"Bowling Newsline," a publication of the ABC/WIBC, recently released statistics for the 1998-99 season. The American Bowling Congress, the Women’s International Bowling Congress, and the Young American Bowling Alliance joined forces to serve 3,933,553 members. This represents a 5.3 percent decrease in membership from the 1997-98 season.
While a 5.3 percent loss hardly seems frightening, it continues to depict a gradual decline in a sport whose membership has plummeted over 50 percent over the last 20 years.
In a recent story in Bowling Digest, I recounted the alarming dwindle in ABC/WIBC membership rolls. There are many, many reasons for this decline. Ladies morning and afternoon leagues, once icing on the cake for proprietors, took a hard hit as the rising costs of living necessitated a two-income family.
Also, with the closings of bowling centers in nearby areas, bowlers were faced with travelling longer distances in wee hours of the night. Eventually, the majority of late leagues vanished.
The proliferation of other participating sports and the expansion of cable television cut into league bowling. Nonetheless, one of the most critical reasons for the decline in league bowling was the rejection of bowlers to commit themselves to a 33-week schedule.
Despite these obstacles, I have come to one absolute conclusion: The practice of blocking lanes for high scores has done little or nothing to boost business or create interest in the game. Actually, it may have resulted in a loss of lineage. With scoring conditions so simple, practice bowling became unnecessary.
The skyrocketing scores cannot be attributed solely to bowling proprietors. There are those who will point fingers at explosive bowling balls for literally making gorillas out of monkeys.
The truth can be traced to the American Bowling Congress, protector and representative of league bowlers across the country, which capitulated to the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America several years ago on lane dressing procedures. The regulations for applying oil patterns became so weak and ambiguous that it resulted in an open policy to block lanes.
Doctoring lanes became routine for proprietors. Fearing the flight of their customers to competition that provided high-scoring conditions, they were forced to follow suit or suffer the consequences of losing not only individual bowlers, but on many occasions, leagues en masse. Practically every bowling center in the country resorted to doctoring lanes under the guise of "within ABC specifications." Consequently, it has made a sham of the game and cheapened honor scores.
The practice of blocking lanes for high scores
has done little or nothing to boost business
or create interest in the game.
Averages of 220 to over 240 have become commonplace. Award scores are so abundant, no longer do 300 games or 700 series merit real recognition. An 800 series, heretofore a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, has become a routine score around the nation.
Bowling has become the "stand left, throw right" method of execution, whereby lanes are oiled from 10-to-10, with outsides dry and heavy oil in the center for steering balls into the pocket. Errant shots are hardly penalized. Out-of-bounds shots are non-existent, and the game has transposed into "adult bumper bowling."
During the past 20 years, 300 games per season have increased from 3,426 to 34,217, and 800 series have increased 1,000 percent, from 723 to 7,793. Are we to believe that bowlers have become that great during this period?
While no one can deny the revolutionary advances in bowling equipment, there is no basis to completely credit modern equipment for the unreasonable scoring madness that has permeated our sport.
This hypothesis can be debunked when comparing un-doctored lanes at the Brunswick World Team Challenge and megabuck tournaments to house conditions. Players in these elite tournaments are afforded the best equipment on the market. On most occasions, they are assisted by ball reps who aid players in PBA and PWBA tournaments. Yet, despite all the technology afforded these participants, results have proven that less-than-quality shots on ethical conditions lessen the possibility of posting unrealistic scores that have completely infiltrated our sport.
The real proof in the pudding has been illustrated in numerous leagues around the country that have taken steps to restore civility in the game by oiling lanes gutter-to-gutter for 40 feet. Unlike dwindling numbers in most areas, these type leagues have doubled in size and are gaining momentum in luring bowlers who have become enchanted with the challenges demanded by proper execution. They are prepared to engage in legitimate classic leagues.
There is ample room for both recreation bowlers and serious bowlers. But separate the two. Current house conditions are tailored for recreation bowlers who pride themselves in posting averages in the 220-and-over range. While these high averages look impressive, they are undoubtedly produced on doctored lanes.
Fortunately, we can avail ourselves to serious bowlers—those who pride themselves in relying on talent and accuracy. These are sport bowlers—players who aspire to score on any and all conditions, particularly in contests that demand quality shots. These are serious athletes whose competitive juices are inspired by challenges rather than acceptance.
In the interest of self-preservation for the game, it is imperative that steps be taken to apply the same rules and regulations that govern golf. Golf courses are graded for scoring. They provide various areas that add or deduct distances for tee shots. They continually move cups on the greens that may or may not enhance approach shots. The challenging courses are far more demanding. Fairways are usually narrower, lined by trees and high grass. Sand traps and water surround greens that are undulated and difficult to read.
Golf also caters to duffers. Easy courses are available for those who lack the talent for tougher conditions—courses that are wide and clear, free of water hazards and traps. However, serious golfers prefer to hone their games on golf ranges rather than play these type courses.
The American Bowling Congress currently is formulating plans to segregate recreation bowling from sport bowling. I would like to submit one suggestion: Any leagues that are designated "classic" must be oiled gutter-to-gutter for 40 feet.
I sincerely believe that proprietors who develop these type leagues will be rewarded twofold. Serious players will surely join and eventually force high-average recreation bowlers to meet the same challenges. I also predict these type leagues will gain momentum and create excitement and interest equally as successful, if not more, as blocked lanes.
One thing is sure: Sport bowling, regulated properly, will undoubtedly restore dignity and propriety to our game.
PBA Hall of Famer John Jowdy is a past president of the Bowling Writers Association of America.