where I'm from, there are 2 local houses, one house which normally hosts the tourny, is a very easy shot and you have a ton of 220 bowler.  The other house always has a flood and a difficult shot.  Needless to say, the regular bowlers at the other house carry a lower average, and always get a ton of handicap going into the tourny.  They never bowl in leagues at the house with the easy shot so they don't lose their handicap.  They practice there, but never the leagues.  

It's a huge advantage for them as they would easily be 20 pins higher and get no handicap otherwise.

I didn't know if this might be part of his advantage.