6ISSUE AT HAND

Slow News MonthBy Scott Frager

8SHORTS

• All Star Lanes knowshow to promo

• Brunswick and BVLbowl for freedom

• “Bobby the Bowlerand the fearless Five”

– a good read• TenPins & More andARCA Opening Doorsexcel at bowl-a-thons• Peter Nordstrom’s

alien + bowlingpins = art

Compiled by Patty Heath

16INDUSTRY NEWS

Polishing Our ImageThree industry leaders

explain how to change thebanking industry’s

perception of bowlingBy Fred Groh

20OPERATIONS

It’s So EasyBeing Green

Jon Perper’s center issaving big by going green

By Joan Taylor

CONTENTS

24COVER STORYPar for the LanesCan bowling learn fromgolf’s strategic plan?By Fred Groh

34PROFILE It’s a Hoot and aHoller!A look at the oldestcertified lanes in the U.S.By Bree Gutierrez

40CENTER STAGENapa’s New CrushThe boutique bowlinglounge in theMeritage Hotel

54REMEMBER WHEN1977 National Lampoon

44 Showcase

45 Datebook

46 Classifieds

VOL 20.7

40

THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING

IBI July 2012

20

24

PUBLISHER & EDITORScott Frager

frager@bowlingindustry.comSkype: scottfrager

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISINGChris Holmes

holmes@bowlingindustry.com

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTGregory Keer

keer@bowlingindustry.com

OFFICE MANAGERPatty Heath

heath@bowlingindustry.com

CONTRIBUTORSFred Groh

Bree GutierrezPatty HeathJoan Taylor

EDITORIAL DIRECTORJackie Fisher

fisher@bowlingindustry.com

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTIONDesignworks

www.dzynwrx.com(818) 735-9424

FOUNDERAllen Crown (1933-2002)

12655 Ventura BoulevardStudio City, CA 91604(818) 789-2695(BOWL)

Fax (818) 789-2812info@bowlingindustry.com

www.BowlingIndustry.com

HOTLINE: 888-424-2695SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy ofInternational Bowling Industry is sent free toevery bowling center, independently ownedpro shop and collegiate bowling center inthe U.S., and every military bowling centerand pro shop worldwide. Publisher reservesthe right to provide free subscriptions tothose individuals who meet publicationqualifications. Additional subscriptions maybe purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50per year. Subscriptions for Canada andMexico are $65 per year, all other foreignsubscriptions are $80 per year. All foreignsubscriptions should be paid in U.S. fundsusing International Money Orders.POSTMASTER: Please send new as well asold address to International Bowling Industry,12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA91604 USA. If possible, please furnishaddress mailing label.Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2012, B2B Media,Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprintedwithout the publisher’s permission.

MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:

4

IBI July 2012

THE ISSUE AT HAND

6

In the local TV news business, onecan easily tell when it’s a slow news day.

Typically, the too handsome and toobeautiful newscasters will engage inlittle “extra” flirtatious chit-chat about the cat that gotstuck in a tree requiringfirefighter rescue. Theweatherman will be doing hisreporting surrounded by cutepuppies looking for homes.

As annoying as this maybe for us viewers, it’s even more so forthe newscasters and producers. And,while no one really wishes for a BAD-news news day, if you’re in the newsbusiness you pray for a BUSY news day.

We had such a day on June 21st, thesummer solstice: literally, the longestday of the year for us in the northernhemisphere. Bright and early thatmorning, bowling news media and key-industry leaders received an email fromQubicaAMF with a subject headline:“Bowltech and QubicaAMF AnnouncePotential Transaction.” According tothe release, the two companies haveentered into a non-binding letter of

intent for Bowltech to purchase QubicaAMF.For many of our readers, Bowltech International, based in the

Netherlands, may not be well known. However, at the manufacturerand distributor level worldwide and at the center level in Europe, the

company name as well as the nameof its owner, Hans Krol, arepowerhouses. Due to the timing ofthe announcement, just days beforethe start of 2012 Bowl Expo, itseems as if this non-bindingagreement is sure to happen.

For this publisher, I think acollective sigh of relief is in order. When the ink is signed on this deal,the QubicaAMF brand will be in strong, capable hands. Krol bleedsbowling through and through. His passion for the business has beenwell documented, especially in this magazine.

Please stay tuned to IBI, as we interview the powers-at-be anddiscuss the impact of such a huge transaction to the entire bowlingindustry. One thing is for sure, our newsroomgot what it wished for. There will be many,many busy news days in our future.

– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHERAND EDITORfrager@bowlingindustry.com

Slow News Month

Touting www.Facebook.com/BowlingFan is worth repeating.Word is spreading and centers from all corners are beginning tomake their names known. We “Like” it and you “Like” it, but nowis the time to put your centerwhere the “Likes” are. Send 10photos of your center tophotos@bowlingindustry.comalong with a 25-word descriptionof your center with the name andlocation included. We’ll do therest!!! You will find YOUR center

added to Centers We Like.Such an easy way to show off!

Take a tour through thesite now! Oh, and don’t forgetto hit “Like” whileyou’re there.

�THIS MONTH AT www.Facebook.com/BowlingFan

Kegel announced a new addition to itsTechnical Support Team. Doug Dukes hascome on board as a Technical SalesSpecialist working from his home inDelaware. He will also spend time travelingto help Kegel distributors with sales,installations, and general service as well asrepresenting Kegel at tournaments, seminarsand tradeshows worldwide.

Dukes has been in the industry since 1998 and has workedas a pro shop owner and operator and has run his local bowlingcenter for 10 years. With his certification both with Brunswickand Kegel in pinsetter mechanics, his overall backgroundlends itself to being an asset in his new position.

“It has been a dream and a goal to join the Kegel staff, andI am proud to be a part of an exciting future ahead,” Dukes said.

Besides organizations and mechanical expertise, Dukescoached the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Women’sbowling team for over eight years helping them earn fourNational Titles and four Conference Championships.

John Thrift, Technical Support Manager shared. “I am soexcited to have someone join our team who is so well roundedwith lane maintenance, pinsetter mechanics and coaching.”

Brunswick Bowling announced the hiringof PBA Hall of Fame bowler Parker BohnIII as a product specialist in its ConsumerProducts division. Bohn has been onBrunswick’s professional bowling staff for 24years competing and giving seminars andclinics. His new responsibilities will includerepresenting Brunswick at industry eventsand visiting pro shops and centers offeringproduct support and assistance.

“Adding Parker to our team of product specialists will helpus to expand our reach to pro shops and consumers aroundthe world,” said Corey Dykstra, vice president for Brunswickconsumer and Aftermarket Products.

Embed, a leading provider of MachineMonitoring, Cashless Card and Point of SaleSystems for the amusement and familyentertainment industry, has announcedadditions to its sales personnel. Andrea Bisihas been appointed to the role of Directorof Sales for the regions of Europe, MiddleEast, Africa and Asia Pacific. Bisi has had 15years prior industry experience with thebowling sector where he held a number of positions includinga senior international role with Brunswick Bowling and Billiards.

Part of the direct sales team in the UK willbe Steven Wooley, a long-time Embedemployee with more than five yearsoperation experience in the USA and UK.He has moved into the role of salesexecutive with responsibilities across the UKand Europe.

Embed CEO, Adam Steinberg statedthat “Embed is delighted to announce

these key appointments to meet the growing demand forEmbed products and services.”

BowlSole welcomes Hall of Famemember Norm Duke to its organization.Duke will serve as the company’s celebrityspokesperson beginning with appearancesAt Bowl Expo in Reno.

“We are very pleased to have somoneof Norm’s stature as our celebrityrepresentative,” said Chairman of the BoardTom Marandos. “In this capacity he will help us to develop theBowlSole brand worldwide.”

Targeted to the casual bowler, BowlSole is the world’s firstdisposable pad that directly adheres to street shoes and slidesthe same as regular bowling shoes.

Duke is a 30-year veteran of the PBA Tour and has won 37titles including 1994 and 2000 PBA player of the Year.

Doug Dukes

Parker Bohn III

Andrea Bisi

Steven Wooley

Norm Duke

Mike Quitter, Vice PresidentInternational, has announced his retirementas of August 31 from Ebonite International.

Quitter has been in the bowling industryfor 42 years and at Ebonite Internationalfor 25+ of those years. Robert Reid, VicePresident Marketing, will take Quitter’splace as Vice President of Worldwide Sales.

On Quitter’s retirement, CEO Randy Schickert stated, “Mikehas been the pillar of our international business for years, and

he will be missed.”When asked about his plans, Quitter was quick to say that

he plans to focus on his family.“My wife and I may spend winter on a beach somewhere,

but otherwise, the only traveling I’ll be doing is to visit mydaughters and grand-daughter.”

Reid noted, “Mike and I are headed out on a world-wide tour.We’re going to personally visit many of our distributors, andhe will have the opportunity to say goodbye while introducingme to our valued partners and clients. Mike has done a greatjob over the years of building those relationships, and I lookforward to continuing them.”

Industry Veteran Mike Quitter Retires

8 IBI July 2012

SHORTS

PEOPLEWATCHING

10 IBI July 2012

SHORTS

Not all older centers are being gobbled up by big box stores. There is new life in old,comfortable establishments. Good renovation can take a 50+ year old center and bring it rightup to snuff.

Doing just that are four centers getting ready for the fall season.Established in 1962, Town and Country Bowling Center in Berryville, AR, is getting a

lift and interior spiff! Robert Kleffman reported that the 10-lane center is having its lanes renewed,acquiring new pins and installing flat screen scoring monitors.

