Centers, here is my .02:
I have bowled about 5-6 regionals as a guest. I have cashed in about 50% of them. I enjoy bowling on the tougher conditions and bowling against the best competitors in the area, like Mr. Austin here. When you cash will be determined by your skill level, and ability to read the lanes as they tranistion through qualifying.
One benefit that I haven't seen mentioned is a cost savings. The standard PBA Membership is $144/year. That gives you 3 regionals. As a guest those 3 regionals cost you $275 each. Member entry fee is $200/event. That's a savings of $225 for your $144 cost (not counting intiation fee of $99). I have a young son at home, so I'm not traveling every weekend, but I do bowl the ones local to me, which conveniently is about 3/year. So I am probably going to join as well in order to get the savings.
And lastly, another way to bowl in your first one is to look for your regions Non-Champions event. Usually once a year each region hold one with the direct purpose of bringing in new people to experience regionals, while not having to bowl against past winners. Now don't think that means no competition, there are plenty of awesome bowlers that for one reason or another just haven't won a regional. In fact in ours this year, there were 3-4 guys that were bowling in every TQR and they hit the SW region event on their way to the Tour stop in El Paso (it was an off week for the tour). Two of the gentlemen were 1-2 in qualifying (somehow I ended up third,lol) and one Ed VanDaniker wound up winning (I wound up third overall as well). So it will still be tough but not as tough as a regular regional. Then there is the member-guest doubles as well, but depending on your area, that might be hard to get into. I think of myself as above average in my area, but I have never been asked to bowl in it myself, but I don't go out and actively seek to do so either, so if you show interest, im sure you could find someone to bowl with.
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Jorge300
