These types of tournaments are difficult to run.  If you put out a house shot, people would say it's too easy.  You put a challenging shot out, people will complain it's too hard.  You run it as a scratch tournament, you won't get many entries.  You run it as a handicap tournament, people will complain about bagging and again, you won't get entries.  **I am not promoting the follow, this is being used as an example**  KOH scratch tournaments are run at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, IL.  I know they ran it as a 3 gamer qualifying with a $25 entry fee which includes a drink ticket worth I believe $3.50 good at the bar or snack shop.  However, I don't recall what they cut to after qualifying, it may be 16.  They do go directly to head to head competition until the last one remains.  The first round if you lose, you go home.  No prize money.  If you lose the second match, you got an automatic entry into one of the remaining KOH's that year.  After that, you will get money.  If you survive all your matches then you bowl the prior weeks winner.  I can tell you from experience that if you win, it's nice to be able to come back the following week and bowl 1 game.  No matter what you are guaranteed to have a payout 2 weeks in a row or even more if you win the KOH match each week.  I would suggest to find out who runs scratch tournaments in the area such as Woody who runs the Boot Hill tournaments to see what their experiences are with entries.  I also believe there is a scratch tournament in Joliet occasionally at Town and Country bowl.  I do not know who runs the KOH at Don Carter but you may be able to find out if you contact the center.

 

  I do commend you and the proprietor for considering to run a monthly tournament.  I hope everything works out and have good turn outs when you decide to run it.

I have a mock payout right now. We currently bowl a handicap traveling KOH tournament in the Danville area. The shot is a house shot on bone dry lanes. The centers are small and dont use a lot of oil. Its tough for us who are used to oil.

 

There is a nice KOH over in Dyer Indiana every Friday night. Eugene Mccune usually bowls it. It gets a nice turnout too.

 

We are looking at a $35 entry fee for $500 for first, paying the top 8, with 8th getting $50.

Also a $60 entry fee for $800 for first, paying the top 10, with 10th getting $80.

 

Both Gene and I have done these types of things in the past. Its just an idea to get something more regular going, as opposed to a one time tournament.

 

We are also looking a hosting a few other tournaments, such as a Plastic Ball tournament.

 

All of these will have side pots, doubles pots, brackets, raffles, split the pot, and ball giveaways.

 

With that said, look around at most sweepers and the ABT. Roughly a $30 entry fee for only $250 - $350 for first place.

 

Edited by BBU on 12/28/2011 at 0:28 AM

Gene and Tony, I sure hope you guys can get something going with this. I for one am in with any decision you guys make. I know across town there doing the KOH every Thursday, and the turn out isn't that good. I bowled in it a few weeks back and it sucked. Victory is right in my backyard, so it would be cool to get this going.  If you guys need any help at all, please let me know.

James Miller

DV8 Staff Member 

Vincennes University Bowling '07-'09
William Penn University Bowling '09-'11