I have a bit of a problem with the proprietor of my "home" house. This house has been like my second home for the last 7 years. I use their pro shop exclusively, bowl 2 leagues a week, practice there (usually at little or no charge), and bring them tournaments and tons of open play.
Two years ago, the guy who had been the manager there for 13 years bought the place. He immediately replaced the worn out pinsetters with "new" ones, and did a massive cosmetic remodel. He did a serious extensive resurface, and also installed new scorers and ball returns.
The installed pinsetters have never been quite right. They certainly are better than the ones before, but not right. Last week, for example, during the scratch league, on our pair, one or the other of the lanes was dropping one or more pins EVERY frame, and we had at least 10-12 trouble calls. I expressed my disgust - unfortunately to one of the employees.
I've mentioned on here before that I wasn't going to bowl the scratch league next year in this house. It's full of prima donnas kicking the ball returns, letting loose with F bombs constantly, and no enforcement from the league officers. I, as a lowly female team captain, have talked to a few of the offenders, and been laughed off. A couple of the guys on the league (including the sgt at arms - another employee) taunted and teased a guy so bad one night he ended up hiding in a cabinet to get away from them. That's the kind of behavior that's been happening.
Also, I've had several scratch bowlers who don't bowl that league ask me about it, telling me they've heard it's gotten pretty rough and foul, and that they've heard lots of complaints about the league. I informed the proprietor of this privately a couple of weeks ago.
Last week, during my handicap league, which has gone from 14 teams down to 9 WHILE MERGING WITH ANOTHER LEAGUE IN THE PROCESS, we were asked if we wanted to move to another house and join a 22 team league there. I said yes, and then said that it was breaking my heart to leave my home house, but I didn't feel that I wanted to stay with everything that's been happening.
Anyway - tonight I went down there to practice. Before I could throw a ball, he came down and started yelling at me, accusing me of being the driving force behind the league leaving. I calmly told him that was not the case, that it was "mary". So he then pleaded with me to talk to the league, and convince them to not leave. I interrupted him to let him know that we were, however, one of the teams that was leaving, and why - machines, maintenance, and the fact that the league was dying a slow painful death. I have been doing damage control to the rest of the league all year - "they've had trouble with the lane machine this week" - "they've had the expert mechanic in this week working on that pair", etc, etc...
He then accused me of badmouthing him and the scratch league all over town. When I reminded him of the discussion he and I had a few weeks ago, he said that he didn't believe me - it was all lies. He then asked "how could I do this to him after all he's done for me?"
Mind you - this was in front of all the incoming league members, and my husband, who unwillingly stayed out of it.
The proprietor "reminded me" that he's done a lot for me over the years - which he has - but NOT ONCE have I asked for free bowling, or have I expected it. NOT ONCE have I ever asked for a favor - except for the time I borrowed their shirt catalog, and a couple of times I've made a couple of copies of league sheets. I did ask him a couple of times to sponsor a tournament team, and he did, and in each case but one, he got his money back, even though that wasn't necessarily the agreement in advance - but I did it because I thought it was fair.
I got him calmed down, and he finally agreed that it was my decision to not bowl the scratch league next year, and that if my team wanted to move, he couldn't stop us... I then asked him to come talk to the league this week, and see if he could change some minds. I thought it was worth a try.
Then, it was comical. I went to practice. The scorer on one lane was possessed. Didn't matter what I left - strike, 10 pin, etc - it added a 7-8-9 to the leave. He had to come down and reboot the scorer, then he tried to fix it - the whole time, I was bowling and accomodating his trouble shooting. I hope it brought it home to him that I'm not out to get him - that I truly want him to succeed, but I gave him 1 year on the downhill, and 2 since he renovated, and I don't see things getting noticeably better equipment wise.
Sorry for the rambling post - but what would you do - continue with the plans to move your team on the handicap league, or suck it up and stay there and try to help the guy out??? My hubby is royally upset - I'm not too thrilled myself. I wouldn't be nearly as upset if he had called me into the office to have the talk, but he didn't...
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-- The way we see the problem is the problem.
