Editors Note: Here is one for the bowling community. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the read. I don't often showcase myself, on my webpage. But I felt that I needed to this time. Go Dbacks! This is from the east valley independant news service.
Photo Courtesy Of Kelsey Grant/Arizona Diamondbacks.
Meet Your Neighbor
Mesa retiree Begg top performer at AZ Diamondbacks guest relations job
Michael “Chip” Begg of Mesa — one of the Arizona Diamondbacks employees who help visitors navigate the ballpark — was honored recently as the employee of the month in July for guest relations.
When he’s not working at Chase Field or at Arizona State University athletic events, the 67-year-old is busy writing for and updating a bowling website he started in 2011 or playing in two local bowling leagues.
Name: Michael “Chip” Begg
Age: 67
Occupation: Guest relations for Arizona Diamondbacks and ASU athletics
Hometown: Swissvale, Pennsylvania.
Family: Sister Mary Beth and brother Pete.
When and why did you start the website https://www.thetenpinexpress.com?: Started it in 2011 in Pittsburgh. August of 2011. Started the website because bowling does not get the kind of coverage it deserves. Felt I could make a difference in bowling by posting bowling stories on a regular basis.
How and why did you go from being majoring in communications to writing about bowling?: Was sports editor of the Atlantic Sun, Florida Atlantic Universities Student Publication, 1981-82. Worked at the Swissvale Bowl-A-Rama in Pittsburgh in 1975. It was my senior year of high school work study job. My passion for bowling grew from there. Went to AMF Pinsetter School in 1979 (AMF 82-70s). Gained more knowledge of bowling by working in bowling centers and being around the bowling community. Got my start in journalism by working for free at weekly newspapers in Ft. Myers, Florida — the Ft. Myers Beach Observer, 1978-81. Not only did I get valuable experience but got to eventually cover stories. Owe it all to Managing Editor Corky Voight, for giving me the opportunity.
You were a director with the Mesa Metropolitan USBC (U.S. Bowling Congress) Association, which has a website at https://bowlmesa.com. What does the group do?: No longer with Mesa Metro. I left at the end of June. They try and do the best job they can, to take care of the bowling community.
What leagues do you now or have you recently bowled in? Thursday Morning Mixed League at Bowlero Mesa, (Club 50 +). Bob Brown Classic League at Bowlero Mesa on Friday Morning.
Outside of bowling you work part-time for the Arizona Diamondbacks. What do you do there and what do you most enjoy about the job? Have worked in guest relations for 6.5 years. Enjoy taking care of our visitors and help them navigate the ballpark.
What is something many people don’t know about you? That I am a journalist, and they don’t know unless I tell them. They are surprised that I write as well as I do.
How are you involved in the local community? Very involved in the bowling community. Would not want it any other way. I also contribute to the Desert Bowler.
What drew you to your community? Retirement in 2014. Wanted to live somewhere where I haven’t lived before. And get out of the snow and ice.
What do you most cherish from your childhood? Growing up in Swissvale, Pennsylvania. A suburb of Pittsburgh. Eight miles east of downtown. My father was a police chief and my mom a nurse. Thankful for the work ethic they instilled in me. Everyone knew everyone in the community. The police officers knew all of the kids in town. No one got into trouble. Especially me. Back then every misunderstanding was settled with a handshake and not a gun.
What is your most quirky talent? Always looking forward to going to work.
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USBC Will Not Allow These Balls At The 2026 OC - Courtesy Of Bowl.Com.
Open Championships Bowlers:
This letter is a follow up to USBC’s announcement about new national tournament rules for slow oil-absorbing high-performance (urethane) bowling balls. We want to help clarify how it impacts the 2026 Open Championships.
If you do not plan to use urethane bowling balls, the new rule does not affect you.
For the 2026 Open Championships, the only urethane bowling balls allowed will be balls 78D in hardness that were produced after Aug. 1, 2022.
- The Purple Hammer and Storm Pitch Black are not allowed.
- Older urethane balls made before Aug. 1, 2022, are not allowed.
Click here for the list of recently produced balls that are ineligible for the 2026 Open Championships.
If you have questions about bowling ball rules or a specific ball you are considering bringing to the event, please contact our staff at usbcopenchampionships@bowl.com.
Our goal is to answer any questions before you arrive, but our squad room staff in Reno will also be there to help. We look forward to seeing you at the Championships in 2026!
Click here to read the full news release about USBC’s bowling ball governance announcement and for more details.
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USBC Open Extended One Week In 2026 - Courtesy Of Bowl.Com.
Aaron Smith
August 19, 2025
ARLINGTON, Texas – With more than 10,400 teams registered for the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in Reno, Nevada, the tournament staff has elected to open an additional week of squads in July.
The 122nd edition of the event now will run from March 14 to July 12 at the famed National Bowling Stadium. The tournament originally was scheduled to close July 5.
The 2026 USBC Open Championships is in position to post the tournament’s top team count in Reno since 2011 (12,837). The event was last held at the 78-lane venue in 2023 and featured 9,565 teams.
The new squads will open to all starting Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Captains on the waitlist for July prior to Aug. 19, 2025, will be moved or scheduled before the public opening Aug. 26.
The Open Championships is scheduled to make its 15th trip to Reno and 12th visit to the National Bowling Stadium in 2026.
Reno’s premier resort casinos – Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus – will serve as the presenting sponsors and hosting hotels in 2026, giving bowlers the chance to save on expenses through special rates and benefits through MyBowlingVacation.com.
Eldorado and Silver Legacy will feature rates starting at $60 per night, while Circus Circus will have rates starting at $49 per night (rates are subject to change based on the selected hotel nights).
Bowlers will be able to save on resort fees, too. With the extension of the 2026 Open Championships, the resort casinos will allow for additional time to take advantage of early booking (with no deposit required) and waive all resort fees. The offer will be extended to Sept. 30, 2025 (previously was scheduled to end Aug. 31, 2025).
Reservations made after the deadline will receive 50% off resort fees, but bowlers are encouraged to secure their preferred dates as soon as possible.
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SFT News - Courtesy Of SFT.
Union Hills - - - Congrats to Joshua Chandler for picking up his second SFT AHT title and his first major this weekend, August 30 - September 1, at Bowlero Union Hills for $1,390! Thanks to everyone who came out and supported this event! Also, the pattern (that was kept a mystery until Monday's casher's round) was the 41 ft Kegel Arsenic oil pattern. If you would like to see more info about this event click this link for the results page:
https://aht.strikeforcetour.com/.../bowlero-union-hills...
We are looking to add check-in staff to our team. If you are interested, you can apply here:
https://docs.google.com/.../10OYfzHB06PrtVY1QdgbQOVg.../edit
We are excited to see everyone back in two weeks at Bowlero Kyrene! Remember to pay online by Friday by 11:59 pm to pre-register for the tournament. See everyone there!!
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