Pictured Above Is: Lanes 45 And 46 At Golden Pin In Tucson, AZ.
2017-18 Season Will Always Hold A Special Place In My Return To Bowling.
Lanes 45 and 46 At Golden Pin In Tucson, Will Also Hold Special Memory Of My Career.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Tucson - - - As my first year back into bowling officially came to an end on May 26-27, 2018, with my participation in my very first Arizona State Open. At Golden Pin Lanes in Tucson, Arizona. I could not have been happier how the season went from start to finish.
It all started on September 1, 2017 when I began to make plans to bowl in the Bob Brown Classic League at Brunswick Zone Mesa. Having not bowled for over 27 years, there were three things that I was concerned with right from the get go. One, how would my right-hand hold up for 25 weeks of league play. Two, would I remember how to do the basics. My timing when walking up to the foul-line, and releasing the ball properly once I got there. And three, trying not to embarass myself in the process.
I started the season experimenting with a six pound ball, too. This experiment was to see if my arthritic conditions in my right-hand, would prevent me from holding onto the ball. Needless to say, it didn't, as it cracked after two weeks of using it in practice and in league.
By having this ball crack on me, it ended up being a blessing, and that is when Greg Thompson came into the picture and helped me get back into the game full swing. I ended up getting a 10 pound Columbia 300 White Dot as the replacement ball for the one that cracked. My middle and ring fingers on my right-hand are really shot due to my arthritic condition. But, Greg, the store manager at Virtue Bowling Supply at Brunswick Zone Mesa.Took the time to figure out my arthritic condition and when the ball was finally drilled, it ended up fitting like a glove. And at the end of October, I ended up adding a 10 pound 900 Global Boost to complete my equipment choices for my first year back. Again, I took the ball to Greg for him to drill it. And again, the ball after the drilling process, ended up fitting like a glove.
One thing I had found out after not bowling for 27 years until this past season, was the game of bowling has changed a lot. I often wonder how some of these guys that average between 230 and 250 today on synthetic lanes, would do bowling on wood when I was growing up. Back when I was growing up bowling on wood was a different animal and you had to earn everything you got. When I tell some of these kids about how lanes were oiled back in the 50s and 60s, their reaction is always priceless. A bug spraying device and a lane applicator were the tools primarily used to condition lanes. As a kid I did not have the luxury of having a $30,000 lane machine conditioning lanes, like how lanes are done today. I am still old fashioned and still believe bowling on wood lanes was the truer average. Asking these guys how they think they would average bowling on wood as compared to bowling on synthetic, is a story idea down the road.
As the year progressed in the Bob Brown Classic League at BZM, a 185 ended up being my high game for the year. I know that a 185 is not a big deal to the rest of you, but to me it was an accomplishment. I never rolled a 200 game or broke a 500 series during the course of the season. Every time I started out with a good game, I always found myself looking up at the monitor and always found myself thinking of rolling a 200 before I actually got there. I have gotten a lot better at this. And now my mindset is, just do it and don't think about it. During my practice sessions this summer, I have also been able to get the ball out over the foul-line a lot better, too. This summer I am also working on picking up spares as well. Corner pins still give me trouble. Especially the 10 pin. But, I have been able to break 500 twice this summer during my Wednesday afternoon practice sessions. And rolled a high game of 222 at one point also.
I would also like to give thanks to Mesa Metro HOFs: Don Caron, Joe Hart, and Johnny Wing Sr. Because of their accomplishments in bowling they always brought out the best in me when we bowled each other during the course of the league. By the end of the league on March 30, I was able to raise my average from 102 to 142. Also a big thanks to my Wednesday afternoon practice buddies: Ron, Nathan, and Gary for pushing me in the right direction in bowling. I'm sure all six of them will tell you they have seen a big improvement in my game from 9-1-17 until now.
As someone who is involved in bowling 100 percent, as a Director for the Mesa Metro Bowling Association. And someone who is a bowling writer. It was important for me to be out bowling with the membership this past season. Or, at least give it a try. In the eight years that I have been a journalist, which is my second career, I have met and done a lot of great stories on people who are part of our great sport of bowling. There were a couple of times during the last eight years, when I have had a phone slammed in my left ear drum, when I asked to do a story on a bowling center. And there was a time when I was asked to leave a high school bowling tournament. It was sad that these folks didn't want to have the stories told. They were just hurting themselves and those who participated. I bet there will be a time when they will ask me to do something again. My response to them will be a 'polite no'. Since I have been in Arizona, the positives have out weighed the two negatives. Thanks, to the amazing Arizona bowling community for your continued support. I can't begin to tell you how great it is to walk into a bowling center in the Valley and be noticed by bowlers. I really appreciate it. During my first career, I worked in customer service for 18 years.
My first year back into bowling also saw me participate in two major tournaments as well. The Mesa Metro Open, and the Arizona State Open. I should not have been nervous bowling in either of these for the first time neither, as I have worked both of them the last three years. In the Mesa Metro Open, I ended up finishing seventh in all-events and earned a small check for my efforts. My high series of 490 for this season was also rolled in the singles event on lanes 15 and 16 at Brunswick Mesa. Again it was important for me to participate this year and be visible with the membership.
Bowling in my very first Arizona State Open this year at Golden Pin Lanes in Tucson, will be a memorable experience for me as well. Knowing that it maybe my first and only time bowling there, as the Pima County Commissioners voted to purchase the bowling center prior to the start of the Open (see attached letter below). The center has had a lot of memorable moments during its long history serving the bowlers in the area. It has hosted PBA and PWBA tour stops. And Bryanna Cote broke a state scoring record and tied a national one there in 2014.
