Pictured Is: What Golden Pin Lanes Looks Like Today.
Editors Note: It is no secrect that the University of Arizona and Arizona State University have intense rivalries when it comes to collegiate sports. To some extent, bowlers in Southern Arizona and in the Valley, may have a rivalry going on in bowling as well. The State Of Arizona and the rest of the United States suffered a down-turn in bowling during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, and the Omicron Variant of 2021. Bowlers are resilient individuals and when the all clear signal is given, bowlers will return to support their sport. One individual in Southern Arizona, Mark Kerr, President of the Tucson Metro USBC, is working hard to make sure that the numbers in bowling continue to get back to the levels where they were during the pre Covid-19 era.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association
Tucson, AZ. - - - Hear Yee!
Hear Yee!
And wait for it.....
Hear Yee!
During the medieval time period of the 1300s,Town Criers were used to deliver news to the citizens of their respective towns and boroughs in England. They were the equivalent of today's social media outlets such as Facebook.
Tucson Metro USBC President Mark Kerr, does not consider himself a Town Crier. But he should.
"A Bowling Town Crier could be a good description," he said, if he ever considered himself a Town Crier "for my efforts to inform the Tucson and Southern Arizona bowling community." Your Tucson Metro USBC Board are Bowling Town Criers, through articles and awards presentations, as well as getting the word out about honor scores being bowled in real time. Bowlers want to know what is going on with tournaments, leagues, honor scores and the happenings at the bowling centers with the future of bowling, our youth through to the young at heart bowlers."
Indeed, if it is a bowling event that happens in Tucson and Southern Arizona, he is on top of it. Within minutes bowlers will be able to find out what happened via their association's Facebook page.
"Social media as well as bowling websites, are paramount to rebuilding and growing our sport of bowling. During tournaments and league, bowlers have come up to me to express their appreciation to get the information, news and pictures in real time," he said, of how social media has played a role in Tucson Metros development. "As I said earlier, tournament participation is up over 2020 on average by 30% and more people are following Tucson Metro USBC on Facebook and utilizing our website. Bowlers also appreciate the news and effort being made for them with the increased numbers of followers, views and responses."
He ran for the board president's post for the first time three years ago, but lost in a tight race. However, that was not going to deter him from not giving up either and pressing on.
"I ran the first time in 2019, against the incumbent and lost by just one vote," he said, of his first attempt. "I was very determined to continue on because there was so much more that could be done for the bowlers. With the new members on your Tucson Metro USBC Board, it has been a great experience. Everyone brings their ideas and suggestions for the tournaments, publicity, events and otherwise we all discuss them as a Board. Tucson Metro USBC Board does not have an Executive Committee or Officer’s Committee, instead we are a Committee of the Whole. Setting up sub committees to deal with issues at hand to bring back to the entire Board to discuss and consider. We act as one, there is no “I” in Team."
Tucson Metro may not be the same size as Metro Phoenix, but the size of an association really does not matter. It's the bowlers who sit on its board of directors that make the difference.
Besides being its new President, Donna Hicks also became its new Vice-President. Steve Harris is the Association Manager. Board Members Are: Kari Snyder, Terry Snyder, Stuart Duncan, Stacey Pollard, Lino Nava, Belinda Hiscox, Lyn Peterson, Heather Brown, and Taylor Clark.
"It was initially referred to as “Your new Tucson Metro USBC Board,” because it was ostensibly a new board. Of the 15 people who were on the Board previously, 12 left, through resignation or leaving office or the Board. Your new Tucson Metro USBC Board had to begin its work on August 1, 2021, the first day taking office. With that the many other challenges, your Tucson Metro USBC Board is succeeding," said Mark, of what direction Tucscon Metro is now heading in. "The tournaments for this year, are in all the Houses in Tucson, not just one location. A good working relationship with the management and staff at the bowling centers has been developed and growing. Turnout and participation are up over 2020. Plus, the positive feedback received by the bowlers has been tremendous so far and we hope to keep that up through our efforts."
Bowling in Tucson is supported through these bowling centers. They are: Bowlero Camino Seco, (32); Davis-Monthan, (20); Lucky Strike, (32); Cactus, (32); Fiesta, (40); and Tucson Bowl, (24). Tucson Metro also boast a list of Hall Of Famers who made the fraternity via bowling superiority. The partial list includes: Beverly Ortner, (1984); John Cook, (1991), Paul Colwell, (1997); Pete Tountas, (1999); Scott Washburn, (2012); and Dale Pollard, (2022). Tucson Metro is also home to 2021 Player of The Year Bryanna Cote. She has two PWBA titles: the 2016 Lexington Open, and the 2021 PWBA/ITRC Classic. She tied the highest series by a women with an 879 series at Golden Pin Lanes in 2014.
