Putt-Putt Fun Center has been offering good, clean fun for over 50 years

Published 7:25 am Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Second generation, locally owned and family-operated small businesses are becoming less common in Southwest Louisiana. Even scarcer are stories like this one.

It’s about the Simpson family, who despite the challenges and evolving morals of society from the 1950s until today, continue to be committed to offering good, clean fun in a safe environment at Putt-Putt Fun Center of Lake Charles.

Putt-Putt Fun Center, located at 620 Petro Point in Lake Charles (off Common Street, just south of the intersection of McNeese and Common), offers:

l A freshly painted and landscaped 36-hole miniature golf course with newly carpeted greens and angle boards.

l Batting cages with fast- and slow-pitch softball and fast- and slow-pitch baseball speeds.

l A large air-conditioned and heated dining area perfect for birthday parties and for parents and grandparents who want to relax and watch the big-screen TV while kids safely play.

l Hunt Brothers pizza, Blue Bell ice cream, water and soft drinks available for purchase.

Current owner Greg Simpson said he grew up in a world without video games and the technology that captivates young people today. He works two jobs to keep the family business going because he believes the young people and families in Southwest Louisiana need a place to hang out and have fun safely and affordably, especially children and teens under the age of 21.

At its height, the Putt-Putt franchise had 500 facilities,” Greg said. “Today there are only 49 in the country. We’re the only one in Louisiana.”

Keeping it open has taken two generations of Simpsons working together.

When Greg was 15 he tried to get a job at a cafeteria washing dishes and was told he could not be hired until he turned 16. He inquired about work at a new place in town at the time, Popeyes. The manager told him to come back as soon as he turned 16. He did.

“I went to work for Idora (Popeyes management company) the day I turned 16,” Greg Simpson said.

He soon worked into a supervisory position over several locations. Greg Simpson is 53 now, and he still works for Idora.

He is not the only Simpson sibling who has helped with the family business their father began in the early 1960s.

“I have five siblings,” Greg said. Not wanting to leave any of their names out of the story, he lists them: “Cindy (Barbie), Terry, Charles, Doug and Pat. Cindy pitches in and helps with special events.”

Greg’s sister-in-law, Lisa, manages Putt-Putt Fun Center. Two of his three children work there. His oldest daughter has a full-time banking job, but keeps the Putt- Putt Fun Center’s books.

“Brandi, my 16-year-old, is officially on the payroll for the first time this year,” Greg said. “She wants a car. But she’s been helping out much longer. When she asked me for a cell phone, I told her she’d have to earn the money.”

When asked about her background, Greg’s mother, Ann Simpson, described herself as a stay-at-home mom. She worked as a bookkeeper after the kids were all in school.

When Greg reminded her of all the hours she put in at the family business while he and his brothers and sister were growing up, she replied, “Oh, I didn’t consider that work.”

This is a family who has made the family business part of the family routine.

Ann met Al Simpson when he was stationed at Chenault. He is from Columbus, Ohio. She is from Lake Arthur.

“I was skating at Pelican Skateland and needed a skating partner for the dance skating partner competitions,” she said. “I wasn’t looking for a date, but…well…you see how that turned out.”

Al Simpson loved the game. He played on his high school golf team with “The Golden Bear,” Jack Nickalaus.”

In 1958, he went to work for Al Kurtz who owned the Hwy. 14 Putt-Putt location no longer in operation. Al Simpson bought the putt-putt franchise in 1961. Realizing the expense associated with raising six kids, Al began his industrial plant operator’s career at City Service in Sulphur, where he worked until retirement.

In 1995 Greg Simpson took over. In 1998, the Simpson family purchased the property at Petro Point, where the miniature golf course, birthday party center and batting cages are now.

Al Simpson was a Professional Putting Association Hall of Famer, winning national tournaments in 1965 in Fort Worth, 1966 in Waco, 1968 in Port Arthur and in 1971 in Lake Charles.

He was the 2002 PPA National Tournament Director, the 1998 PPA Hall of Fame Inductee and the 1981 Putt-Putt Owner of the Year. In 1986 he was the Louisiana State Champion.

Before he died, he formed a group to promote putting as a sport. Some of The Lake Area Putting Association first members include Danny Tatum, Mickey DeLucca, Charles Cox and Tom Robertson.

Very affordable week-long putt-putt camps are held each summer at Putt-Putt Fun Center. Tournaments, including fundraising tournaments, continue to be offered as a way to keep the fun and the sport alive.

“Dad was very involved in the community,” Greg said, “especially with The Optimist Club.

“Dad allowed the Optimist Club to sell trees on the lot from Thanksgiving through Christmas,” Greg Simpson said. “He drug us out there to throw the trees off the truck and we helped cover shifts when they needed us.”

It’s a paradox that a family who has worked hard to keep a dream alive and also finds time to engage in community service wants to deliver a message about the importance of play — but they do.

“We encourage families throughout Southwest Louisiana to not only work together on what’s important to you, but to take time to play together at all of the venues that offer good, clean fun in a safe environment,” Greg said. “Thank you for your patronage.”

Call 337-480-1954 to inquire about how to host your next birthday party at Putt-Putt Fun Center of Lake Charles and about special promotions to save money on putt-putt rounds and batting cage practice.

Recent Vinton graduate Dawna Wilfer will live on campus at McNeese and major in business management.