Bowling & Beyond in Dubuque, IA, is closing temporarily in order to remodel.

Sitting quietly, awaiting new energy and vision was first, Varsity Lanes, and then Alex Alleysin Greencastle, IN. Now, after two years of sitting vacant, the center will reopen with a newname, A’n J Bowl –third name’s the charm! Garry and Valerie Waters bought the propertyand with a lot of work and renovation will open on August 1. The 14-lane center, recentlycertified by the USBC, will get a makeover from the roof down. The “plan” is to be open sevendays a week and bring back the youth league on Saturdays, have cosmic bowling in the eveningand eventually host parties. Guiding them is Dustin McKinney a bowling center veteran witha degree from Vincennes University in bowling management; he has been supported by theWater's sons, Andy and Joe who have been instrumental in making this goal a reality.

Danville, VA, is home to Riverside Lanes, which began its history in 1960 as a 32-lane facility.It was changed to Country Club Lanes in 1992 and in 2006 was sold and renamed RiversideLanes. Today, Riverside Lanes is a 40-lane center owned by Shirley Powell and her son Drew

Dillon and his wife Ebony. Helping to spruce up this outstanding Southside Virginia bowl aremanagers Kyle McKinney and Richard Warren .

The work has just begun with the hopes of finishing by mid July. The new lanes are QubicaSPL Synthetics; the scoring package is QubicaAMF Conqueror Pro; shoes will be BrunswickVelcros; and the furniture, ball return covers and racks, masking and wall graphics comingJuly are all from Murrey International. To finish off the new look will be new carpeting and tilewith painting, inside and out done by the staff. Everyone can take pride in the outcome!

EXPANSION, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS

While we usually show the end result, here are photos showing the beginning! We will lookforward to a final view.

Here’s a greatidea! When you needyour child to havesome quiet timeduring the summer,have him read. R.J.Friedman of CapeCoral, FL, has written “Bobby the Bowler andthe Fearless Five” for children under 10 yearsof age. It’s a story of positive family support,building close friendships, learning decisionmaking and good sportsmanship.

Friedman, a site manager for a constructioncompany, has been involved in bowling for30 years. In that time, he has accumulated atleast 10 league championships.

Bobby and his friends, the Fearless Five, canbe found on Amazon.com or online atwww.bobbythebowler.com. Other books byFriedman, all in the bowling arena, are “ShoeUp,” “Fire Up” and “Burn ‘Em Up.”

WATCHMedia

SUMMER READING: “BOBBY

THE BOWLER”

First there wasbowling. Then therewas cosmic bowling.Then there was musicand light shows and

interactive screens. Now one’s ball can skip thelight fantastic with new tracking software and 3Dmapping technologies.

Twelve Strike has announced its innovativenew product I-Bowl. Working with Pearl Mediawhich is known for creating unique experiencesand event solutions, this concept breathes newlife into an old game!. Adding animations, I-Bowltracks the ball and adds graphics that come to lifeand react when a ball is thrown down the lane. Itcan also be programmed to react to play changessuch as a strike or a gutter ball and theapplications can personalize the effects for parties.

Twelve Strike offers I-Bowl

12 IBI July 2012

SHORTS

ROLLING THUNDER HOLDSFUNDRAISER HONORING IWO JIMA VET

Incorporating Memorial Day and Flag Day, Bowl-A-Rama in Sanford, ME, was the venue of choice for theRolling Thunder, a national organization incorporatedin 1995 with over 90 chapters dedicated to POWs andMIAs of all wars.

The event, held June 23, was the fourth annual“Bowling for Veterans” Bowl-a-Thon. Owen Martin,owner of Bowl-A-Rama was quoted by www.fosters.com,“My grandfather was a World War II veteran, and I amvery pleased that I am able to host the bowl-a-thon. …”

Veterans from various branches of the Armed Forceswere honored. Special guest and honorary chairpersonwas Harrison “Hutch” Hutchins, a World War II veteranand member of the 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division,which was involved in the invasion and capture of IwoJima in 1945. Attendees Master Sergeant and TuskegeeAirman James Sheppard and Cpl. Leon Tanguay, a WorldWar II prisoner of war, were also honored.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI THE EVER POPULARGO-TO THEME

Pin-Up’s Against Cancer is a group of pin-up modelsthat have joined together to use their modelingexperience to help organizations in the Northwestdirectly involved in cancer funding. They organize theirown charitable events, and funds go directly to familiesaffected by cancer.

This year West Seattle Bowl was the host center andthe theme was the popular movie, “The Big Lebowski.”

SPAY-NEUTER CLINIC STRIKES FOR FUNDSA mobile clinic, named Neuter Commuter, tries to give

people a less expensive option for neutering their pets,thus combating pet overpopulation. In order to raisefunds to keep the clinic going, T-Bowl Lanes in Wayne,NJ, held the seventh annual “Strike out PetOverpopulation” hosted by the Passaic County MobileSpay/Neuter Coalition.

Guests were entertained with laser bowling and a liveDJ. The price to attend included two games of bowlingand two shoe rentals, plus a score of prizes includingBroadway tickets, spa treatments and gourmet items.

“This kind of fundraiser is really crucial,” said LindaNardone, president of PCMSNC. “We need to make $10to $15,000 over our operating costs in order to keeprunning per year. People can’t afford to spend hundredsat a vet for a neuter.”GO

OD

WIL

L C

EN

TR

AL

FREEBIESKids Bowl Free is off and running!

Summer freebies abound and the Kids BowlFree is at the top of the list this summer. Morethan 1,000 bowling centers are offering kids twoFREE games a day from Memorial Day throughLabor Day. It's not too late to register yourbowling center and take advantage of thissummer revenue-driving program. In addition tobuilding business over the summer months, KidsBowl Free helps you build a database to use allyear long. In 2012, Kids bowl Free and it's parentcompany, Bowling Business BuildersInternational, will donate $100,000 for classroomsupplies. For moreinformation call AndyVasko at 1-800-720-0410.

New York state’s Maple Family Centers, aLong Island-based, family-owned chain offive bowling centers has launched XBowlingat its Rockville and Farmingdale centers andJib Lanes. A free download, the app isdesigned to connect bowlers with each otherat any XBowling-enabled center. It is currentlyavailable for Apple iOS and Google Androiddevices.

“You can compete against family andfriends or people anywhere in the world.You can bowl at different times, it doesn’tmatter. You can also compete againstyourself,” explains Joe LaSpina, vice presidentof Maple Family Centers. “It’s a fun way tocompete and to stay in touch.”

MAPLE FAMILY CENTERSLAUNCH XBOWLING

13IBI July 2012

SHORTS

PRIMO PROMOTIONWHAT TO DO ON A LOW REVENUE DAY

All Star Lanes, a 64-lane center in Baton Rouge, LA, has managedover the last seven years to build a league appreciation tournamenton what is normally a very low revenue day, Mother’s Day. MikeLacroix, general manager, shared that the center wanted to giveback to all its league bowlers and also find a way to incorporatefamilies and Mother’s Day in the mix. The last tournament—alwayson Mother’s Day-- hosted over 500 participants.

Kim Bogan, marketing director, explained that to underwrite the event,All Star Lanes created brackets for the center. Each evening league wasinvolved and the center made $5 for each bracket. All bracket moneywas placed in a separate prize fund account. All prizes for the tournamentand attendees came from that prize fund. There were over 80 differentgifts both cash and items. Everyone participating received a gift bagfull of goodies and got a chance to Spin the Wheel and win a prize.Moms, of course, were given a rose. With the awards for the Men’sand Women’s Tournaments, $17,000 in cash and prizes were given out.

The key here is that promotions, if used creatively, can both honorloyal customers and cultivate business. A “slow day” is really just anopportunity to do something outstanding! All Star Lanes has put thatto the test.

The brains behind the dayare(l to r) Phil Godley,league coordinator; KimBogan, marketingdirector; and MikeLaCroix, general manager.

Everyone hada chance tospin the wheelfor a prize.

One of theprize tables

14 IBI July 2012

SHORTS

Diamond LanesOdessa, TX (40 Lanes)

Bowling’s Only Full-Service Brokers,Appraisers & Financial Advisors

28200 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI 48076

(800) 222 • 9131

We congratulate Harry Deter andJohn Burns on their purchase of thisfine center and thank Peggy Brooks

and Ken Urban for trusting KenMischel to handle the sale. We wish

them all the best in the future.

Black Oak Casino in Tuolumme,CA, held its annual Alley Art May18-20. This unique, quirky eventshows off the creativity of local artistsusing bowling pins as the vehicle forsome outstanding works of art.

Peter Nordstrom has entered someof his works the last couple a years. Hismain focus is sculpting figurativestatues and has also worked with thevideo game company Namco Bandai.He is a great fan of H.R. Giger’s styleand alien designs. “I really love aliens--sculpting and studying them. In fact,I would probably marry one if I evermet a really sexy female,” he said in atongue-in-cheek moment. You can visitwww.futantshadow.deviantart.com/gallery to view Nordstrom’s other works.

So, when you can’t seem to get astrike, don’t take it out on the pins.Just grab one and create somethingwonderful.

BOWLING PINSDO NOT ALIENATE

THIS ARTIST!

