I bowl in a higher dollar handicap league. League fees are $20 a week and sponsors add $5000 to the league prize fund.

The league was initially founded as a better bowler league as an alternative to scratch leagues with almost all the participants higher average (190+) bowlers. Handicap was individual and set at 80% of 230. The format is 5 person teams bowling for Peterson and team points. In order to attract more bowlers over time time the handicap has been raised to 90%.

About 15 years ago the scratch league we were in folded and this was the best alternative we found. When we joined there were about 14 teams and the number fluctuated over time reaching a high of 16 teams.

About 4 years ago the league had a secretary that made off with over ½ the prize fund. There was some guilt with the house and the house eventually made good on the prize fund but we lost several teams over that incident and the league has been 9 to 10 teams since then.

There is a team in the league that has been what I would call loud and obnoxious over the years. The last couple of years and this year in particular has been worse (or possibly in our old age we are less tolerant).

If a teammate of theirs does something good or bad they have cheers they yell out at the top of their lungs. If someone on a pair of lanes close to them leaves a five pin they gather on the approach around them giggling and telling them if they miss they are all owed drinks. They are also smokers and sometimes they will all disappear for 10 minutes between games.

Last week there were several instances of them getting loud and bowlers having to step off approaches around them. Finally a bowler (from another pair) went to them and said they needed to quiet down. Of course this didn’t go over well. One of their bowlers then accused the complaining bowler of messing up his game because he was upset. Things got tense.

This was the end of the night and we were leaving so I don’t know how this was eventually settled if at all.

In a perfect world I feel the establishment should be handling this but they don’t want to offend anyone and particuarly not in this covid year.

Well one week later.

We happened to bowl the team in question last night.

There was no league meeting. League officers had some discussion with them last week and are waiting to see how it plays out.

Things were quieter, not totally calm, but much of the loudest yelling was not present and tolerable. There was some of what I felt was mocking of the league when their bowler would come off the approach with a a finger to their mouth telling their team to hush.

I also felt like we got slow played some. The whole team wouldn't disappear but a member or two. And they drug their feet at times getting up for their turn. The net result was it took us nearly 3 hours to  bowl with no one on the pairs next to us. Both teams shot around 3200 scratch so there were lots of strikes thrown.

We are down to the last 8 weeks of the season so I'm guessing we will have to wait for the end of the year meeting for any resolution, if then.

I have no issue with yelling because the team I bowl on is a loud team and when someone complains we get louder. It is league bowling and it isn't the PBA League after all have some fun.

I would have a issue with a bunch of them jumping up on the approach however that is inexcusable.

If only it was just cigs. There's guys in my league that come back smelling like the art teacher's office.

The weed I can understand stepping out and getting a quick blast........but prolonged break nah.

Cigs are just stupid with no ROI...