the driving range, par-3 course, mini golf, go-kart track, a full pro shop, a nine-hole foot-golf course (a mix of soccer and golf), and the eight-stall batting cage complex. Midway later updated its name again, to Midway Golf & Games, to reflect the more diverse entertainment offering.
By spring, there will be a new go-kart track, a championship miniature golf course, two bocce ball courts, a covered pavilion, an open lawn area with corn hole and washers, and giant Jenga and Battleship games.
“We have spent the better part of the past three years researching and planning the new design, so to finally see it come together after all the time and hard work is extremely rewarding,” Neisen says.
Even with all the renovations, Neisen says there is enough open space to continue researching attractions for customers. “This year, I really think the new go-kart track and mini golf course are going to blow people away,” he says.
With Midway being the only go-karting venue in town, they’re opening the new track just in time for the summer season, when students are free from classes and able to enjoy it. There is never a shortage of interest for the main attraction, however: Golf is still the fan favorite at Midway. During the busiest time of year, April to September, Midway can expect to see anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people a week. Since the driving range provides shade and heated stalls, it’s open year-round, regardless of the heat or cold.
“Being a golf instructor, I obviously get a lot of satisfaction from seeing people improve and get better,” says Neisen. “Golf can be really, really hard sometimes, so to help people play better and enjoy the game more is very rewarding.”
Midway currently has two instructors to help anyone looking to improve their stroke or learn the game. They also offer custom club fitting, and if you’re already an expert, the pro shop has accessories and clubs available to stock your bag.
Allie Rost started working as the advertising and media coordinator at Midway Golf & Games last fall, but she’s been visiting the complex for years. “I grew up in Midway,” Rost says. “My friends and I would play mini golf and ride go-karts when I was younger, so I’m so happy to be a part of these renovations.”
The unique qualities of Midway help it stand out in the community as a place for people of all ages to come together for bonding, laughs, and a good time. There are not many places in Columbia that offer an all-in-one atmosphere for a day’s worth of adventure, Rost says.
“It’s a perfect place for a family to spend an afternoon, for a company to work on morale and team building, or for a couple to spend a date night,” Neisen adds. “Our ultimate goal is to be Mid-Missouri’s premier family fun destination.”
Through all its changes, Midway Golf & Games continues to provide entertainment to the Mid-Missouri community. The recent renovations mark one of the facility’s biggest upgrades yet.
