The Ten Pin Express. Com started out as the Athletic Times, a local sports monthly publication in Ft. Myers, Florida in September of 1986. After a successful year of covering amateur sports in Southwest Florida, sports that never made it to the area daily newspapers, the Athletic Times then became the Ten Pin Express in September 1987. The reason for the switch, was that bowling never got that much coverage in the local daily newspapers either. And it was Michael 'Chip' Begg's vision to give the sport the coverage it was due. At the time Chip had 13 bowling centers to cover, and he made sure each one of the houses got coverage in each addition. A practice he is carrying on now with The Ten Pin Express.com. After growing up in his home town of Swissvale, Pa., an eastern suburb 13 miles from Downtown Pittsburgh, he graduated from Swissvale Area High School in June 1976. And then moved to Florida with his parents, Peter R. and Elizabeth Begg in December of that year. Swissvale Area is also the same school that produced former Pirates and Duke basketball star Dick Groat. The Athletic Director while I was in school there, was Arnold Keopka. He is the grandfather of PGA star Brooks Keopka.
Chip also got his start in the bowling industry, by working for the Swissvale Bowl-A-Rama during the 1975-76 school year as part of a work study program. The Swissvale Bowl-A-Rama, is an eight lane center which is owned by the Palangio family. The center is still in operation on Noble Street. The center which also features AMF 82-30s, is also where Chip learned how to work on Pinsetters. And eventually earned him a degree on the AMF 82-70 pinsetters in Shelby, Ohio in August 1979. After graduating from Edison State College in Ft. Myers in April 1981, Chip then attended Florida Atlantic University from 1981-1983 and majored in communications. During his time at the Boca Raton campus, he was sports editor of the Atlantic Sun, FAU's student newspaper. He also was a bowling writer for the Palm Beach Post South Extra, and a high school sports reporter for the Miami Herald's Palm Beach edition. Among some of Chip's favorite stories he did were on: Al Oerter, (Olympic Champion); Nelson Burton Jr, (HOF Bowler); and Jack Lalanne, fitness king. He has also had stories published in Florida Golfweek, and Bowling (the old ABC monthly magazine). Never married, Chip, has an older sister Mary Beth. And an older brother Pete. And is an uncle to 13 nieces and nephews. He now resides in Mesa, Arizona, and is a Director with the Mesa Metro Association. His hobbies include bowling, and collecting sports memorabilia. His highest average was 189, and high game a 269.
Chip got back into bowling as a bowler during the 2017-18 season. In his first year back after a 27 year abscense. Chip posted a 142 average following the completion of the Bob Brown Classic League at Brunswick Zone Mesa in March 2018. This past year, he was able to raise his average to 150 following the completion of the season in the same leage. The Bob Brown Classic League, is a senior league that bowls on Friday mornings. It has a variety of bowlers at different skill levels in the league. And several Hall Of Famers bowl in the league as well.
Accomplishment wise, Chip's team, thetenpinexpress.com, won the league championship in the Bob Brown Classic League in 2017-18. In the Arizona State Open last year at Golden Pin Lanes in Tucson, Chip finished second in the Division B handicap doubles. His doubles partner was Tucson Metro Hall Of Famer Scott Washburn. This year at Bowlero Kyrene Lanes in Chandler, Chip won his first sanctioned title. The Mesa Metro Association Open Division C doubles title, with partner Murray May. He also rolled his first 200 game, and 500 series this past season in the Arizona State Open. A 213, and 516 series.
Outside of bowling, Chip has worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks the last three years, 2019-2022 as a guest services representative. And at Arizona State University as an athletics event attendant. After a long career in the rental car industry, he never thought he would have these two great jobs in his retirement years. But here he is. Things happen for a reason. He also has two USBC Open Championships appearances under his belt. Those coming in 2021 and 2022.