Nordstrom’s work is highly detailed andimaginative. Just try to look at it for a moment!One detail leads to another. Photos by RoryAmber Thompson (www.roryamber.com)

Major League baseball pitcher from 1991–2001, BobScanlon and Steve Mackie of TenPins & More bowlingcenter did their magic once again to put on ARCA’s 4thAnnual Celebrity Bowl-a-Thon. Scanlon who is now colorcommentator for the San Diego Padres, underwritesthe costs, puts together the teams and collects pledges.With the help of Mackie and his host center, last year’sefforts netted $93,000; this year’s goal was $100,000which was exceeded by $3,000 - $103,000. This broughttheir four-year combined total to over $316,000.

ARCA Opening Doors is a private, not-for-profitorganization caring for over 600 children and adultswith developmental disabilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico since 1957. Thefundraising event, held at Mackie’s TenPins & More in Rio Rancho, hosted celebrity

athletes such as Jessie Tuggle of the AtlantaFalcons, Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncosand Browning Nagle of the New York Jets alongwith celebrities from the all areas of entertainmentand sports. Quinton Aaron, actor, from “The

Blindside” also participated. Forty-eight teams hit the lanes with the celebrities

and special needs participants all taking part in thefive- and-a-half hour event which included not onlybowling but food and a silent auction.

Celebrity bowlers, board members andARCA Ambassadors assembled duringthe mid-day presentation.

Steve Mackie of TenPins & Moreemcees the festivies. “Stevekept the crowd jazzed all day,”Michele Cody of ARCA said.

ARCA'S 4THANNUAL CELEBRITYBOWL-A-THON

16 IBI July 2012

INDUSTRY ISSUES

o, says Ken Paton, who has brokered about $75 million in bowling loans in the past15 years, the bowling industry doesn’t have an “image” problem with lenders.

Rather, the problem is that lenders have no image of the bowling industry.“Unless they bowl themselves or their kids do or their neighbors do and they talk

about it, it is flying below their radar screen.” Center broker Sandy Hansell thinks we’re doinga little better than that, but not much. “There are some banks which have done a lot of bowlingloans and have had bowling clients for years. But a great many bankers have never done a bowlingloan or very few. There’s this underlying concept that bowling is something from the 1960s. We’reold, we’re not hip, we’re not with the current wave.”

BPAA executive director Steve Johnson isn’t quite as blunt. He’s not too far from Paton andHansell, either. “I don’t know if I’d call it a problem. I just think there’s a lot of misinformation

NBy Fred Groh

Ken Paton Sandy Hansell Steve Johnson

17IBI July 2012

INDUSTRY ISSUES

about the industry. People who don’t knowour industry are often making decisions

based on reports they read.”Bankers often rely on reports published

by outside companies which purport toproduce expert analyses of various industries.When it comes to bowling, these so-calledscholarly studies often are the basis forlending. One example: a study on bowlingpublished last October by IBISWorld, whichpontificates on about 700 industries for banksand other financial services clients, wasunequivocal: “The Bowling Alley industry isin the declining phase of its lifecycle.” TheIBIS report stressed that industry revenuesand the number of centers declined steadilyfrom 2006-2011 and predicted a continuingslide until 2016.

“If these messages spread and getrepeated by other so-called ‘experts,’ and

if large numbers of bankers andappraisers buy into these ideas, soon no

bowling proprietor will be able toborrow any money for any

purpose,” Hansell fears.Three years ago, after another

erroneous IBIS report upset manybowling people, talk circulated about

compiling up-to-date industry stats andmailing them to lenders around the country.Paton, asked by BPAA for his opinion on theidea, replied that with hundreds of thousandsof lenders in the country and no databasethat could reach them all, the logistics wouldbe impossible. “Just because someone sitsat a desk at a branch doesn’t mean thatthey’re the kind of person who would do acommercial loan like this.”

Nothing happened.Now, under Johnson, and in light of the

IBIS report from last October, events aremoving again. Johnson made two moves.First, he signed up BPAA as a member of IBIS.“We’re going through all the [IBIS] reports andcorrecting them. The reports they put out

aren’t factual for our industry but they don’t know any better, so we’re gettingthe facts and we will show them the true state of the industry versus somethingthey’re guessing on.” The updated stats will be submitted to IBIS analysts in plentyof time for the regular updating of IBIS reports in November, Johnson says.

His second move was to put his seal on an informal task force of bowlingleaders, including Hansell, Paton, Michigan proprietor Mark Voight, BPAA past-president John LaSpina and the major equipment manufacturers. There will alwaysbe more space at the table, Johnson says. “We’ll tap into anybody’s resourcesthat can assist us.”

For Johnson, it’s a matter of BPAA’s duty. “It’s the responsibility of the BPAAto put factual information out there to assist our members in putting togethertheir business plans, with different types of loans and financial information to helpthem get the funding they need.” He says the task force “could definitely” becomea formal BPAA committee.

“The main task here,” Hansell explains about the task force, “is to polish theimage of the industry, primarily for banks, secondarily for investors.”

That’s why he and Paton will write a detailed report designed for this purpose.���

“Bowling centers too often are considered single purpose buildings, like carwashes or motels, which are almost impossible to convert to a different use. Bankerswho are approached for a bowling center loan are concerned, as they are witha car wash or motel, about whether they can get their money back if they haveto foreclose,” says Paton, who has worked with lenders on about 75 projects sincehe came to bowling.

The pamphlet will aim to convince lenders that a center can be successfullyturned to other uses if the lender has to sell it. The heart of the document willbe a list of successful conversions–currently topping 150–that Hansell has beencompiling for years. Paton will do title searches, contact present owners andinterview them about their conversions. Then he’ll select eight to ten and presentthem as case studies in the report.

“They make a loan on cash flow but they get out of a loan based on collateralvalue. So if they don’t understand the industry and don’t know how to find a buyerfor the collateral, their inclination is to walk away from the loan request,” Paton reports.

Lenders’ concerns about finding a buyer are understandable, given the “functionalobsolescence” in “older” bowling centers. Almost every center built after thedome-roof days of the early 1960s until the early 2000s falls into that category, Patonestimates. The most likely tenant for a vacated bowling center is big-box retail, butin older bowling centers, retailers find:

• HVAC ducting is limited to the front of the building (concourse area);• restrooms are usually at the front rather than the back where retailers prefer

them, and usually are larger than retailers want;• older centers have ceilings 15 feet high (to the bottom of the roof trusses) over

the concourse area, while most big-box users want 20 feet; in older designs,a flat roof slopes toward the rear to allow water runoff, creating ceiling heightat the pinsetters that may be no more than eight, ten or 12 feet;

18 IBI July 2012

INDUSTRY ISSUES

Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI andformer managing editor of the magazine.

• the step-down has to be eliminated;• many older centers do not have sprinkler systems, often requiring installation

of a fully functional fire suppression system.Correcting these problems will increase conversion costs by $10 to $40 per

square foot compared to a vacant big-box which already had been used forretail. For a 30,000-square-foot bowling center, that’s $300,000 to $1.2 million.

Paton estimates that at least 75-80% of operating bowling centers fit thesespecs. The offsetting advantages of converting are nil, unless the center is locatedon a street that is now very heavily traveled, says Paton. “Therefore the landis worth a great deal. If they’re right next door or right across the street fromeach other, there’s a huge cost advantage to the former department store.”

The Hansell-Paton pamphlet will seek to unblock the loans dammed upbehind these problems.

“The big thing they’re looking for is some kind of a road map to get outof a bad loan,” Paton observes. “They don’t need a lot of information. Theydon’t need to know, if the center they’re financing is in Seattle, that there isa center in Seattle that had this successful conversion. They do need to knowthat it was in Boise or Denver or some similar-sized city, not in downtown L.A.orin a sparsely-populated rural area.”

That’s what Hansell and Paton plan to deliver.“I’m going to be looking for as much for long-term illustration as I can find,

for example, a classic 1975 place Brunswick built, sold, later went under,” Patonoffers. “If that building was converted successfully into an alternative use, youcould probably always convert it to another use.”

No completion date for the report has been set and plans for distributing

it are indefinite. There has been talk of posting iton the BPAA web site, which would enable aproprietor applying for a loan to download it andinclude it in his application package, where it woulddo him the most good.

The industry’s “single-purpose building” imageproblem is a combination of pictures in headsand the facts about the industry, Paton opines.“The bigger one to me is the actual structure ofthe building and bankers’ lack of experience andimagination in knowing what to do with it as analternative use. It’s really a one-by-one sort ofthing.”

The forthcoming report, which will educate itsreaders that centers can be converted and go onto lead useful second lives, could be the rightencouragement to a lender for the “one-by-one”a bowling proprietor is seeking. ❖

20 IBI July 2012

OPERATIONS

on Perper wanted to save money. What proprietor doesn’t? He alsowanted to save resources, or, to use the current buzzwords “go green”and promote “sustainability.” What he didn’t anticipate was how a simplelight bulb would grow into his passion, resulting in an environmental

award, numerous speaking engagements, significant cost reductions, and mostimportantly, helping his community, Cherry Hill Township, NJ, sustain itself foreons to come.

According to Perper, “I started with lighting because that’s what a major portionof our electric bill was.” It all came about almost accidentally. “I went to amayor’s breakfast in the year 2007. My main center, Playdrome Cherry HillLanes, had donated free bowling games as prizes for people who had beenawarded points from their personal recycling. It felt good to contribute tosomething as valuable as recycling.” That’s when the education of Perper began.

