Behind the Move of the Masters GIVE the PBA a JERSEY STRIKE
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ProBowling Results, Schedules and More PBA INSIDER BY LYLE ZIKES { [email protected] } Behind the Move of the Masters GIVE THE PBA A JERSEY STRIKE. There may have been some luck involved, but faced with a rather sudden need to change the venue for the USBC Masters, the PBA got the best possible result, given the unsettling set of circumstances. The site was going to be were purchased en mass by Brunswick Zone Carolier Bowlmor AMF.) in North Brunswick, N.J. According to the PBA, a The general time frame was contract cementing the de- sometime in February 2016. tails of the arrangement was At least, that’s the way it part of the negotiations. As was announced in a May 14, far as Bowlmor is concerned, 2014 press release, and pre- it was verbal agreement. sumed to be the case until Let’s just conclude that quite recently. papers, along with people, Instead, the 2016 Masters can get lost in the shuffle of a will be conducted at Wood- major corporate buyout. land Bowl in Indianapolis, The PBA wants to be Feb. 7-14. Victims of the careful not to burn bridges. change include a couple Separate from the Masters dozen potential bowlers who tournament, AMF is an of- won’t be able to compete ficial PBA sponsor. Bowlmor because the new site has 12 also was the title sponsor fewer lanes than the original of the U.S. Women’s Open location. Also affected will conducted at Carolier last be loyal East Coast bowl- month, and will bring the ing fans who won’t have a U.S. Open to Garland, Texas, chance to watch. next month. If the company But Woodland Bowl has didn’t know before, it now been a staple on the PBA Changing Lanes: PBA Commissioner, Tom Clark, and understands that the nitty- Tour since 1981, including Deputy Commissioner, Kirk Von Krueger, moved next gritty of preparing a bowl- playing host to three U.S. February’s Masters to Indianapolis from New Jersey ing center for a week-long Opens and two Tournaments after correspondence led them to believe it would tournament is a different of Champions. Clearly, it conflict with a major remodel at Carolier. discipline than producing can handle major champion- fun, clever commercials to ships, and its management Jersey? And why did Bowl- managers Rich Valentine encourage people to enjoy a and staff will be pleased to mor AMF, which now owns and Kathy Kuvinak, from bowling party on a Saturday add a new one to the center’s Brunswick Zone Carolier, let the scene. (Keep in mind, night. legacy. it happen? the deal to bring the Masters For example, you can’t Still, anyone with the Part of that answer can back to New Jersey in 2016 plan a center renovation slightest bit of curiosity had be traced to the ownership — the site that attracted when all of the lanes will be to wonder what precipitated transformation — more sold-out fields of 468 bowl- needed for a major tourna- this site change. Why did specifically, the departure ers in 2013 and 2014 — was ment, or while ESPN trucks the PBA feel compelled to of two key PBA contacts, sealed before the all of the are setting up outside the pull the Masters out of New former Brunswick regional Brunswick-owned centers building in preparation for a 34 Bowlers Journal International | October 2015 www.bowlersjournal.com ProBowling Results, Schedules and More live, two-hour telecast that’s expected to attract better TRIPLE-DIGIT PERFECTION FOR BOHN AND WILLIAMS than a million viewers. The tipping point came af- DURING QUALIFYING play at the PBA50 Treasure Island Resort Open in Minnesota in July, ter correspondence led PBA Parker Bohn III started a game with the first 11 strikes. Then, much to the surprise of every- Commissioner Tom Clark, one watching, his final shot snapped squarely through the nose for a seven-count split. along with Deputy Commis- Bohn reacted to the 297 by spreading his index finger and thumb across his Adam’s apple, sioner Kirk von Krueger, to indicating he had choked. He is one bowler who can comfortably joke about that. After all, believe Bowlmor AMF had 101 other times in PBA tournament competition, he has succeeded on a pressure-packed been considering closing at 12th shot — including live on ESPN during the 1998 Masters telecast from the National Bowl- least part of the 82-lane cen- ing Stadium in Reno. ter beginning in February for Bohn is not the only PBA player to have gone into triple digits with 300 a major remodel. Based on games. Walter Ray Williams Jr. also has 101 as of that concern, the PBA execu- the end of August, although getting one on TV is tives quickly moved to rear- one of the few bowling accomplishments that somehow has eluded him. range the winter schedule. Third on the PBA’s lifetime perfect game list The PBA did not mention is Pete Weber, who rolled his 80th during the final the change of sites when re- PBA50 stop of the year in Fort Wayne, Ind. Even leasing its 2016 winter tour- before joining the PBA Tour, Weber was a prolific nament schedule, although 300 game shooter; he even rolled one in his that may have made Caro- first game as an adult league bowler at the lier’s absence even more age of 16. conspicuous. Rumors To the best of his recollection, five of began to fly. Many were Weber’s first 33 games as an American convinced a good portion Bowling Congress league bowler featured of the lanes would be all strikes. coming out. Others specu- “It didn’t hurt that I was bowling at Dick lated the future of the Weber Lanes and Crestwood Bowl,” he property would be as a recalls, noting that they were two of the highest scoring centers in the St. strip mall. Louis area at the time. Unfortunately, it has become common in the — Lyle Zikes bowling industry for centers to close literally Summer Spectacular: Walter Ray on a moment’s notice. Williams Jr. (left) reached triple digits in Since Bowlmor has been August, and it had nothing to do with known to follow that the heat. He joined Parker Bohn III with triple-digit 300 games in PBA Competi- path with underperform- tion (101 each). ing centers, it can lead to dire predictions about their facilities, even when Championship in mid-April, facility, and upgraded food But that doesn’t really there is scant supporting with a likely rebranding/ and beverage services will answer the mystery of why evidence. Bowlers Journal renaming of the facility to be put in place. Carolier couldn’t, or simply Editor, Gianmarc Manzione, an AMF Bowlero center late “We will be able to pro- did not want to, host the sought clarification from in 2016. vide the black light bowling USBC Masters in February, Bowlmor regarding its plans It will be an “open reno- for those who want that since renovations won’t for Carolier, paving the way vation,” with lanes 49-82 overriding experience,” Edi- actually begin until two for an interview with Vice staying in use throughout son said. “At the same time, months later. Presuming President of Marketing, Colie the reconstruction, pro- that section can be converted the makeover of one of the Edison. Among the major viding the opportunity to back to white lighting for largest bowling centers in points she stressed: “black light” the first 48 leagues and competitive the country into a Bowlero- No lanes are going to be lanes, along with mounting play. The center has a long- branded entertainment removed from Carolier. large video screens in that standing tradition for host- complex doesn’t prove of- Renovations will begin area. The video arcade will ing big tournaments, and we fensive to major tournament after the center hosts the be upgraded, a laser tag at- look forward to having major entities, perhaps next time NCAA Collegiate Women’s traction will be added to the PBA events in the future.” will be different. 36 Bowlers Journal International | October 2015 www.bowlersjournal.com.