The major pet peeve among bowlers, amateur or professional, is the paltry status our game suffers compared to other sports. One of the most irritating grievances among bowling fans is the lack of coverage for bowling in newspapers, radio, and television.

Professional bowlers are quick to point out the earning discrepancies between bowling and tennis, racing, and other individual sports, especially golf.

Golf, it seems, is the most popular alternative game for athletes engaged in other sports.

Professional basketball players Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley continually exhibit their passion for golf.

Wayne Gretsky, arguably the greatest hockey player ever, makes no secret of his love for golf.

Baseball players throughout the Major Leagues dedicate most of their leisure time to the links.

Not too surprising, golf is the favorite game of the majority of professional men and women bowlers. The same can be said for numerous officials of the ABC, WIBC, and bowling proprietors around the country.

Why is golf such a magnetic attraction? What is the appealing factor that, for the majority of participants, lures individuals to chase a small white object from one side of the fairway to another, through water holes, sand traps, trees, and weeds?

Even more confusing, perplexing, and puzzling, How can an average American afford to engage in a sport that is possibly the most expensive amusement and hobby of any pastime or diversion?

For example, on an average American golf course, bowlers will spend more on two rounds of golf than they would for an entire bowling league season. Yet, many, many bowlers consider league fees too expensive!

Furthermore, bowlers will put out approximately $550 for one Callaway Big Bertha driver, perhaps $2,000 for a set of Ping clubs, $100 or more for a bag, $20 for a golf cart, and, if affluent, God only knows how much for caddy fees—not to mention over $2 for Titlist balls that will end up in water or impossible lies.

Yet, these same bowlers complain about an increase of 25 cents in league fees, 50 cents for ABC/WIBC fees, or $195 bowling balls.

On a professional level, golf is far more difficult
to master than bowling. The difference between
top professional golfers and
better-than-average golfers is far greater
than those of top pro bowlers
and better-than-average bowlers.

The only logical answer may be the intrigue or fascination of challenge. Golf is a very demanding game. It is not performed through natural instincts. For right-handed players, the left arm is the most predominant movement for a quality shot. Conversely, the right arm is the primary maneuver for proper execution.

On a professional level, golf is far more difficult to master than bowling. The difference between top professional golfers and better-than-average golfers is far greater than those of top pro bowlers and better-than-average bowlers.

The one most important factor in bowling that has degraded our game is the simplification of our sport by lane blocking procedures that aid the ball into the pocket, elevating averages 25 to 40 percent.

Many proprietors would have you believe that modern reactive balls are the major culprits for high scores. While these explosive missiles have had a profound effect on high scores, they are, in no way, the principal factor for the scoring madness.

Professional bowlers have access to the latest and most sophisticated bowling balls on the market. Yet, averages for the top players in the world are anywhere from 20 to 30 pins shy of numerous league bowlers throughout the country.

Furthermore, when these same high-average amateurs are afforded an opportunity to engage in PBA contests, they usually perform like donkeys—simply due to professional conditions that require quality execution, void of blocking tactics that steer the ball into the pocket.

Golf’s appeal to the average person still is contingent on challenge. The industry continually attempts to attract lesser-talented golfers. Many courses are oversimplified with wide fairways, very limited water holes, shorter distances, and minimum sand traps. Nonetheless, the greatest denominator separating top players from average players are the greens.

To cater to weekend golfers, some greens are flat, with no undulations and favorable pin placements. But, most important, they are not rutted to channel the putts into the pocket.

The most intriguing thought that boggles the mind is the inane attitude and posture of many bowling centers that cater to an insignificant portion of their clientele. Most bowling proprietors openly will confess their disdain for hot-shot bowlers who continually criticize conditions. These bowlers are the primary bellyachers who moan and groan at any condition requiring any degree of proper execution, and they represent less than 10 percent of bowlers engaged in league play. Yet, for some illogical or irrational purpose, most proprietors cater and coddle to the whimpering few and bastardize and adulterate the sport.

Perhaps bowling has made its own bed and is forced to sleep in it. When league players out-average professionals by 20 to 30 pins a game, is there any validity to the sport?

PBA Hall of Famer John Jowdy is a past president of the Bowling Writers Association of America.