He had already started using LED (light emitting diode) bulbs mainly becausethey required less maintenance. They wouldn’t be burning out frequently, incomparison to tungsten bulbs. “Once I learned what a watt was, that’s when thelight went on (or off!),” he joked. He thought a watt was a measurement of lightbut it turned out it was a measurement of what becomes the electric bill. “I took

JBy Joan Taylor

Jon Perper, proprietor and sustainabilityexpert, supports all forms of recycling at his

center in Cherry Hill, NJ.

One of the shoe recycling containers in Perper’s center.

such as Whole Foods to educate them on energy-savingprograms, with LED bulbs being the main thrust. Surethey buy his bulbs, but “besides cash in the pocket, it’sgood PR. People like to deal with businesses that have aconscience. If those businesses do things environmentallyright, they get noticed in the community. I call it ‘green PR.’You’re helping the community and the community is

a 60 watt light bulb and figured how much it would cost to run fora day, a week and a year. Once I found how much the LEDs coulddecrease energy consumption, I went around my bowling centerand calculated. Boy, we had been spending lots of money on ourlighting.” Perper was always an early adopter and didn’t want towait for any potential problems with the LEDs to be worked out,so he went ahead full steam with the complete bulb conversion. “Idon’t wait for things to change. I make the changes.” Fortunately,Perper has an electrical contractor’s license which enables him tobe an LED bulb distributor. Subsequently he founded his ownwholesale supply company, ZLED lighting.

Cherry Hill Township started a “sustainability education” programdesigned to reshape the entire community. Perper found out therewas much more to the program than recycling bottles and cans. Hegot his employees involved by demonstrating the advantages ofcreating a sustainable environment. He put recycling bins out forbeer bottles and cans. The next step was to send used pizza boxesto the local processing plant.

He polled his employees for additional suggestions, whichresulted in the paper towel dispensers in the restrooms beingreplaced by air dryers.

As his passion progressed, Perper created energy saving andrecycling guidelines to let people know how they could individuallycreate sustainability. Perper then created a list of what Playdromehas done thus far and what was planned for in the near future. Someof the action items already completed include:

• A 14% reduction in electrical consumption over the pastthree years

• Installation of LED lighting to contribute to energy reduction• Decreasing paper usage • Using items containing recycled or recyclable materials• Installing a “sustainable” copier using solid ink technology• Reducing wasted printing material, • Using computers and copiers with energy-saving modes and

turning them off overnight• Eliminating throw-away cups for employee consumption • Installing silver coated roofs to reduce air conditioning usage • The most ambitious future plan is to install a solar panel

system to reduce electric usage from the grid.Perper believes in setting an example not only through his

businesses but also personally. For instance, he will tell a cashier thathe does not want a bag when he buys an item. If possible, he willhand carry purchases without using plastic bags. If he does use sucha bag, he takes it to his center to reuse. Perper says, “I think of themovie ‘The Graduate.’ The big buzzword was ‘plastics.’ Threeyears ago I started saying ‘LED, LED.’ I always think of ‘TheGraduate’ when I say that.”

Statistics don’t lie. Perper says that lighting alone accounts for30% of electrical energy use in this country. LED reduces that useby 15%. It has huge potential.

Outside of his bowling realm, Perper has worked with companies

HOW A WATT TURNSINTO AN ELECTRIC BILL

21IBI July 2012

OPERATIONS

Take the number of watts (i.e., 60 in a light bulb)and multiply it by the number of hours it’s on during theday (i.e., 16 hours) times the days you’re open (i.e., 7).

Divide that by the number 1,000 which represents akilowatt hour. Then take that number times your local

electric rate. Translated, it means that the 60 wattbulb being on 16 hours a day for a center open

365 days a year divided by 1,000 equals350 kilowatt hours multiplied by arate of 16 cents costs $56.06 peryear for just one bulb. Multiply

that across your wholebusiness and you begin to

understand. Additionally, theLED bulbs are 100%

recyclable.

22 IBI July 2012

OPERATIONS

helping you.”It comes as no surprise that his community gave Perper an Energy Champion award.

They also cited other local businesses including a waterless car washing company. That only fueled his passion more. To further community awareness, Playdrome

hosted an “In Your Power” Day, with the mayor coming out. People who signed anIn Your Power Pledge that day were given a $10 bowling card. Then Perper went tofellow proprietors with his ideas.

“I’m the self appointed green guru for the BPAA,” Perper said. “I have done somepresentations about sustainability and energy consumption for the PennsylvaniaBowling Proprietors and MUBIG (Multi Unit Bowling Information Group).” While Perpercould easily go on an energy tour of his own and address more national groups suchas the national BPAA during International Bowl Expo, he has difficulty finding the timeto spread the word outside his geographic area. Between his bowling centers andelectrical distributorship he nearly works 24/7 now.

Perper has proof that his changes work. “Our energy consumption (at PlaydromeCherry Hill) has decreased more than 14 percent over the last three years, and myelectric bill alone was down more than $7,000 from three years ago.” And that is onlyone part of his sustainability program.

Perper dispels energy myths such as, “It costs more money to turn lights on andoff than to leave them on.” He explains, simply, “When it’s on, it’s costing youmoney and when it’s off, it’s not costing you money. It’s as simple as that.”

He encourages proprietors as well as any other business owners to walkaround their buildings and figure out which things are costing the most moneyand to make changes.

Perper’s larger objective is to keep from filling up landfills. Even when he disposesof something such as a tube television, he tries to sell it or give it away. He wouldrather see things reused than to put them into a dumpster.

Sustainable Cherry Hill Township has a 2020 model for its long-range plan. Perpercan’t wait that long. “What you do today is going to make a difference tomorrow.”But he also believes in taking one step at a time. “The pioneers who crossed this greatcountry had a goal in mind, but had to take one step to get there. You don’t get to

the top of the stairs by jumping all theway to the top.”

Perper says that bowling as anindustry has always recycled, going backto when he was 13 years old and workingin his father’s centers. When othercenters closed, there was always a salefor used bowling lanes and otherequipment. The industry was simplyahead of its time.

As the father of three and proprietorof three bowling centers, Perper remainsmore passionate than ever about hissustainability program. And, to use morecontemporary buzzwords, perhaps he’llbe able to “go global” with his missionand help sustain the planet. ❖

Joan Taylor is a multi-awardwinning bowling writer based inEast Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

A customer participates in the shoe recycling effort.

Clothing and shoe collection bins set in the parking lot of thecenter rounds out the recycling effort at Playdrome.

Examples of the abundant use of lights and energy, and theopportunity to save, at Perper's center.

24 IBI July 2012

COVER STORY

e can capture a lot of kids at a young age and getthem in junior programs. Once they hit 18 or 19 theygo away to school and get involved in their work

activities, relationships,” Kevin Heaney remarked. He was not lamenting the attrition problem in bowling.

Heaney is executive director of the Southern California GolfAssociation (SCGA), which oversees amateur golfing in the area,and he was talking about his own industry.

When the movers and shakers in golf looked around attheir world at the turn into last year, they saw more troublesreminiscent of long-term trends in bowling.

Tom Addis, CEO and E.D. of the Southern California Sectionof The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), fondly recalls

the late 1990s. “There [were] 100 courses being built a year—more. There was a call for a while that we could build a golfcourse a day and wouldn’t meet the demand. Last year, I thinkit was a net minus-eight [courses]. More golf courses, lastthree years, have closed than have opened.”

Number of golfers nationally began a steady decline in2005 that left the ranks 13% thinner by 2010 (see sidebarpage 00); 26 million Americans played golf in 2010, but onemillion left the game the same year. That number skiddedanother 8% in 2011 from the year before. Total rounds playedhad dropped 5% (2010 from 2005). That was on top of a longtrend in which players in the 25-40 age range disappear.

“We have seen attrition in SCGA,” Heaney says, ticking off

WBy Fred Groh

“

25IBI July 2012

COVER STORY

reasons: “the time it takes to play, the cost,change in lifestyles, the difficulty of the game.

“The game has to figure out how to breaksome of the previous mindset and make it moreinviting, more flexible, keep people engaged inthe game, not only the current group but [to]capture that next generation,” he continues.

���

The industry’s response, ignited by The PGAof America, which provides instruction and runsmost of the daily business of golf—unprecedented in PGA’s 96 years—is an initiativecalled Golf 2.0. No mere mindset, series of whitepapers, a rallying point or hope for the future, it’sa multi-million-dollar commitment, a new,permanent department at PGA, and a full-timestaff at headquarters and in the field that willnumber 24 in this, the initiative’s first year.

It’s the industry strategy through year 2020,Addis says. Echoing the rhetoric of pre-International Bowling Campus days when somewere proposing a proprietors’ alternative toUSBC, Addis adds, “We’re behind the counter atthe golf courses. Why shouldn’t we say we needto be at the head of this thing to bring golfers in?”But he stresses the “industry” in “industryinitiative.”

PGA is its hub, yet it’s not a PGA project,explains Darrell Crall, the man who was broughtin to run it. Crall, 44, was E.D. of the NorthernTexas Section of the PGA for 15 years, where he

grew the section’s assets 15-fold, created and managed fundraisers thatgenerated $5 million for junior golfers and kids’ charities, and developed aPGA Tour ambassador program, among other accomplishments.

