This is a catch 22 for the USBC and we can see both sides. On one side, they lay down a tough shot like this year and the "league bowlers" have zero chance to do much of anything. Your 200+ league bowlers are going to leave there shooting 1500 when they typically may shoot 1700-1900 in years past. They get discouraged and decide that the $1000+ spent on the trip isnt worth it and they dont go back. The argument here is that you just laid down a PBAish pattern for an amateur tournament. The irony: The USBC has their own patterns (red, white, blue) and they havent used either one of them.
On the other side, they lay out something closer to a 3:1 ratio pattern and the scores are the way they were the past few years; 2300+ winning all events and we have someone shooting 860 in singles, which is ridiculous. Then the guys averaging 230+ in league are frustrated because they feel 2000 should garner them a pretty fat check and they walk away only profitting a few hundred for the trip because alot of other people are also shooting 2000+.
The lane condition should be tough but not cater to any one style. I believe the reason that USBC went to a 2:1 pattern is simply to take bowling balls out of the equation. I think that putting an out of bounds where a miss right of 7 could garner you a 3 count is a bit excessive because now you take the guy with a 200 rev rate and tell him "Thanks for coming." USBC should understand that every year, there are people going out for the first time to try a new experience. If the 190 league bowlers proceeds to go out and shoot 1300; can the USBC really blame them if they never want to go back? I am sure that happens regardless. Granted I have not been out this year yet, but it seems like the guys that win every year are the ones capable of playing inside 4th arrow.
IMO......pretty soon the USBC should go to 3 divisions as opposed to two (regular and classified). There should be a 180 and below division, a 181-210 division, and then a 211 and above division. I think that is the only real way to make it fair for everybody. Reason is because can we really expect guys averaging in the 180s to be in the same division as someone on the level of PBA Regional Players and former National Touring Players and expect them to enjoy it each year? Granted that probably means less money in the divisions. However, it could attract even more bowlers out because they know they are playing against other on their own level. I just hope that USBC still realizes that this is an AMATEUR tournament. Just a thought........
Peace doesnt always have to be silent.