Bowling column for Tuesday, January 5, 2021

By: Bette Addington

–AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUES…..HAPPY 2021! With only a handful of zealot local bowlers out there bowling in the few tournament clubs who can arrange to have a tournament, it has been a bad fall/winter season so far for average league bowlers. Many never even got to start their leagues and are still waiting to see if a shortened “Winter” season is even a possibility. Most CA centers are closed so hopefully you have your bowling equipment with you so you can keep your bowling balls in an environment where it is not too cold and will crack them while they wait and wait and wait for you to return to bowling. Right now it looks like we can, at best, expect to even try to return to league bowling in CA maybe in a month or so. Even then, you will probably have to bowl with a mask on just to protect yourself. The vaccine is slowly becoming available to us and that is the real hold-up. So sad. Can you imagine what it will be like to bowl State and National tournaments this year with so little league practice? How many of you have purchased your 2020-21 USBC Sanction Cards? You know you can do this online with USBC. FYI – If you are a local association board member, you should have purchased your card back by October! What a mess.It might not be a bad idea to open up your bowling bag/carrier from time to time to check to be sure your ball(s) have not split. I mean, how often do we set aside our equipment for this long of a period?–WHAT LOCAL BOWLERS ARE DOING DURING PANDEMIC?I posed a question to anyone who might want to reply to let us know how they are handling the shutdown and being away from bowling this long? Here’s some of the responses I got to share with you:“I don’t see us going back to league bowling until Summer maybe even Winter, 2021 leagues!”—Don Apple“My guess for leagues is Summer, and August for the return of the printed Bowling News newspaper.”—Dean Lopez/CA Bowling News“1. Playing a lot of pool/billiards. Also taking exercise up. 2. I believe we will be back open around the beginning of Summer, around May or June.”—Zack Long, Golden Empire USBC President“I’ve been working then home. I don’t see leagues resuming before August, which sucks.”—Mike Yorba“I travel to Canyon Lanes (CA), Nevada, Utah and Arizona to bowl. Not letting California have me on lockdown. Don’t see us opening anytime soon.”—Patricia Alonso, CBT Director“New puppy keeps me on my toes! For bowling, Summer league April/May, but not how we are used to bowling–one team per pair. Afraid we will lose more bowlers. Big changes.”—Mary Jane Brust, Golden Empire USBC Board Member and League Secretary“I only leave the house for Dr. appointments. Other than that, I’m always home working on diamond painting crafts and in bed by 8pm (lol!). I have gave up hope that things will open back up for a long time but I pray I’m wrong.”—Becky Hardwick“Fortunate that we now have a vaccine. If they were able to vaccinate 1 million people a day, we’re still looking at 4 months. I’ll likely be flinging a ball in September.”—Ed Wheeldon“I have been painting in my new studio, going out to the golf course two or three times a week and walking a lot.”—Barb Francisco“Just staying busy at work selling commercial insurance for Farmers Insurance. In the evenings after work, walk about a mile just to keep my old joints loose. As far as bowling, I see us back, maybe September.”—Jesse DeLaHerran“I will get in touch with management and see what I can figure out. Cooking like crazy, making jelly, getting fat!”—Kimberly Ewing, AMF Southwest Bar“Staying at home a lot. Definitely COVID scared. Hoping to get vaccine soon. Miss every one of my bowling comrades and same waiting for someone to let me know when we get back to bowling. I don’t see it happening though until April or May and then we still have to practice cdc rules—masking and self distancing. So I miss everyone and look forward to getting back to some semblance of bowling.”—Maryann Barker“We might be back in Summer but likely next Fall! I’m reading, which is my first love. It’s hard to do anything else. I look at my bowling balls every so often and promise them I will get back to bowling two games just below my avg. to make it up in the third game. Then I will get back to picking up baby splits half the time. Then missing the 10 pin in the 10th. And my oldest kid will beat me by 40 pins, while my younger one will be just happy to have a pink bowling ball and hang out.”—Shayla Phillips-McPherson“I don’t see bowling happening again ‘til winter. Trying to become a better golfer, so at the driving range twice a week. And I need to focus on a new career since my store closed.”—Andy SanchezMARK YOUR CALENDARS–CENTRAL VALLEY MASTERS UPCOMING TOURNAMENT, SUN., JANUARY 31, DOUBLES EVENT, FREEWAY LANES, SELMAThe guys at Central Valley Masters are trying to keep us in the sport by offering yet another tournament the end of this month on Sun., January 31, at Freeway Lanes in Selma. This is a DOUBLES tournament with only one squad. There will be Side Pots and Brackets available and it is a handicapped event (80% of 220). 