I've been saying that every time someone bitcas about the USBC cutting awards again.  If a little penny patch or certificate means that much, participate in your local association meetings and create a local awards program.  Our local association gives out plenty of awards beyond those that the USBC gives out.  Men get polos for 700s, women for 6s, and also for the traditional honor scores.  Nice shirts, too, with your name on it.

Frankly, I don't care about awards.  I've gotten plenty, I give most of them back now.  That the best bowlers in the house congratulate me on a good game or good set means ten times more than a patch.

All those who want to go unsanctioned next year, you can forget about bowling sanctioned tournaments, you can be responsible for ensuring the lanes are flat, even, and level, you can ensure that the balls used are legal.  When someone does something you don't like, you can pull your non-existent rule book out and wonder why you chose to give up a perfectly functional, debugged, and comprehensive set of rules that govern far more than just how to keep score and what scores get what awards.

SH

First of all the lane beds are checked by your association sec.That can be done and set locally and only done once a year.As far as standard lane dressing that is a "farce" I have seen lanes in my area and others that are so dry the ball won't go 25' before it burns up and the only possible way to get to the pins is with plastic and I have bowled on lanes where the back ends are never stripped because the alley manager can't bowl well when the back ends are dry.The bonding is important,but you can buy insurance locally.I know several insurance people locally that will write a bond for that sort of thing.USBC doesn't enforce the rules,the local people have to enforce them,allthe USBC does is change them from time to time.(most of the time to something rediculious)How many of us members compete internationally?Not many!! As far as the Biggest tournament venue of any sport in the world every year.That may be so,but it is the most lop-sided tourney ever.Any bowler with an average over  is suppose to compete scratch against every Pro Bowler male or female plus every other bowler with that average or higher.You pay ypur money just like they do but what are the odds of winning any real money back?SLIM TO NONE. Then to top that off they put done a shot that most of us have NEVER seen but the PROS have bowled on many times.FAIR,I think NOT!!!!!

Well, being a secretary of a men's league and being a former member of our local association, I see and hear all the grumblings. But, I do agree with a lot of bowlers when they tell me that they are tired of seeing there fees go up every year.

Regardless of the reasoning, the bowlers do have a valid complaint when their money is going to an organization that makes changes year in and year out.

When will it stop, will it stop with the move to Texas, where in a few years the BPAA will just absorb USBC as we now know it.

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Dale Williams
Columbia 300 Utah Amateur Staff