Bowling in Tucson and Southern Arizona also suffered a major loss in 2019, when Golden Pin Lanes closed for good. Golden Pin Lanes, once located on West Miracle Mile, was the staple of the bowling community since it first opened in the fall of 1959. Don Allen then bought the bowling center in 1974. In 1976, Mr. Allen then expanded the bowling center from 32 to 48 lanes. The bowling centers last day of operation was June 20, 2019. The bowling center was sold to Pima County, If anyone has driven past the old bowling center site recently. The sign was the only thing remaining as a testament to what was once there. As bowlers we hope the county will leave the sign in place as a 'good will' gesture.
"Very sad, since it has been a long time between the sale and what Pima County is doing to the building now," said Mark, on what it was like to be in the center during its final day of operation. "Golden Pin Lanes meant so much to Tucson. Not just for bowling, but for our entire community. A piece of the Old Pueblo died that day."
During its heyday, Golden Pin Lanes hosted major events such as the 1979 and 1995 Queens tournament. It also hosted PBA and State tournaments as well as PWBA tour stops. The Arizona State USBC had two Open Championships there in 2018-19. As a matter of fact, the PWBA Tucson Open, was the last major tournament that was held there. The tournament took place on June 6-7-8, 2019. The tournament was won by Shannon O' Keefe. HOF Kelly Kulick rolled the last 300 game in the bowling center, during the cashiers round on Saturday afternoon June 8. And Liz Kuhlkin, the last 299 game during the televised finals on Bowl. Com.
In the 21/22 season, Tucson Metro has had fifty-five 300 games and fifteen 800 series. Bryan Van Sickle – 238, and Kalyn Arthurs – 214, had the respective high averages in 20/21. On June 9, 2021 in the Dynamic Duos League at Lucky Strike Bowl, Matt Heichel rolled 298, 300, 290 for a Tucson record 888 series. Matt’s series was rolled on two different pairs. He shot 298, 300 and then moved to another pair and shot 290. Matt also had an 803 (279, 245, 279) the previous week (June 2nd).
"It was awesome shooting 299. I would have done nothing to shoot another 12th shot. I made a great shot, and they didn't all go down," said Liz, on rolling the last 299 game at Golden Pin. And being part of Tucson bowling history. "It was an expensive 9-pin. But it was so exhilarating having the crowd into it. Especially it being the last event in that bowling center.".
While everyone in the Tucson bowling community was still getting over the shock of Golden Pin Lanes actually closing for good. Other bowling centers stepped up to turn an awkward situation, into a positive one. After Golden Pin Lanes closed, the bowling community also had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020.
"Jill (Theiss) worked with her managers at Vantage Centers, to help leagues and bowlers from Golden Pin Lanes. To be able to continue bowling during that time," said Mark, of the difficult transition period. Vantage Centers include: Cactus Bowl, Fiesta Lanes, Lucky Strike, and Tucson Bowl. The PWBA Tour was supposed to return to Tucson in 2020, to start the new season at Lucky Strike. But it, and the 2020 tour schedule was cancelled because of Covid-19. "Right now, we must get through this health pandemic, hold tournaments and bowling events and work to get our sport back to wear it was. And grow it further and show the economic viability. Bowling has gone through many changes, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and our bowling family must work to build and to show its strength in numbers."
There had been talk of a new bowling center being built to replace Golden Pin Lanes.
"There has been talk and a Round One had been built, plus the numbers of people bowling through a birthday party, event, fundraisers, families going out to bowl and young people and college students show that the “word of bowling’s death is greatly unfounded,” said Mark. "Right now, we must get through this health pandemic, hold tournaments and bowling events and work to get out sport back to wear it was and grow it further and show the economic viability. Bowling has gone through many changes, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and our bowling family must work to build and to show its strength in numbers."
Mark believes the area can support a new center to replace Golden Pin Lanes. He also has a vision of where he wants Tucson Metro to be in the next five years, and what it will take to get there.
"As the “First Among Equals” on your Tucson Metro USBC Board, to bring in more sponsorships of the tournaments and community involvement with our bowling events. In addition, working with other bowling organizations to increase the awareness and grow the sport of bowling," he said, on where he wants Tucson Metro to be the next five years. "The goal for this first year of your Tucson Metro USBC Board was to conduct the tournaments, do outreach, publicize and be there for the bowlers. Tournament participation is up over the 2020-21 season. My goal is to also have a Queens Tournament on Tucson Metro USBC’s Schedule and potential other events to offer to the bowlers."
Mark is really good on the lanes himself. According to Bowl. Com, his highest average in recent years came during the 2015-16 season. When he averaged 197 for 87 games in the Stark Glass League at Cactus. He has been a member of the Tucson Metro Association since the 2000-01 season.
"One of my most memorable moments in bowling happened this season at the Senior Open Championships," he said, of one of his biggest moments in bowling. "I had to be a substitute bowler on a doubles team, bowling with Rene Villa and we won the Doubles Championship with a score of 1618. It is my first title ever."
Outside of bowling, he is the Chief of Staff for Tucson Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres. With his work and responsibilities, bowling provides an outlet for him. And he works to find balance, on and off the lanes.
Arizona Bowling News - February 28, 2022.