Crall puts Golf 2.0 participants into four frames:• PGA of America professionals—27,000 men and women who fill roles

as teacher, promoter and operator at the nation’s 10,000+ golf facilities;• Organized specialist groups. The majors include the PGA Tour (250

players); Ladies Professional Golfers Association (1,400 teachingprofessionals and 460 Tour players); United States Golf Association(governing body and organizer of the U.S. Open, 700,000); ClubManagers Association of America (6,000 managers of golf, athletic andother membership clubs); Golf Course Superintendents Association ofAmerica (19,000 managers of fairways and greens in 72 countries); andAmerican Society of Golf Course Architects (180);

• Owners of golf facilities (National Golf Course Owners Association,5,300 members); and

• Industry manufacturers.Not that golf woes reached a critical mass in 2010, galvanizing everybody

into doing something about it. “You can’t characterize it in that manner,”Addis explains, “because we’ve all been working diligently to grow the game.Our [PGA] strategic plan hadn’t been updated since ’01, a 10-year plan atthat point.”

But time to update the plan coincided with new cognizance of declinein key industry metrics for five years, and that quickly turned into an industry-wide “conversation with all the key constituencies,” Crall says—industrygroups plus those who play golf, lapsed golfers, and those who have nevergolfed. In February 2010, The Boston Consulting Group, an advisor onbusiness strategy and worldwide consulting firm, was retained to moderatethat conversation.

Buy-in for the initiative across so many organized specialties was “deeperthan informal [contacts],” says Addis. “Boots-on-the-ground networking” was

26 IBI July 2012

COVER STORY

needed, and industry shows played a big role in supplying it.The superintendents and the owners direct the Golf IndustryShow (the managers are a past-partner). PGA operates one ofthe largest trade shows in the world, where attendance runsaround 40,000. “Opportunity for unification,” Addis understates.

Crall believes the industry spread is nothing but positive forGolf 2.0 prospects. All segments are covered, he states, andlooking ahead to the possibility of having to modify the initiativeas it moves along, change can be targeted to appropriatespecialists. “If everybody thought the same, it would be a lotmore complicated to make change.”

He is confident that Golf 2.0 won’t be arriving at stop signs,then turning right or left. “Key stakeholders will be engagedon a regular basis with updates and opportunities to directwhere we’re going. This is going to be constant evolution. Ifwe have bumps in the road, we’ll evaluate and make changesas an industry.”

���

That’s not wishful thinking. Close ties between the PGA Tourand the PGA of America—very unlike the relation between PBAand the rest of bowling—show the long drives Golf 2.0 cansmack toward its objective.

The division of labor between the two golf groups is muchthe same as in bowling between PBA and proprietors. The Tourshowcases how much fun the game is, says Crall. “There’stremendous positive synergy for promotion of the game. TheTour is a very visible, highly-regarded entity and that’s activatedat the facilities where 27,000 [PGA professionals] work.”

But there are also relationships “built on decades” thatdraw the two organizations together personally. Ditto in business.

“For instance,” Crall offers, “PGA Tour players are alsomembers of PGA of America. Many PGA professionals gottheir start as junior golfers under the tutelage of a PGAprofessional. So there is a very strong linkage between the twoorganizations in a personal way.

“In a business context, a strong relationship [is] beingenhanced. For instance we’re working with the PGA Tour tohave women-centered events at their Tour events. The HondaClassic down the road [Palm Bach Gardens, FL] is an example.They are having women’s events during the event and thenhave activation following at local facilities to engageprofessional women, in this case, [in] conversation to expressthe fun, family-friendly, fitness virtues of the game forthemselves or fellow employees, for their family and friends.The Tour has been using some of our branded programs likeGet Golf Ready [a package of lessons and game acclimationfor newbies]. We are just at the first or second rung of whatwe think is a long ladder of how we can work with anorganization like the PGA Tour.”

“An observation off the top,” Addis ventures. “We have thePGA of America, golf pros that basically run the golf facilities

THE INDUSTRY’S PROBLEMTwenty years generally stable or up-trending in the number of

total rounds played (18 holes) have been succeeded by steadydecline since 2006. Number of golfers has dropped continuouslysince 2005 (played at least one round in the calendar year). Source:National Golf Foundation and Golf Datatech.

THE RESPONSELaunched officially at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando,

Jan. 23-26, Golf 2.0 is an industry-wide initiative running through2020 that was 15 months in preparation. By the numbers, it’s 3(strategies), 9 (targeted consumer groups), and 12 (specificinitiatives).

STRATEGIES / SPECIFIC INITIATIVES� Retain and strengthen the core / Know and nurture

current customers.� Engage lapsed golfers / Recognize women’s influence;

target 90 million former golfers; engage entire family;target seniors; engage electronic media.

� Drive new players / Reach the 84% of Americanhouseholds who are non-golfing; engage minorities;accommodate brand-new players.All strategies include two initiatives: Highlighting the value of

golf; education/training for service dispensers.Targeted Consumer Groups Identified market segments comprise regular golfers with income

$150,000+; occasional women, no kids; occasional men, no kids;lapsed women, no kids; lapsed men, no kids; lapsed retired men;lapsed dads and moms; kids (players and non-players); Hispanics.

AT A GLANCE: GOLF 2.0

30 IBI July 2012

COVER STORY

and do the golf instruction. Then there’s the PGA Tour,which I would liken to the PBA. [Similarly,] the LPGAhas their competitive division, the LPGA Tour, andtheir club professional division. The PBA doesn’thave that. You don’t have PBA who run the bowlingalleys.”

���

As the senior director for Golf 2.0, it will fall to Crallto monitor the initiative’s progress. Metrics and third-party measurement of results are going to be“critically important,” he says. “We are spendingreal dollars and we’re engaged with the industry.All these stakeholders have a lot to gain [if Golf 2.0is] successful and a lot to lose if it’s not.”

Baselines will include number of golfers, numberof rounds and economic impact, among othervariables to be measured by the National GolfFoundation.

“Then we have nine target markets where we arefocusing specific marketing and program initiatives.Some are pilot, some are evolutionary programs.Our nine markets are driven by the number of lapsedgolfers there—highly dense, latent-demand markets[that the National Golf Foundation is] helping usidentify by facility, where there’s the most latentdemand. We are going to go there first and help assesprograms and services and be of service to thatowner and that PGA professional to help themactivate on programs.”

Lapsed golfers are “a staggering opportunity”for the industry, as it learned from Boston ConsultingGroup, according to Crall, “There [are] 90 millionAmericans that at some time have played golf.Seventy percent said they would be interested inplaying again. We’re deploying [full-time] regionalmanagers for player development in those spaces.We’re going to see what lift we have in those marketscompared to other markets where we don’t havespecific personnel, to gauge what the shift is, thenwe’ll adjust accordingly.”

���

Golf has one inherent problem bowling does not.The game.

“Golf has always been very traditional in dress,particularly at the private club level,” Heaney reflects.”It’s usually 18 holes and at a minimum, that’s fourhours. If you get into practice and maybe have a mealand it’s on a weekend and slower, that could be a 6-to 8-hour experience.

“Certainly golf can be a little intimidating when youfirst take up the game. Most people don’t start the

“Year over year, we’re probably fairly static. In our business right now,if you can stay level, you’re doing a good job,” remarks Kevin Heaney, E.D.of the Southern California Golf Association, where annual membership losssince 2006 has stayed under 5%. Keeping level means retaining SCGA’s165,000 player members.

Member Advantage, introduced at SCGA last year, came out of surveysto find out what golfers want from the association. The top two answers: accessto golf courses, and a more affordable game. SCGA members show their cardsat facilities participating in Member Advantage and receive a perk chosenby the facility. In exchange, SCGA promotes the facility on its website, in itsbi-monthly magazine and on flyers it distributes. Perks have included a freeround of golf on the member’s birthday, $10 off the green fee or a free bucketof balls.

“We were not looking to discount golf, and that’sreally important,” says Emily von Doehren. “We heardfrom a lot of owners and operators that they don’t wantto get into the world of discounting tee times becausethat’s a downward spiral; it’s hard to control.” Beforemoving to the U.S. Golf Association, the governing bodyfor the game, Von Doehren was in charge of retentionprograms for SCGA. Sixty of the 450 clubs in SCGAterritory have signed on with Member Advantage.

Answering members’ desire to play at exclusive clubs, Member Outings,rolled out about five years ago, are private events at premiere courses orspecial golfing packages. Von Doehren describes the outings as formal eventswithout a tournament atmosphere.

“No official scoring, no intimidating rules official or big scoreboard withyour score posted in front of everybody. If a person wants to bring anotherclub member or a group of four people from the same club, or a husbandand wife, any pairing request that somebody might have is honored.

“It’s a delicate balance. We didn’t want to scare people away by sayingit’s a tournament, because it’s not, but there is the SCGA presence there.It’s organized, it’s a formal event but a casual atmosphere. SCGA has a staffperson there, a check-in table, usually a little tee gift. Many of them areshotgun [events], so everybody starts at the same time and comes back atthe same time.”

SCGA also works through its program for Club Delegates, who act as“eyes and ears of the SCGA” at golf facilities. Von Doehren says SCGA hopesdelegates are connected to the club directors, sitting on the board orregularly attending meetings, but the club makes the pick. SCGA suppliesa binder of information and a special website for delegates and conveneswith them regularly. In return, delegates are treated to a day of golf andluncheon or dinner with their club president.

“If there is an SCGA-related issue at the club, that delegate is a way towiggle into the club if need be. It provides the club members and clubleadership an outlet for feedback. It’s also a good group to bounce ideasoff of. If SCGA is looking to do a new program or new tournament, it’s agreat sounding board where it can quickly survey.”