1 in 6 will advance to a single elimination Beat Half the Field Final. Starting time is 10am and teams will bowl 6 games, moving lanes after 3 games. BUT, you must RSVP with Central Valley Masters Director, Chris Gregory, beforehand due to the limited number of spots (limited to 27 teams). Chris’ phone number is 661/805-3532.Freeway Lanes is located at 8265 E. Dinuba Ave., Selma, CA 93662. BE THERE!–USBC ROLLS OUT $3.5 MILLION AID PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ASSOCIATIONS AND GRASSROOTS BOWLINGNo doubt the Covid-19 shutdown that we thought was only going to take place for a couple months has grown into over eight months now with no end in sight.In an effort to help associations, USBC announced this past week the USBC Board of Directors has approved an immediate cash transfer of $1.5 million from USBC’s reserve fund to USBC local associations. An additional $200,000 will be available for state associations in the form of added prize money to their 2021 championship tournaments.According to USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy, “USBC is forecasting a 40% decline in league membership this season due to COVID-19.”The local aid program will send at least $1 per member back to all active standard USBC local associations based on 2019-19 membership totals. Standard associations with less than 500 members will receive $500 in aid while the largest USBC local association will receive about $40,000.There will be no restrictions from USBC on how funds are used for local associations. USBC will be contacting state associations to share details on how to receive the funding soon.–PBA’s FIRST EVENT OF 2021 TOUR SEASON ANNOUNCEDThe $1 Million PBA Players Championship tournament will be starting the weekend of January 15, 2021.The major event will kick off the long-awaited return of the PBA Tour competition with a revolutionary new format and a record-setting $250k first place prize on the line!For the first time, the PBA is offering all of its members the opportunity to compete for a Major Title by hosting five regional qualifying events simultaneously at different Bowlero locations around the country—Bowlero Christown in Phoenix, AZ, AMF Garland Lanes in Garland, TX, Bowlero Wauwatosa in Milwaukee, WI, Bowlero West End in Richmond, VA and AMF University Lanes in Tampa, FL.The top five players from each qualifying event will then advance to a series of five televised regional finals, all taking place at Bowlero Jupiter in Jupiter, FL, beginning Sun., January 24 through February 14 on Fox Sports FS1. The culminating sixth telecast will feature the five regional winners competing in the Championship Finals live on FOX Broadcast Channel on Sun., February 21 at 12:30pm EST.–CA STATE REGULATIONS PROLONG OPENING OF LOCAL BOWLING CENTERSUnfortunately, we were dropped back down into the purple tier. This means we need to work back into the red and then to the orange tier before bowling centers will be allowed to open. And being our numbers of positive cases are steadily climbing, it doesn’t look like we will get back into the red tier for several weeks if not a month. Guess we can call Fall leagues now Winter leagues, at best.If, and when AMF Southwest Lanes opens, Jose wanted me to share with you their updated hours of operation:Mondays – 5pm to 10pmTuesdays – 5pm to 11pmWednesdays – 1pm – 11pmThursdays – 5pm – 10pmFridays – 11am – 1amSaturdays – 1pm – 1amSundays – 1pm – 10pm–USBC 2021 NATIONAL CONVENTION TO BE HELD VIRTUALThe United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors voted to conduct the 2021 USBC Convention and Annual Meeting virtually due to COVID-19 concerns and frequently changing restrictions.Both were scheduled to be held at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, IL from April 26-29, 2021.An update with more details about the schedule, procedures and technology for the virtual convention will be announced by the end of January, 2021.–BAKERSFIELD SENATE OF TNBA IS LOOKING FOR MEMBERS AND RENEWING MEMBERSPlease help keep the Bakersfield Senate of TNBA active as well as helping the national TNBA organization survive during this pandemic. Their annual membership dues are $21. If you wish more information on how to join or renew, please contact Pamela Bright on her email at sputnikpamela@gmail.com or her phone at 661/703-3700.