Lanes 45 and 46 at Golden Pin Lanes in particular, will always hold a special place in my return to bowling, too. That is because that is where my doubles partner, Scott Washburn, and I rolled a 1,473 in the Division B handicap doubles event on May 26-27. It was a lot of fun bowling with this Tucson Metro HOF. After the 2 pm squad on May 27, we had led the division up until the last weekend and the last D+S squad. It was also a lot of fun setting the target score for the rest of the bowlers in the state to tie or pass. If there was anyone who could tie us or pass us, it was Scott's daughter Kalyn and son Alex. They gave it the old college try as they rolled a 1,399 and are unofficially tied for eighth. Scott and I are unofficially in second. I also had a lot of fun bowling in the team event with his: wife, Melinda; sister-in-law, Iris; and his brother, Steve. I was known as a Ichabod for a day, and will be a new member of Scott's score book. Scott keeps scores of his family members progress at major tournaments. It was nice to also be noticed by bowlers at the Open as well. I can't begin to tell you how many people came up to me and asked me to do a score correction. Even though I was not working this event, but bowling in it. And just like the Las Vegas Golden Nights of the NHL, it would have been too good to be true if our score would have held up through the last weekend of the event. It would have been nice if it did. A pair from Phoenix shot a 1,498 on the last D+S squad of the Open to over take the top spot. But, this is the incentive I need to get better moving forward in 2018-19. It will begin on July 1, when I buy a Brunswick/AMF practice card. The Golden Knights lost to the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Finals 4 games to 1 to end a remarkable expansion season. #Stay strong Vegas your day will come to win a Stanley Cup title.
There is also another reason why I am glad I am part of the great sport of bowling. Bowlers tend to help each other out when they are in need of a favor. Thanks to Johnny Wing Sr., for the ride down to Tucson. And Gary Roff of the AZ State Board for the ride back. I was more than happy to contribute towards the cost of fuel. Also a big thanks to my doubles partner for getting me from the lanes to the hotel and back during the weekend.
I have also had a few glimpses of brilliance during my first year back, too. In the AZ State Open, my high game was 179, and I picked up the 4-10 split on lanes 5 and 6. At the end of the Bob Brown Classic League on March 30, my team the tenpinexpress.com, ended up in first-place at the end of it. Thanks to my teammates: Mike, Chuck, and Murray, for a great year. I am looking forward to doing it again in 2018-19. The last year I bowled was during the 1989-90 season in the Lew Gordon HVAC League at Galaxy Lanes in Ft. Myers, Fl. Ironically my team, also named the tenpinexpress.com, had also won the second half of the league that season. Whatever happened to my teammates of: Bruce, Dave, Angelo, and Chuck. With three lefties we always had the left side of our pair of lanes in our favor. In 1989 I ended up with a book average of 189. I had also had a couple glimpses of brilliance here, too. Having picked up these splits: 3-6-7, 6-7, and 3-10.
Finally, I would not have ever gotten into the game of bowling and enjoyed the success I have had in the sport. If it were not for my Uncles Andy and Bob Jadlocki for introducing me to the game at an early age. My first experience of seeing a bowling center outside of Pittsburgh. Was at Grand Island Bowl or Lanes in North Tonowonda, NY. I also miss the all night bowling parties my uncles, cousins, and I had at Great Valley Lanes in North Versailes, Pa. These were on the weekends growing up when my mother hosted family gatherings. And for the Palangio family, proprietors of the Swissvale Bowl-A-Rama in Pittsburgh, Pa. For giving me a work study job during my senior year of High School at Swissvale Area. I will never forget the great customer service skills they taught me, and have retained after graduating from high school.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Desert Bowler and Herb Grassi, for allowing me to get my name circulated through out Arizona. I have met and done stories on a lot of great people since I arrived in the Valley. Thank You for allowing me to tell your story. There are still a lot of great stories out there, and if I have not gotten to you yet, I will. I can't wait to see what the future will hold for my journalism career.
Keep the ball rolling everyone!
Personal Opinion Editorial June 18, 2018
Dear Golden Pin bowlers and community,
In 1974, I purchased Golden Pin Lanes. As an avid bowler myself, I enjoyed watching others experience the pure joy that comes from competing and interacting with friends. We even added another 16 lanes in 1978 due to the immense popularity of our business. We have always prided ourselves on offering competitive pricing to our leagues, hosting state championships, professional tournaments, and our active involvement in the community and j...unior bowling.
Fast forward to today, and it’s a different time in my life. I’ve dedicated 40+ years of my life to investing and overseeing the operations of Golden Pin Lanes. It’s time for me to explore the next chapter of my life, and that has necessitated the sale of the building. I truly have enjoyed owning Golden Pin Lanes and I hope that our wonderful and loyal customers and dedicated employees understand a decision like this is extremely difficult, and there’s no perfect execution.
The sale of the building has invited many rumors. Local competitors will try to use this sale to their gain. Newspapers will use incorrect and misleading information to stir up controversy. And many without the intimate details of the deal will spread incorrect information. I’d like to clarify some important details so that the truth is out there. First of all, this sale was solely my decision and isn’t a forced sale due to a poor financial performance. Second of all, despite the sale occurring shortly, the transfer will not be immediate. Golden Pin Lanes will be leasing back the bowl from the County for a period of one year following the closing of the transaction. This means Golden Pin Lanes WILL be in business until at least June of 2019. And, it will be business as usual. We will continue to service our dedicated and valued league and open bowlers. The entire bowl including the lanes and snack bar will be open and we will continue to employ our wonderful employees. The yearlong period allows for a smoother transition for our customers and employees to allow for alternate arrangements to be made.
I truly have enjoyed my time owning Golden Pin Lanes. It has been my absolute pleasure to be a part of the Tucson bowling community. Thank you to all who have made this such a blessed journey.
Owner
Don Allan