The program has been in swing since 1993.

STAYING ON (AND IN) THE GREEN:THE RETENTION PROBLEM

Emily von Doehren

game and take lessons, which they should. Sometimesthey just tag along with friends.”

Haney reports a survey in which respondents told whythey weren’t playing more golf. The most popular answers:“too expensive,” “takes too much time,” “it’s a hard gameand I find it frustrating.”

In particular, the market of young people always criticalto the future of a leisure industry is shying away. “Kidshave told us, ‘We don’t have time,’” Crall reports. “’Thiswhole dress code, rules of golf—it’s a lot to handle. I’m goingto pass. I’m going to go bowling or play a video game.’”

Bowling is ahead here, in Addis’s view, especially with theyoungest set. “It seems like bowling is doing more tocapture generation Y [teens] and younger by doing [glow].In my experience, that has captured [them].”

But in customers, golf also has an advantage overbowling—so far. In their early and mid-40s, lapsed golfersoften come back. More money or time to spend, andmaybe they’ve dropped other sports, Heaney speculates.

“That’s been the case, [but] where we have concerns is:are lifestyles changing with the Gen Y group—even morewith the Gen X group [in their 20s]—[so] they may not findgolf interesting when they hit [their 40s]?

“We have to make the game more user-friendly—certainlyhow it fits into lifestyles,” Heaney says.

That is a matter of both product and perception. Bowlingmay be ahead when it comes to the way people see thegame—lower cost, super-friendly—but we have a way to goas well, as Tom Addis’s perception attests. His granddaughterloves to bowl. His office bowls and has a great time. Still—

“Why doesn’t bowling have somebody in there doinginstruction? People are on their own. If there was someone,on an independent-contractor basis or whatever, thatpeople could go in and at least talk with—that’s what we’ve[golf] found. The comfort aspect. Where do I check in?What do I do with my golf clubs?

“That’s a big deal to people, and people feel intimidatedwhen they go somewhere if they don’t know what to do.In a movie house the ticket booth is right in front. The lastfew years [many golf courses have] lost the greeter becauseof the economy. That’s hurt us. You have to devise ways totrain people or take it upon yourself to go out in the parkinglot and say, ‘Hi, how you doing?’

“When I walk into a bowling center and I’m greeted byyou, ‘Welcome to Morongo, what do you need?’—that’sgoing to help. I see that missing in bowling.” ❖

32 IBI July 2012

COVER STORY

On Jan. 1, the Southern California Golf Association, overseer ofamateur golf in that area of the state, merged with the Public LinksGolf Association of Southern California, also headquartered in L.A.In the process, SCGA wound up with an in-house advocacy voice.

Craig Kessler, a lawyer in commercialpractice before joining the golf world, was E.D.for Public Links for its last 11 years. Theassociation was forced to develop advocacyskills because its municipal golf club memberswere wholly dependent on the public sector, hesays. Kessler was the man to develop them.Though not a registered lobbyist, he hadengaged in what he calls “tangential lobbying”while at his legal firm.

SCGA retains a lobbyist firm in Sacramento, the state capital, tostay abreast on developments there. Occasionally, SCGA uses thefirm to add language to a bill, but its role “is fairly limited,” saysKessler, who heads SCGA’s new government affairs department.

“Some organizations over-rely on [capitol lobbying]. They thinkthat because they’ve retained that, they have a consistent presence.What you have is Sacramento having an understanding that you haveretained a lobbyist and that you’re a player in that game.”

For Kessler, the day’s work is to maintain a presence in city councilsand mayors’ offices and regulatory bodies in the L.A. area. With golfan outdoors game that uses large quantities of water and chemicals,“there’s a huge environmental component.” He divides his time aboutequally between water providers and municipal governments, whichmay control as few as a single golf course; Los Angeles County has 19.

“The computer makes it possible to track the activities, the agendasof all kinds of government bodies. I serve on some bodies that I lobbiedinto existence, golf commissions and golf advisory bodies; often getinvited to serve on them. I keep a regular dialogue with golf managers,certain city council committees. It’s issue-based as well, often with chiefexecutive offices or chief administrative offices on an ad hoc basis.”

The biggest feather in his cap so far: an encounter with the LosAngeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) when it made movestoward a “very Draconian” conservation ordinance “that would havepretty much put 35 golf courses out of business. They could have wateredonly two days a week and not between 9 [a.m.] and 4.”

“Constructive engagement” with the city council and DWP securedamendments to the ordinance that allowed “alternative compliancemechanisms” for golf courses, a “regular dialogue” with the agency,and a task force.

“The way we got that was indicating to them that we’re preparedto sit down and work with them so they can do their jobs as well orbetter than they know how to. Thus the phrase ‘constructiveengagement.’”

HOLE IN ONE: DOINGYOUR OWN ADVOCACY

Craig Kessler, SCGA

Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and formermanaging editor of the magazine.

34 IBI July 2012

arcy Skowronski had no idea when she married herhusband that 56 years later she would be running theMilwaukee business his parents

started; a business which maintains theoldest certified bowling lanes in theUnited States. You’ll find nothing modernin this small tavern, Holler House, as it hascome to be called. Marcy’s establishmenthouses a bar made entirely of solid wood.Her only two bowling lanes are situatedin the basement of her business. “We gotthe original alleys,” Marcy said. “We got wood alleys; wedon’t have the plastic alleys.” Marcy’s two lanes still require

live pinsetters. After the pins are collected, “they put thepins into a machine and pull a chord and the machine comes

down and sets the pins.” “My in-laws built it in 1908…and the lanes

were certified in 1910,” Marcy said. As thebowling season begins, Tom Mettille, LaneInspector for the Greater Milwaukee USBCBA,and his partner Ralph, make their annual tripto the Holler House to certify the lanes. Tomsaid the Holler House is his favorite stop onthe bowling circuit. “It’s our favorite stop

because it’s interesting hearing all her stories,” Tom said. “Wealways look forward to the day when we’re going to the Holler

MBy Bree Gutierrez

HOLLER HOUSEOver 100, this historic Milwaukee tavern has the oldest certified lanes in the U.S.

PROFILE

35IBI July 2012

PROFILE

House because we know Marcy’s gonna have another story forus, something about the history of bowling and the history ofthe Holler House. She’s always telling us something.”

Tom explains that even though the Holler House has someunique qualities, certifying the lanes isn’t all that different froma modern day bowling center. “As a whole we take the samemeasurements and we crawl underthe pin decks the same. It’s just alittle tighter quarters…It’s just theuniqueness of it. I mean, they stillhave to pass all the regularqualifications. And they do that.”

Since the Holler House useswood beams for their lanes,opposed to a synthetic material, itposes its own challenges becauseof the wood’s tendency to contract,expand and shift. “With the oldwood and some of the older decks, they tend to shift a littlebit over the bowling season…because it’s down in thebasement…they’ve had problems with the lanes, tilt and all that.But as a whole…they’ve always had it fixed in a timely manner,”Tom said.

Marcy has never been tempted to modernize her bowling

lanes. “Oh for heaven sake no!” Marcy exclaimed. “It’s sounusual that they’re so old. Why would we want to change it?Years ago we thought of putting machines in but we don’t havethe depth to do that, we don’t have the room so we just let themlet be and we’re glad we did it.” By choosing not to upgradeany of her equipment, Marcy has been able to maintain the

historical integrity of her entirebusiness. “It’s more of a historicalthing now,” she said. “Nothing’schanged. We still have the same oldpictures on the wall. Why modernize?We’ve got tours coming in!”

With such historic equipment topreserve, it’s inevitable themachinery will need to be repairedand maintained. “It’s hard to getparts because they don’t makethose machines anymore,” Marcy

explains. “Some of the guys in here are machinists so they getgoing on it. We scrounge around for old parts. This one manmakes parts for us.” In the last few weeks, Marcy had toreplace her approaches due to sinking. All the beams neededto be replaced by specialists, not just any carpenter can do that,Marcy explained.

“”

We focus on the

alleys and the people

that raise hell in here.

36 IBI July 2012

PROFILE

When it comes to the everyday care of the lanes, “the boystake care of that. They oil the alleys every time they (need to),”Marcy said. “We basically just wash them by hand, before theyear, in the middle of the year and at the end of theyear,” Marcy’s son-in-law, Todd Stuckert explained.“We just use the regular detergent that we get fromthe bowling (company) that supplies us our detergentsand stuff like that. After that we pretty much oil andwipe…we hand wipe them with a lane duster. And afterthat, they’re pretty much good to go all year.”

Todd has worked at the Holler House for 35 years,helping to run and maintain the lanes. “As far as themachines are concerned, we just pretty much keep aneye on everything,” Todd said. “(We put) oil regularlyon the lanes and as the machines go, we check them duringthe course of the year…the pin boys are back there, theypretty much know if something is off kilter, you can pretty muchsee…We pretty much know what’s going on. There are only twoalleys, so it’s not that hard.”

Not only has Marcy’s business stayed the same for the last100 years, the customers seem to be the same too. “We still havethe same clientele. The thing is, the people passed away or theymoved away, but we still have the offspring coming in. Even ifthey move away, they still visit me.” Marcy recalls, “It was like

a neighborhood crowd. And of course, half of them died, andhalf of them moved out. We’ve had people that bowl here from15, 20 miles away. I guess they like it here, we have a lot of fun.”

