The old-style Townsville Lanes circa 1992, with well maintained wooden lanes, the old style AMF masks with the magic triangle and excellent pin carry.
Wasn't the most modern of places but had a certain homeliness about it that I liked.
Still remember walking along the capping during a junior Nationals event there one year with a towel to remove a large frog that was on the 5-board about 25 feet down the lane, managing to snaffle up this frog in my towel while the two or three girls on my pair just about went into labour at the sight of this frog :lol:
Another favourite was the 'old style' Moonah, although it was a dump in the end before it was renovated and it needed to be upgraded urgently, it had more atmosphere than any other centre I've ever seen, the accoustics were great and a crowd of 50 people in the place sounded like 500 crammed in there.
I still remember the roar when I, or somebody else were on their way too a 300, used to make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up.
Big tournament matches were the same when the crowd got behind you, it used to inspire you.
That's the one great pity with the renovation, although the place generally is a great improvement on the old one facilities wise, that special one-of-a-kind atmosphere has been lost and the place seems very flat and lacks any real character or spark these days.
But is was great while it lasted.
