The tenpinexpress.com. At the Open Championships 2021.
117th Open Championship Comes To An End At Southpoint Bowling Center in Las Vegas, NV.
After Hosting Its Third OC, For The Last 79 Days. Normality Will Return To The SN Event Site.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association.
Pictured L to R Are: Michael 'Chip' Begg, Southpoint Assistant Mgr, Alejandro Lemos; Southpoint Assistant Mgr, Angie Bonifazi Dobson;
And Director of Bowling Mike Monyak. On June 17, At Southpoint.
Las Vegas, NV. - - - OK, so the morning of Monday July 19, has finally arrived. And if you had heard a big sigh of relief on this day resonating from Southern Nevada. The bowling center at SouthPoint Hotel and Casino to be exact. Chances are, it was coming from Director of Bowling Mike Monyak.
Monyak had every reason to let this joyous sigh of relief go on this particular morning. That's because for the last 79 days, his bowling center played host to the 2021 Open Championships. The 117th edition. The tournament started on May 1, 2021 and ended on July 18, 2021. If you have never been to SouthPoint, you need to put it on your bucket list and visit the resort. The resort has two bowling centers. One that is 64 lanes, (The South Point Bowling Center), that is used for singles and doubles events. And one which has 60 lanes (The South Point Bowling Plaza), that is used for the team event. When the bowling center does not host the Open Championships, it functions as a normal bowling center. Complimented with leagues, tournaments, and open play.
To staff a tournament of this magnitude, it takes 48 employees to work the event from beginning to end. Overtime is usually available, and staff are expected to pick it up and work it, when offered. Staff is also expected to work a six-day work week as well, and vacations are put on hold until the end of the event.
"My staff and I will take a few days off, because we all deserve it," said Mike, on how he will unwind after the Open Championship. "We won't have that much time to appreciate the time off. In two to three weeks, the August Military Classic will roll into Southpoint. At the same time, I am also concentrating on our business plan for 2021-22."
Southpoint Bowling Center first opened in December of 2005. And its sister, the Southpoint Bowling Plaza in December 2013.
Because of a virus called Covid-19, the game of bowling got shut down nationwide around March 7, 2020. As did: the NHL, NBA, and MLB. Until the CDC could come up with a vaccination plan to combat the virus. Enter Operation 'War Speed'. Pfizer was one of those drug makers who were able to produce a vaccine and begin to get it into millions of arms in the United States.
Mike and his staff could remember what it was like coming to work during the shutdown.
"The owner of the property did what he could to keep us on staff. There were only four of us left in the building," recalled Mike, of what it was like being in an empty bowling center. "In my 50 years in the bowling business, I heard noises that I never heard before. It was like being in a science fiction movie. The only other time Vegas shut down was when JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Vegas shut down at Midnight. It was creepy, surreal, and erry."
As the CDC began to come up with a plan to attack Covid-19, it also began to allow states to reopen their economy during the mid-summer and fall of 2020. Among the safety precautions for bowlers to follow, was to wash their hands regularly. And wear a mask when being around a large group of people.
At the OC this year, the USBC required bowlers to wear masks while they are in the bowlers' circle. However, they are not required to wear masks while walking around the concourse area. Bowlers are under the watchful eye of lane monitors, as well as security officers from gaming control.
"90 percent of the bowlers agree to wear a mask. 10 percent will give you a hard time," said Mike, on how his staff has had to deal with the masks mandate at the OC this year. "Gaming control is always watching us. Out of respect for other bowlers bowling in the OC, all players will eventually wear masks. When the CDC lifted the masks mandate earlier this year, it was like 1,000 pounds was lifted off of our shoulders."
When it came time for him to write a business plan for reopening. It was something he never had to do before.
"Writing a reopening plan was a whole different thing, once we got the permission from gaming to reopen," said Mike, of the reopening of Southpoint. "It was different having people around after the opening, due to being closed as long as we were because of Covid-19. After the shutdown was lifted, people would drive from other states such as California, to get practice time in. One half of our open play came from out of state."
Mike feels good about where Southpoint will be business wise, once the 2021-22 season gets underway.
"I feel very good about bowling making a comeback during the 2021-22 season," he says, of where bowling will be at his center this upcoming season. "It will come back strong, if not stronger. We have 1,900 of 2,100 bowlers committed to bowling in leagues this upcoming season."
This is the third OC that Mike has led the efforts at Southpoint. The first OC was held there in 2017, and the second one in 2019. And of course, the third in 2021. Mike is an accomplished bowler as well. He was elected into the Southern Nevada USBC HOF in 2005 for Superior Performance.
"I have never been big on drawing attention to myself, but it was a nice honor being inducted into the SN HOF in 2005," he said, of his Bowling Superiority induction. "I'm here just doing my job, because that is what I do best."
National Bowling News - July 19, 2021.