Mars-Bethel Golf offers new ‘out-of-this-world’ attraction
ADAMS TWP — There are few things in this galaxy that are truly meant to be together, such as peanut butter and jelly, Romeo and Juliet, and road construction and Route 228.
For Joe Vivirito, owner and operator of the Mars-Bethel Golf course, he hopes he can introduce a new paring into the universe that may just be the next perfect partnership.
Miniature golf and cornhole.
“We hope that one day this game is as popular as mini golf,” Vivirito said. “This is an invention of mine I came up with about four years ago.”
On Thursday, May 16, at the Mars-Bethel Golf course at 540 Route 228 in Adams Township, Vivirito revealed his newest attraction, “Cornhole Golf,” to a crowd of more than 200 people. The appropriately Mars-themed game takes the skill of cornhole and puts it on a celestial themed miniature golf course, where players must navigate obstacles as they try to throw bean bags into the boards in as few “strokes” as possible.
Sara Bellisario and her husband, Franklin, of Butler, along with Rebecca Vacca and Lyn Braden were among the first players to test their skills at the game.
“It’s so clever,” said Bellisario. “It’s hard, like it’s tricky, but if you’re really good at cornhole, it’s probably just a perfect amount of challenge.”
The 18-hole golf course is riddled with friendly aliens, spaceships, satellites and even moving obstacles. Vivirito and his family have spent the past year-and-a-half designing and constructing the new attraction. Along with creating a new game, the family had to take extra measures to make sure the public could not see the new course until the public revealing.
“I mean we created everything by hand, and tonight (my son and I) were talking and we just can’t believe we can finally let the word out,” Vivirito said. “This thing was huge, and we’ve hidden it from 90% of the public.”
Along with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, former course owner and current property owner Mary Hooten received a citation from Butler County Commissioner Kim Geyer.
“This is really a special evening for our community,” Geyer said during the ceremony. “Our special golf course is what makes our community. It’s a unique place; it’s a place where families can make memories and people can spend time together.”
Hooten’s mother, Gertrude Naser, took ownership of the original golf course in 1950. While Hooten still owns the land, Vivirito took over the course in 2008.
Hooten said that when Vivirito first came to her about the new game, she wasn’t sure what to think but trusted him.
“He’s so creative,” Hooten said. “He has an eye for colors, and he’s not afraid to go after what he wants.”
Vivirito said the game is currently patent-pending.