–FOR PBA FANSIf you are a serious PBA Fan, the PBA now offers a new organization you can join called PBA Pinsiders. If you join, you will receive a PBA hat, a PBA bowling towel, a PBA water bottle, console game download, FREE game at Bowlero center and access to member-only content information. You can also get discounts like 10% off merchandise from BowlerX.com or 15% off orders $199 or more plus free shipping, or 20% off for annual Flo Bowling subscription (for new subscribers). Plus PBA Tour Events – get access to PBA event tickets early and receive free upgrades. Plus member-only content access to exclusive content from the biggest PBA stars. You’ll be the first to know breaking news of the PBA. Cost is $49.95 per year. Go to www.r2sports.com.BOWL.COM HAS YOUR BOOK AVERAGE LISTEDWith the delay in Fall/Winter leagues getting to start, did you know you can look up what your Book Average is on Bowl.com? You can also purchase your 2020-21 sanction card or wait until leagues do start and purchase your card through your first day/night of league bowling.–TOURNAMENT CLUB CANCELLATIONS CONTINUEBe sure to check with the tournament director whether an upcoming event is a go or not as it changes from day-to-day, even hour-to-hour! Many of them are trying their darndest to provide events for bowlers to compete in but are up against city, county and state health regulations.–LOCAL BOWLING CENTERS- The BLVD! – CLOSED for Bowling, Food & Alcohol!!–3200 Buck Owens Blvd., BLVDBakersfield.com, 661/873-4477Military Service (Active, Reserve, Retired, Law Enforcement, Fire & First Responders) get 15% off Food, Soft Beverages, Bowling, Laser Tag, Ropes Course & Arcade Play Every Day!Live Music on the Patio – Every Friday from 6pm-8pm – FREE!Sign Up for The BLVD!’s E Club, connect with them to get exclusive offers & updates. Join via their free WiFi or fill out a card today! (Like & follow @BLVDBAKERSFIELD.)Monday-Thursday (Open-Close) $4.25/Game, per personFriday (Open-5pm) $4.25/Game, per personFriday (5pm-Close) $42/Hour, per lane*Weekends (Open-Close) $42/Hour, per lane*Shoes – $4/person—Socks – $2.50/pair*Up to (6) people per lane- AMF Southwest Lanes – CLOSED –3610 Wible Road – 661/834-2695, amf.com.Hours of Operation (when center re-opens)Mondays – 5pm – 10pmTuesdays – 5pm – 11pmWednesdays – 1pm – 11pmThursdays – 5pm – 10pmFridays – 11am – 1amSaturdays – 1pm – 1amSundays – 1pm – 10pmROBB’S PRO SHOP (inside AMF Southwest Lanes) –661/833-2695:Hours of OperationCLOSED- West Side Lanes – CLOSED–500 Cascade Place, Bldg. D, Taft, 93268 – 661/763-4246 or 765-6677- Mt. Mesa Lanes – CLOSED–4612 McCray Road, Mt. Mesa, CA 93240 – 760/379-3131, www.Kernvalley.com/mtmesalanes– High Desert Lanes – CLOSED–205 Fitzgerald Blvd., Edwards AFB, CA 93523 – 661/275-2695–BOWLING COMMUNITY CALENDARFri.-Sun., Jan. 8-10: CBT Beat the Board No-Tap Hndcp. Doubles & Singles, Cedar Bowl, Cedar City, UT, squads: Fri., 3-5-7; Sat., 10/12/2/4/6; Sun., 10/12/2. $500 guaranteed Scratch Singles 1:6, Cedar Bowl (421 E. Highway 91, Cedar City, UT, 84721, www.CBTBowling.comSat., Jan. 9: Elite Bowling Club Women’s Scratch, $75 & Senior Scratch 6 Gamer $75, 9am, Canyon Lanes, Cabazon, 951/419-2751, VENMO: Elite-Bowling-ClubSat. & Sun., Jan. 9-10: Elite Bowling Club Open Tourn. 3 squad 6 Gamer, squads on both days – (A) 12:30pm on Sat., (B) 9am on Sun., (C) 1:30pm on Sun. (check-in one hour prior to preferred squad), Canyon Lanes, Cabazon, 951/419-2751, VENMO: Elite-Bowling-Club, $85 members; $100 non-membersFri., Jan. 15: CUSBC 2021 State Hall of Fame/Star of Tomorrow, etc., nominations/submissions deadline, www.calusbc.comSat., Jan. 16: Adult/Sr. VIP Doubles Tourn., Riverside Lanes, Laughlin, 909/628-3966, 5126fish@gmail.comSat.-Tues., Jan. 16-26: Military Bowling Championships, SouthPoint, Las Vegas—CANCELLED, 800/257-6179Sun., Jan. 17: 13th Laughlin Blast Sr. No-Tap Doubles Handicap Tourn., Riverside Lanes, Laughlin, 619/251-9660Sun., Jan. 17: 60 and Over Scratch Classic Tournament, South Orange County, $130 entry fee, 562/243-0175Sun.-Fri., Jan. 17-29: BPAA & Bowling Summit, Nashville, TN, bowlingsummit.comMon.-Tues., Jan. 18-26: PWBA Kickoff Classic Series, ITRC, Arlington, TX, pwba.comThurs.-Sun., Jan. 21-24: CBT Beat the Board, Bowlero Via Linda, Scottsdale, AZ, squads: Thurs., 4 & A squad after league play ends; Fri., 3/5/ & A squad after league play ends; Sat., 12/2/4/6; Sun., 12/2/4, www.CBTBowling.comSat.-Sun., Jan. 23-24: Elite Bowling Club 2 squad 5-Gamer, Canyon Lanes, Cabazon, 951/419-2751Sun., Jan. 24: San Joaquin Bowling Club w/crossover option, 11am, Freeway Lanes, Selma, 559/385-8837Sun., Jan. 31: Central Valley Masters Doubles Tournament, 1 squad only – 10am, $150 doubles team entry, Freeway Lanes, Selma (8265 E. Dinuba Ave., Selma, 93662), Handicapped 80% of 220, Side Pots & Brackets available, bowl 6 games – moving lanes after 3 games, paying 1 in 6 entries, 1 in 6 will advance to a single elimination Beat half the Field Final, must RSVP with Chris Gregory due to limited spots (661) 805-3532.MAKE PLANS NOW: Cal Bowlers Tour 13thannual “Reno Invitational,” Fri.-Sun., July 30-Aug. 1 and Fri.-Sun., Aug. 13-Aug. 15, National Bowling Stadium, Reno, NV, 925/757-2695 or CalBowlersTour@aol.com, contact Gina Moura today! Team/Doubles/Singles/All Events, handicapped 80% of 220, prize payout 1:6.

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