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I talk about bowling often. Shocker. The most interesting talks I have are with non-bowlers. Let's call them educational talks, actually. What makes them more interesting than the 'discussion forum debates I frequent is how much people a) don't know about bowling and b) are genuinely interested in learning about it. Either that, or they are very polite. Extremely polite. Invariably, I am asked, "What's your average?" What is my average, indeed. This...

Merger Isn't Bad - It's Necessary

I'll start my convention review with the one piece of legislation I am most passionate about and the one which is probably the most contentious among the delegates. When the USBC was borne of the former ABC, WIBC, and YABA, local and state associations were given the option to merge. Many did not and it is futile to bemoan the past. The USBC would like everyone to merge, and so have annually supported the merger legislation. Merger This is an odd one to fight for becaus...

The Convention of NO!

I have returned from what was my third USBC National Convention. The first two were decidedly energizing. The first because it was my first, probably, and the second because I am an eternal optimist and was still hopeful. This one though, has left me more frustrated than anything - not entirely, but enough that it matters. A number of good pieces of legislation - some supported by the USBC Board of Directors, some not - were summarily executed by the roughly 1100 voting delegates in att...

Madison USBC Bowling Association News

End of Season Honor Scores and Final Averages

An excellent question came across the desk recently. "If the averages are cut off at the end of a season, can a bowler bowl an honor score and will it count? This question has one simple answer and brings to light another issue. The short answer is yes. Honor scores count on any night the league is certified, presuming all other rules are followed. For example, if you have a natural 300 game on 9-pin tap fun night - it counts. If you earn a 600 magnet in the championship match, it counts. But what about these "cut-off" averages? Averages should not end just because your league engages in multi-week "playoff" systems. This is a misinterpretation of USBC Rule 113, 'Playoffs/Special Contests'. The USBC definition of a playoff is applicable to a specific circumstance - not "playoffs" in general.

USBC Award Changes for 2010-11

All of the awards are the same for the upcoming season. The 300 game and 800 series plaques will have a new look, according to an Association Operations E-Newsletter from USBC. The big news is the changes in average requirements for earning a magnet recognition award.

USBC Answers Award Questions

After decades of providing emblems/patches for special achievements, why did USBC switch to magnets? Each year USBC purchases over 3 million awards to send out to its members for their achievements. Over a year and a half ago, we were curious to see if bowlers were actually using our awards so we surveyed bowlers and found that only a very few adult members were displaying their emblems/patches or pins.

Madison Area Scratch Tour News

2010-2011 MAST Schedule Announced

The Madison Area Scratch Tour presents the 2010-2011 schedule. The tour is entering its 23rd season of competition. This year, the tour will feature a number of tournaments conducted on the new USBC Red, White, and Blue patterns. There will be four events conducted on a USBC Blue pattern and two on a USBC White pattern. Four sites will have standard house patterns that would be considered Red under the color system. Rounding out the stops is the 2010 USBC Nationals pattern at Ten Pin Alley, and the always challenging 'modified' house shot for the Lake Ripley Doubles event.

Heinzelman Nearly Unbeatable in Championship

Congratulations to Jay Heinzelman, this years MAST Badger Pro Shop Year End Tournament Champion. Heinzelman received $1000 and an eagle champion trophy for his win. In the qualifying round, 39 bowlers competed for 12 match play spots. The cut to match play was +270 after eight games. It took a score of 1831 to be one of the top 4 bowlers out of the cut and to cash. Chris Pounders led the field with a score of 2057. Multiple honor scores were bowled throughout the day. Pounders started out slow with a 191 game followed by back to back 300s. Joey Kick also had a 300 in his third game. An 807 was bowled by Herb Kimpel and an 800 by Rick Thomas.

Third MAST title for Duffield

Ken Duffield outlasted 51 competitors at Leisure Lanes to secure the last 2010 regular MAST session title. Duffield shot games of 236 and 280 in the first two rounds of match play before meeting Dustin Meisel in the semifinals. Meisel put pressure on Duffield trailing by 1 pin going into the tenth. Meisel finished with 3 strikes for 228 forcing Duffield to strike out for 229 and the win. The final match against Paul Bloemer also came down to the tenth frame with Duffield filling the tenth frame for 227 over Bloemer's 214.