Country Club Lanes — Local services in Tonka Bay

I’ll be the first to admit—I’m no expert bowler. But that has never stopped me from having an absolute blast at Country Club Lanes in Tonka Bay. My wife, Sabrina, and I have been coming here for years, and now we get to bring our almost-four-year-old, Benedetta, along for the fun. There’s just something about bowling that scratches an itch you don’t always realize you have—one of those timeless, simple joys that never goes out of style.

We played a couple of games, had a few beers, and Benedetta enjoyed her apple juice—while also completely dominating us on the scoreboard. Sure, she had a little help from the ramp, but she set it up herself, so I think that still counts as a win.

One of the coolest parts of this visit was getting to see behind the scenes, thanks to Jack, who took our camera into the back where all the bowling pin mechanicals are. We’re looking forward to checking out the footage and adding it to our latest RealTalkGeo City Spotlight on YouTube. It’s always fun to see the inner workings of places we love, and we’re excited to share more of what makes Country Club Lanes such a great spot.

What I love most is that it’s a place where my siblings have (and their kiddos) gathered, laugh, and enjoy a quality time—something that feels more rare these days. The lanes, the atmosphere, the familiar faces—it’s the kind of spot that makes a town like Tonka Bay special. It’s a small, charming lakeside town right next to where we live in Excelsior, and we’re really grateful to have places like this nearby.

A huge shoutout to whoever owns Country Club Lanes—you’ve kept this place as fun and welcoming as ever. Whether you’re a seasoned bowler or someone who just likes to roll a few frames (and maybe take the occasional gutterball in stride), this is a place worth visiting.

—A very humbled (and thoroughly defeated) neighbor,...

Wife and I decided to finally give Country Club Lanes a visit on Saturday night for their Neon Bowling option 10pm-12am. Here's what stuck out: Prices: much less expensive than we imagined including a healthy amount of adult beverages 🍷🍻 Staff: Manager in charge that evening was super fun and accommodating. He even helped us in a prize from the Crane arcade game 🕹 Cleanliness: they had this on point. Super clean bathrooms 🚻 and everything else in general🧹

Food options are understandably limited, but they do offer pizzas (Not sure what brand though)

We will certainly add this spot to the rotation for once darkness falls and the boat is back to the slip for...

Positives:

-Welcoming environment -Variety of Leagues (Co-ed, Men's, Women's, Senior, Juniors, Pro-style oil pattern, Summer Casual) -Clean lanes (won't dust your shoes/dirty your ball) -Food and drinks (including alcohol) -Great specials ($2 Sunday games till 1 PM, Unlimited Cosmic, Quartermania) -Discount on purchased balls while in a league -Drilling and ball cleaning on site, will work with you until the holes fit properly. -Party room

Drawbacks:

-Small number of lanes (10 total) -Parking lot needs resurfacing -Food's a bit high priced for what...