As her business gets older, Marcy is faced with newchallenges. “There aren’t that many people wanting to bowlanymore,” she said. “They want to bowl but they don’t wantto be committed to every week. We’ve solved it this year. Wejust asked around to people that wanted to bowl.” Marcyseems to keep it simple. She admits the Holler House doesn’thave the same attractions as other local bars or hang outs. “Wedon’t have a pool table and we don’t have the gamblingmachines,” she explained. “The bar is fun.”

Marcy’s no nonsense, straightforward approach to running

“”

We got the Tiffany lamps in

here and we have the original

mirror and the bar is all wood.

38 IBI July 2012

PROFILE

her business holds true to her customer service too. “We don’t treat them just ascustomers, we treat them as family,” she said. “They like each other, they like thepeople that come in here and they like the way we treat them.”

It’s no surprise that 85-year-old Marcy enjoys her work. “I like it, you know. Thething is, I could’ve retired but…what else am I gonna do? The people that come inhere are like extended family. They’re nice people so I like being in business.”

Even for 100 years old, the building still maintains characteristics of how life waswhen the Holler House opened. “It’s a great big building,” Marcy said. “We have thebar and the bowling alley is downstairs and then I have an apartment in the back whereI live. Then there are two big apartments upstairs.” As for the décor inside, there’snothing new there either. “We got the tiffany lamps in here and we have the originalmirror and the bar is all wood.” Marcy even has an original poster hanging on thewall featuring Babe Ruth, from 1915.

Just as the different generations frequent the Holler House, the Skowronski’s keepthe staff a family affair too. “I got grandchildren, I got a son in law that takes care ofeverything and my daughters tend bar,” Marcy explains. Nobody works for her thatisn’t a member of her family. “I’ve been here 56 years. It’s always been in the family.We’ve got five generations (working here). I’ve got a great grandson, that’s the 5thgeneration…I’ll open up, but when we get busy, the kids will take over. It’s a nice placefor parties because there’s only two alleys, and they have a ball down there.”

Marcy admits it’s almost no contest to try and compete with modern daybowling centers. “We couldn’t compete with them because bowling alleys now,they got 20, 30 alleys. They got to really fill their alleys to make some money.” ButMarcy knows her angle. She knows how to keep her business going. “We focus on

the alleys and the people that raise hellin here,” she said. “There’s nobodywith pinsetters.”

Ambience is everything and it keepsthe customers coming in, new and old.No matter who you are, there’s no wayto escape the traditions of the HollerHouse. “The first time you come in here,the girls have to take their bra off andsign it and hang it up. Then we have tubsof old clothes and when people haveenough to drink, they dress up. We havefun in here,” Marcy said. “We havesignatures on the wall from all over thecountry. They come from all over.”

Even the name Holler House wascoined by the place’s atmosphere. “Oneday a man came in here and he said‘would you like to get drunk with me?’and I said ‘why not.’ His wife was inCalifornia,” Marcy recalled. When shereturned to town, the man brought hiswife to the fun, local hang out. “Whenshe got back, someone was playing thepiano, the jukebox was going and therewas a political convention, (so) everyonewas arguing politics. The following weekhe said ‘where would you like to go fora couple cocktails before I take you outto dinner?’ and she says ‘take me tothat Holler House!’ and everyone keptcalling it the Holler House. So I said tomy husband, ‘Why don’t we just nameit the Holler House?’ That had to beabout 30, 35 years ago.”

In 2008, the Holler House celebratedits centennial. “When we had ourhundred, we closed off the street and wehad a polka band out there and food anddrinks, and we just raised hell,” Marcysaid. “We had a lot of fun. Everybodyjoined in. I got a plaque from the city andfrom the bowling association, it was justgood times.” ❖

Bree Gutierrez, holding aBachelor of Arts Degree inJournalism, is a freelance writerand preschool teacher residingin Southern California with herhusband and son.

40 IBI July 2012

CENTER STAGE

We have acrushA boutique bowling experience

at the Meritage Hotel in Napa

�

41IBI July 2012

CENTER STAGE

hen a get-away is in order, Napa, CA, has always been highly touted.Tucked away among the lush vineyards of northern California,travelers come from all over. Located in this setting is the MeritageResort and Spa, frequented by the BPAA for top level meetings. Itis a prized, luxury resort featuring Tuscan-inspired guestrooms,

seasonal farm-to-table cuisine and a lavish underground spa with steam grottos andsoaking pools.

How does this lovely destination fit into the world of bowling? Quite nicely!With the completion of a 19-month, $40 million expansion, the new Crush Ultra

Lounge, a premiere location for cocktails and sports entertainment, offers 6 lanes ofbowling installed by US Bowling. This product uses the Vollmer String Machine, a ten-pin, string machine using full-sized pins and balls. The system is made in Germany andvery popular in Europe. According to Brent Dyer of US Bowling, this system is the waveof the future. It runs quieter with less maintenance and fewer moving parts; it’s anexcellent option for a lounge setting.

We are pleased to be able to take you on a virtual tour. Getting reservationsis up to you. ❖

hen a get-away is in order, Napa, CA, has always been highly touted.Tucked away among the lush vineyards of northern California,travelers come from all over. Located in this setting is the MeritageResort and Spa, frequented by the BPAA for top level meetings. Itis a prized, luxury resort featuring Tuscan-inspired guestrooms,

seasonal farm-to-table cuisine and a lavish underground spa with steam grottos andsoaking pools.

How does this lovely destination fit into the world of bowling? Quite nicely!With the completion of a 19-month, $40 million expansion, the new Crush Ultra

Lounge, a premiere location for cocktails and sports entertainment, offers 6 lanes ofbowling installed by US Bowling. This product uses the Vollmer String Machine, a ten-pin, string machine using full-sized pins and balls. The system is made in Germany andvery popular in Europe. According to Brent Dyer of US Bowling, this system is the waveof the future. It runs quieter with less maintenance and fewer moving parts; it’s anexcellent option for a lounge setting.

We are pleased to be able to take you on a virtual tour. Getting reservationsis up to you. ❖

W

42 IBI July 2012

CENTER STAGE

All the masking unit graphics were designedby US Bowling’s graphic designer MikeConejo and put in place by US Bowling

installers.

The lighting , sound system, LEDs and furniture were all part of the US Bowling design.

44 IBI July 2012

SHOWCASE

COMING THIS FALLTheBowlerzEdge.com is wherebowlers & proprietors can postcustom classified ads for every-thing bowling. Bowlers can post unwanted equipment such asballs, bags, and shoes. Proprietors can post employmentopportunities, league openings, tournaments, equipment andmuch more. For more information contact Trish or RyanSubers at Info@thebowlerzedge.com. For updates Like us atwww.Facebook.com/thebowlerzedge.

BAR SOLUTIONFor over 20 years, Azbar Plus hasbeen at work in R&D to provide barand restaurant owners the ultimatesolution for the control andmanagement of the items they sell.Azbar manufactures and puts on themarket various systems and services for drinks and foodssales, control and management. Those systems and servicesare designed to help operate your bar more efficiently byspecializing in liquor controls and draft beer systems. Contact1-800-267-3672 or visit www.azbarplus.com.

EMAIL LEAGUE HELPAs league season gets closer, QubicaAMFunderstands your busy schedule and centerneeds. In response, they created the LeagueHotline. You can now email questions aboutsetting up leagues in BLS in Conqueror Pro and you'll get aresponse within 48 hours. The best part—it's FREE! Simplysend an email with your name, center name, contact numberand question to LeagueHotline@qubicaamf.us!

ONLINE BOOKINGSPartywirks is the fast, easy &secure choice for your center’sbirthday parties, events, classes and busy nights that areimportant to your bottom line. Online booking, sales,customer service and promotions all in one easy to useproduct! With a rapidly growing base of happy customers,Partywirks has proven that this is an online service that clientswant and that business owners need. For more informationplease email sales@partywirks.com or call toll-free877-345-4012.

TRAININGWEBINARSBrunswick Vector PlusOnline Webinars offers the most advanced and extensiveseries of training programs available in the industry today,training thousands of mechanics, lane technicians, and propri-etors. Brunswick provides real-life training and instruction inevery aspect of bowling center operation, including lane andpinsetter maintenance and center network systems. For acomplete list of Vector Plus online webinars, go tohttp://www.brunswickbowling.com/service-support/product-training-calendar/category/vector-plus-webinar-series/.

ARCADE UPGRADEIntercard Inc. began providing elec-tronic card systems in 1979 and hasgrown to become a market leader instored value cards for the casino andamusement industry and other appli-cations. Millions of cards, thousands of readers and hundredsof systems later, Intercard Inc., continues to provide the bestsystems available to clients all over the world.Visit www.intercardinc.com or call (314) 275-8066 to learnmore.

QUALITY KICKBACKSYou’ve made your lanes look and feelbetter, but what about the impactarea? You know how important thekickback area is to higher scores. Ifyou’ve ever gone through the frus-tration of trying to repair the kickbacks with the old genera-tion of patching materials, you know it just doesn’t last. RJMComposites can put the final touch on your lanes and helpget them back to “like new” condition. Call 517-566-3200 orvisit www.rjmcomposities.com to learn more.

LOSSES INTOPROFITSAlcohol Controls has earned anunblemished reputation for providing the bar industry withquality, cost-effective, loss prevention products for over 20years. These affordable tools help management reducebeverage costs and increase revenues. Without effectivecontrols, bartenders over pour liquor, give away free drinksand keep cash collected without registering the sale. Protectyour liquid assets! Visit www.AlcoholControls.com and call800-285-2337 if you have questions.

