The vast majority of USBC members have zero clue why they pay sanction fees, similar to secretary fees, other than they're told to and they've always done it
Where those funds go is outa sight outa mind
Golfers do NOT quit due to difficulty of the game...USGA researched it and found the Tiger effect is wearing off-the masses that joined in the late 90's early 2000's have now grown to having adult responsibilities-jobs families etc and do NOT have time for 6hr rounds on the weekends
Golf grew its most due to Tiger no other reason and bowling does NOT have a Tiger to push the game to higher levels of awareness

The vast majority of USBC members have zero clue why they pay sanction fees, similar to secretary fees, other than they're told to and they've always done it
Where those funds go is outa sight outa mind
Golfers do NOT quit due to difficulty of the game...USGA researched it and found the Tiger effect is wearing off-the masses that joined in the late 90's early 2000's have now grown to having adult responsibilities-jobs families etc and do NOT have time for 6hr rounds on the weekends
Golf grew its most due to Tiger no other reason and bowling does NOT have a Tiger to push the game to higher levels of awareness

I agree that paying one's yearly USBC sanction fee has become as routine as renewing one's locker at the bowling alley, it's just something you do and not give a second thought about...bowlers will complain when sanction fees go up, then just accept it and carry on.

Speaking of Tiger growing the sport of Golf, it makes me wonder if bowling membership grew when Earl Anthony was a common fixture on ABC telecasts Sat afternoons in the 70's-early 80's or Walter Ray in the 90's? Seriously doubt the USBC would ever do research on it but it would be interesting to see.

I'm saying that's the idea that's pushed, and USBC isn't interested in fun and enjoyment, they're all about brutal difficulty and "integrity" and looking down on anyone who just wants to no thumb a ball to see it hook.  That or I must just be in the most toxic area of the country when it comes to this stuff . . if you just want to have fun or oppose the agenda, you're not popular, let's put it that way.  You can't have fun where I'm from anyway.  Watching Mike Wurme videos is great because people here are stunned that everyone on the videos is so easy going about shooting honor scores.  Here if it doesn't resemble a PBA tv set when somebody gets up on the front 9, you're gonna get jumped in the parking lot. 

The "you can't have fun" is a load of crap, as is the time and money excuse.  League bowling is recreation.  If you are doing it for anything than fun and enjoyment you should reevaluate why you are there.

It is surprising how many people are stuck in the ABC / USBC mode. If it were any other business model? It would have been bankrupt or non-existent a long time ago. Not trying to be malicious, they simply do not have a clue.

The primary purpose of the USBC is to make playing rules for a sport.  If people don't want to play the game as a sport that is their right.  The vast majority of golfers do not play within USGA rules.  Every golf course gets its primary revenue from these RECREATIONAL players.  However they also all have men's clubs that do play under the rules and provide an opportunity to play the game as a sport. 

The problem with bowling is that the very business model from the begining of the boom was to channel recreational bowlers in to a competitive sport environment.  Over the years more and more recreational bowlers decided that they didn't want to participate in the structured environment offered under USBC rules.  That means they also began to see less benefit they were receiving from USBC dues.

A. I can show you facts, from the actual research the USGA did on the growth (and now decline)  of golf centering around Tiger but you go ahead & live in your little bubble

B. The bottom line is USBC does not know who their true customer is nor with the current regime care...Chad is more concerned of his image with his little circle and is too self absorbed abt his legacy and if that even means taking down the organization so be it

How do you plan on growing a sport/game/entertainment to new people that haven't bowled in a league before when the commitment to do so in most cases is 36 weeks?

Why would anyone in their right mind want to commit to 36 weeks at 3+ hours a night to such a thing? Not factoring in food or beverages that they will likely buy because of the time they are there.

This is a huge factor that is not a USBC issue this is a proprietor issue/business model issue. Times have changed and many places are keeping up with the changes and many are failing.

Many have gone to shorter leagues, split leagues, more 4 person, 3 person, 2 person leagues that have had lots of success. Granted if you have a wall to wall league for 32 to 36 weeks you do not want to change that....any other league that isn't full or growing maybe time to re-evaluate your options to maximize your potential to grow.

USBC at the National level is focusing on things that do not apply to many league bowlers. The local associations and the proprietors have a lot of say in growing their sport and are missing the opportunities. That becomes a business model issue.

If, USBC's goal is to tear down organized bowling as a whole, they are doing a great job. As I've heard from several of my colleagues, high school bowling is supposed to be the future. This ideology is coming from the top down.

But, wait a second, I coached high school bowling for several years. We were very successful too. To my knowledge, less than a handful have taken to adult leagues. Reason, there is nothing to be gained by dedicating that much time to an organized league. First, they know, in order to be any good, they have to practice. Second, they would have to constantly purchase new equipment. (That's what they learn at the high school level).

Collegiate level? Hmmmm, coached that too. Some of them still bowl, most do not. Reason they don't bowl, same as above. To bowl well in today's ever changing and artificially challenging environment, which by the way they used to bowling on and actually demand, would take at least a few hours a week of practice to be somewhat competitive. Enter lower skilled bowler, with little to no education, beating them because they spend all of their time and money on bowling.

Simply, there is no parity in bowling.

So, what does USBC do? They succumb to the desires of bowling's least populated segment, the top 1%. Want to hear some bitchin? Listen to them.

In the meantime, organized bowling (not PBA, not Team USA) is dwindling.