And, The Brunswick Zone that I bowl in stated that if we want a one lane buffer on the low end of the house (high end has another league) the league would have to pay the house for that buffer lane. Needless to say, In all my year of bowling in that house, that was a first.  Houses have been losing leagues over the past years for various reasons, and this did not go over well with much of the league. I cannot wait till someone is in the process of an award score, and getting run up by an open player. Oh well, the almighty dollar in Brunswick's pocket while the leagues are now second fiddle to their Cosmic bowling and birthday parties, which is also the case in this center.

Think that is pretty standard now-a-days.  Can't blame the center for trying to maximize their lanes.  After all, no league wants their lineage to go up even though every expense the bowling center has goes up each and every year.  The easy solution is to fill the extra lanes with more teams if possible.  Our center doesn't provide a buffer per say and we give the league the option to pay for that buffer if they really want it.  But we also try to explain lane courtesy to the open play customer, does it always work no, but honestly at least here you may only run into open play during league a couple times per year.

Bowling next to Open play isn't as big of a deal as people make it out to be..  Just takes a tad bit of patience and timing..  I have never been run up on an open bowler because I am aware of what they are doing...  They are not going to be aware of what I am doing because they don't care...  So if I am watching them, I know when it is safe to go without running them over or them running into me...  Also, I hate having open lanes.  I don't want to turn away business if I have a lane open.  if the League really wants no one next to them, have everyone on the league ask their friends to form teams and fill the league..  However, if the league does run that big of stink over it, I do not want to lose teams on the league or the entire league itself so I tend to try and cater to their needs first..

We never place open bowlers next to our league! Yes we could, but we elect to take care of our league bowlers first! They provide us with guaranteed money every week for 32 week and we value that! We only have a 20 lane center and could rent the lane, but don't! We appreciate all bowlers and we give league bowlers a reduced open bowling price so they can practice if they want to!

I don't see a problem with putting a league bowler who is practicing and knows etiquette on the lanes adjoining a league.  --  JohnP

That league at Thunderbird is not what it used to be. May as well cater to the Friday Night teenie boppers and make an extra buck.

This is always a touchy subject, but your league has to realize that the lane if it can be used is revenue for the center.  Yes, courtesy says don't put people on that lane, but in this day and age, the center shouldn't have to 'lose' that money because of the league.  I do understand that your lge. is there 30-35 weeks a year, but lost revenue is lost revenue no matter how you look at it.

If the Center is that FULL what happens when a break down occurs on the league lanes .. where will the league bowlers go???

Here is your answer:

Rule 106 – League Game/Series

106a. Series - How Bowled
Two lanes immediately adjoining each other shall be used in each game of league play. The first game of a series shall start on the lane where the team is scheduled with each succeeding game starting on the lane where the team finished its previous game. At the option of the league, each game or frame may be bowled on a different pair of lanes.

106b. Order of Bowling
Unless the league rules allow each game or frame to be bowled on a different pair of lanes, members of competing teams shall successively, and in regular order, bowl one frame on one lane, and for the next frame alternate and use the other lane until five frames are bowled on each lane of the pair.

106c. Interrupted Game/Series

If equipment failure on a pair of lanes would delay the progress of a series, league officers can:

1. Authorize the game and series to be completed on another pair of certified lanes; or

2. Authorize the game and/or series to be bowled on one lane when another pair of certified lanes is not available. However, when the original pair or another pair of certified lanes becomes available, the team(s) may resume play on a pair of lanes.

An interrupted game and series shall be resumed from the point of interruption.

When authorized, the requirements of Rule 106a and Rule 106b do not apply.

NOTE: Scores bowled while using one lane shall qualify for USBC award recognition