45IBI July 2012

DATEBOOK

JULY20-22Independent BowlingOrganization ShowBavarian Inn Lodge,Frankenmuth, MIScott Bennett, 248-408-0200Scott@bowl-mail.com

30 – 8/1Striking SixtiesBowling Centers Association ofMichigan Soaring Eagle Casinoand Resort, Mt. Pleasant, MI Ken Prokopec, 800-833-2695

OCTOBER4BCA of Ohio Executive Board MeetingEmbassy Suites, Columbus2700 Corporate Exchange Dr.Pat Marazzi, 937-433-8363

14-17East Coast Bowling CentersConventionRevel (www.revelresorts.com)Atlantic City, NJFor info: www.eastcoastbowl.com800-343-1329 ext. 8451

15-19Brunswick European PinsetterTraining SessionsGS Series & Vector ScoringHungary. For info email:Siggi.Hill@brunbowl.comwww.brunswick.com

28-30West Coast Bowling ConventionRed Rock Casino, Resort & SpaLas VegasSandi Thompson, NorCal Bowling925-485-1855

29 – NOV 9A-2 Pinsetter Maintenance School

QC Family Entertainment CenterMoline, ILFor info call Frank Miroballi540-325-7684 or email Frankm1441@aol.com

NOVEMBER14-15BCA of Ohio Fall Seminar &MeetingEmbassy Suites, Columbus2700 Corporate Exchange Dr.Pat Marazzi, 937-433-8363

24 – Dec 248th QubicaAMF BowlingWorld CupSky Bowling CentreWroclaw, the City of Bridges,PolandAnne-Marie Board,amboard@qubicaamf.com

IBI

IBI

IBI Official magazine ofthe convention

46 IBI July 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details(248) 375-2751.

NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment.Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.

47IBI July 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

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Danny & Daryl TuckerDanny & Daryl TuckerTucker Bowling Equipment Co. Bowling Parts, Inc.609 N.E. 3rd St. P.O. Box 801Tulia, Texas 79088 Tulia, Texas 79088Call (806) 995-4018 Call (806) 995-3635Fax (806) 995-4767 Email - daryl@tuckerbowling.com

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AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC boardrepair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fastturnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service

5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695)

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48 IBI July 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

EQUIPMENT WANTED

17” Magic Score tabletop monitors.(419) 668-9933.

FRAMEWORX SCORING PARTS: Priced toSELL. Sold by the lane or individual parts.Quantity discounts. Contact Bill Rossman @Parkway Bowl (619) 448-4111 or email:bill-r@nd-inc.com.

FOR SALE: 10 lanes brand new DBA IQ, foulline forward; 24 lanes AMF Excel automaticscoring–great condition & affordable. 24Brunswick Anvil overlay panels, foul line thrupindeck, or full-lane with approach – canseparate for smaller centers. Pinsetter Repair& Maintenance, parts & accessories.Complete installs, ground-up & remodels.www.tenpinartisans.com or (970) 946-9933 or Knotrite@gmail.com.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

32+ lanes Brunswick AS-80 scoring.Complete package +extra parts.Excellent condition. Will sell by lane orindividual parts. Make offer. BillHenderson @ Clearview Lanes (717)653-1818.

CENTER FOR SALE

TEXAS, LUBBOCK: 32-lane center closeto university. A-2s, AMF scoring, syntheticlanes. Includes bar, grill, arcade &additional income producing RE. Strongadult/youth leagues, college classes &open-play traffic. Seller motivated. Contact:bowlingcntr4sale@aol.com.

16-lane center in Southern Coloradomountains. Great condition. 18,000s/f building w/ restaurant & lounge.Paved parking 100 + vehicles.Established leagues & tournaments.$950,000 or make offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155.

CENTERS FOR SALE

UPSTATE NEW YORK: 8-lane center/commercial building built in 1992.Synthetic lanes, new automatic scoring,kitchen and room to expand! Reduced tosell @ $375,000. Call (315) 376-3611.

CENTRAL WISCONSIN: 12 lanes, autoscoring, Anvilane synthetics, 82-70s. Greatfood sales. Yearly tournament. Attached,large 3 bedroom apartment w/ fireplace.$550K. (715) 223-8230.

NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s,Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game &pool rooms. See pics andinfo @ www.visitcolby.com or contactCharles (785) 443-3477.

49IBI July 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940

on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: mike@bowlingscorer.com

AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • FrameworxSERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL

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MINIATURE GOLF COURSESIndoor/Outdoor. ImmediateInstallation. $5,900.00 & up.

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�New Center Construction �Family Entertainment Centers�Residential Bowling Lanes�Modernization�Mini Bowling Lanes�Automatic Scoring

Toll Free: (866) 961-7633Office: (734) 469-4293

Email: build@capitalbowlingservice.comwww.CapitalBowlingService.com

CONTACT BRIAN ESTES

50 IBI July 2012

CENTERS FOR SALE

SOUTHWEST KANSAS: well-maintained8-lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant.Includes business and real estate. Nice,smaller community. Owner retiring.$212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828.

NEW YORK STATE: Thousand Islandregion. 8-lane Brunswick center w/ cosmicbowling, auto scoring. Established leagues+ many improvements. $309,000. Call Jill@ Lori Gervera Real Estate (315) 771-9302.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One ofthe top five places to move! Remodeled32-lane center. Good numbers. $3.1mgets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828)253-0362.

GEORGIA: busy 32-lane center, realestate included. Great location in one offastest growing counties in metro Atlanta.5 years new with all the amenities.Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751.

CENTRAL IDAHO: 8-lane center andrestaurant in central Idaho mountains.Small town. Only center within 60-mileradius. Brunswick A-2 machines;Anvilane lane beds; automatic scoring.(208) 879-4448.

CLASSIFIEDS

51IBI July 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

CENTERS FOR SALE

NE NEVADA: New 2001. 16 lanes, 19,200square feet, 1.68 acres paved, sound &lighting, lounge w/ gaming, arcade, fullservice snack bar & pro shop. Call (775)934-1539.

EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-laneBrunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thruliquor store in small college town. Also, 3apartment buildings with 40 units, goodrental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701)430-1490.

NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor &Bowling. Established 8 lanes between Mpls& Duluth w/ large bar, dining room,banquet area. Two large Stateemployment facilities nearby. High sixfigure gross. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089.www.majesticpine.com.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TOSELL!! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, fullservice restaurant, pro shop. Plus pooltables, karaoke machine & DJ system.Asking $125,000.00 with RE. (217) 351-5152 or toms-uvl@sbcglobal.net.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN

52 IBI July 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring BallRepair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-255-6436 or Jayhawkbowling.com.

See a list that will help centers fill lanes w/1200+New Bowlers, Birthday Parties &Corporate Outings that generate $15,800—a 600% ROI from 4 payments starting at$378. Visit mcprs.bmamkt.com or call (888)243-0685.

BOSS Scoring packages & componentrepair. (712) 253-8730.

AMF 5850 & 6525 Chassis: 5850 chassisowners—we can now help. Exchange yourtired or damaged chassis for an upgraded,rewired, cleaned, painted & ready-to-runchassis. Fast turnaround. Total satisfactionguaranteed with prices owner friendly.References available. We make sick chassisbetter! CHASSIS DOCTORS (330) 314-8951.

(818) 789-2695SELL YOUR CENTER

CENTERS FOR SALE

CENTRAL MINNESOTA: 8-lane Brunswickcenter, 18,000 s/f, with restaurant, gameroom & banquet facility for 400. Turnkeyoperation. $235,000. Averaging $250,000+last 5 years. Call Dave or Cindy @ (320) 843-4040; cell (320) 808-6521.

MINNESOTA: 8-lane Brunswick center w/liquor license. Good condition. Greatopportunity. $99,000. Call Ray, XtremeTrophy Properties, (218) 790-1468.

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN: medium/largecenter in excellent physical condition. Strongrevenue. Due to unique situation, priced atonly $469,000. Perfect turnkey opportunity.Email: bowlingcentersales@gmail.com orContact (248) 252-1427.

(818) 789-2695SELL YOUR CENTER

53IBI July 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

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Former center owner with 15 years all aroundexperience as GM, league promoter, A-levelBrunswick mechanic, scoring system installerand lane technician. Well suited for manypositions. Call Mitch at (808) 443-3868.

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Don't miss your chance to grow withan Industry Leader! Looking forExperienced, Service-OrientedGeneral Managers for our U.S.bowling retail center locations.Please check us out atwww.brunswickcareers.apply2jobs.com for more details on our currentopenings. Act Now! Apply Today!

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IBI July 2012

REMEMBER WHEN

oday’s hip and cool havenothing on the 70s. Coolthen was really “cool.”

Clothes were simply an option nomatter the venue. No fashionbranding here.

National Lampoon, theground breaking humor magazinewhich started in 1970 and lasteduntil 1998, usually alwaysincluded “Foto Funnies,” adultcomics featuring nudity. Alwayspushing the boundaries of whatwas considered appropriate,the July 1977 issue featured apoetic photo essay ofAmerican man in variousmoments of recreation andcontemplation—fishing,barbecuing, following stockson a ticker tape at home,washing a beloved KarmannGhia and, of course,BOWLING! And all aunaturel. One mustappreciate the bowler’ssense of decorum—awatch on his wrist andblack socks on his feet.His form isn’t bad either—bowling form that is. Itlooks like he’s headed fora strike. Ahh the goodol’ days. ❖

54

T

1977