Bowling slows in summer, but lanes aren't totally silent

Summer usually isn't the hottest season for bowling.

League action is at a minimum, and many lanes keep their business afloat by cutting back their operating hours and booking summer youth camps, church groups, family outings and the like who seek cool indoor activities.

This isn't to say the summer months are unimportant, of course. It gives lanes a chance to catch up on maintenance work and get their shops in order for the fall leagues, which traditionally begin after the Labor Day holiday. And those summer outings are important because they might introduce a youngster to the sport and keep the lanes stocked in new customers.

As for the regular league bowlers, some take the entire summer off and don't step foot inside a bowling establishment at all. Most will be good to go with just a few practice sessions when the new season is near. They'll come out to get the rust off of their game and it will seem like they hardly missed a beat. Natural talent, they say.

Meanwhile, others continue to ply their game in summer leagues, often trying out new equipment or techniques to help improve their game. They have to keep their hands in the game, or else they may forget everything they every knew about bowling.

The leagues are smaller in size, however the competition is still very keen. The averages established during the summer leagues don't count for bowlers' tournament averages -- unless that is the only league for a person -- so they are more relaxed and not worried about keeping up with the "hot shot" of the league. They have a good shot at winning a league award. They can't wait for the start of the new season to show off their new wares and just how good they got during their summer leagues.

The summer leagues are just like the winter leagues in that they are governed by the league rules and overseen by the local association to ensure full compliance with U.S. Bowling Congress guidelines.

In these parts, the Lowcountry USBC Association generally takes June and July off, but now they're getting ready to serve bowlers in a new season. They have been on-call for any situation that required their attention.

President Teresa Manning, who replaced out-going president Paul Cole, will take the gavel in her first official meeting since being elected last April and lay out the plans for the 2008-09 season when the association meets Monday night at Ribaut Lanes at 7 p.m.

The association wants the upcoming season to be special for all bowlers and to highlight new areas/ideas for the bowlers. The board is dedicated to serving the needs of all of the bowlers in Beaufort County. Anyone who is interested in joining the board can come to the meeting to get a first-hand look at what the association is all about. They are always looking for hard-working folks who love to volunteer their time for the betterment of bowling in Beaufort County.

The plans for the upcoming season will be highlighted in my next column.

STRIKES & SPARES

• Chuck Schorr won the 9-pin, no-tap tournament at Ribaut Lanes on July 26. Schorr tallied an 801 to outdistance Hawk Lewis (698) and Neecie Toyne (613) from a field of 17 entrants.

• The Parris Island Bowling Center will host a Youth All Night Bowl on Aug. 15 from 11:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. Age limits are 8 to 14. Call Parris Island Lanes at 525-3302, extension 7251 for reservations.

• Every Monday is family fun night from 4-7 p.m. at the bowling centers at MCAS and Parris Island. Also, on Friday and Saturday nights, enjoy Glow Bowling from 9 p.m. to midnight.

• Seniors should mark their calendars for the Beaufort County Senior Games to be held Nov. 3-7. Entry deadline is early in September. Watch this column for more details.

• The Parris Island Bowling Club will meet at Victory Lanes in Savannah on Saturday. Squad times are 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. the club is open to all USBC-sanctioned bowlers, military and civilian. This is a singles handicap tournament, and the entry fee is $27.

RIBAUT LANES LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS

July 17

PBA SPORTS SHOT (based on 4 game format): (Cheetah Pattern)

Mike Robinson 761 (243), Jerry Cotton 758 (221), Chuck Schorr 684 (227), Jeff Toyne 676 (194), Dave Holland 612 (212), Neecie Toyne 545 (147). Special note: Jerry Cotton bowled a 704 (278) to earn his USBC 700 award on June 19.

July 29

PRIME TIMERS: (Men) Jim Adamcheski 571 (223), Tom Yuhas 563 (244), Bob Culp 506 (187), Mike Pernell 160, Lionel Cabaniss 177, Bruce O'Hora 179, HF Capps 168, Karl Waldhauer 170, Harold Rivers 188. Women-May Bell Hayes 436 (153), Ellen Richardson 433 (159), Lucy Golden 172.

July 30

SCRATCH DOUBLES: (based on 4 game format)-Jake Fulcher 929 (253-268-172-236), Jeff Toyne 842 (223-189-245-185), Mike Pernell 808 (228-200-190-190), Roy Nygaard 798 (235-225), Bill Brady 791 (223-203), Chuck Schorr 780 (232-204), Mike Robinson 770 (216), John Walton 754 (211), Ron Culberson 645 (215), Teresa Manning 738 (204), Heavy Scott 738 (217), Tom Yuhas 719 (192),

Chuck Lather 704 (232).

July 31

VIP SENIORS: (Men) Tom Yuhas 670 (219-228-223), James Jenkins 556 (207), Roy Nygaard 546 (203-200), David Hooper 541 (190), Sal Salomon 515 (194), John Cartwright 504 (189), Ben Green 501 (187), Willie Faulkner 501 (176), Mike Pernell 500 (188), George Ladson 494 (178), Artie Heape 484 (178), Dick Rider 482 (178), Bruce O'Hora 180, Ike Johnson 165, HF Capps 161. Women-Pat Powers 528 (222), Ellen Richardson 520 (177), Barbara Tapio 473 (164), Gardenia White 468 (168), Ida Cuthbert 465 (166), Ethel Ladson 172, Loraine Ferguson 166, Theresa Jenkins 159, Odessa Simmons 152, Beverly Garrett 164, Lori Hooper 166, Jackie Johnson 153.