Pictured Above, Is Lynn Arthur Of Phoenix
Lynn Arthur, Of Phoenix, Has Found His Niche In Bowling By Competing In SFT Weekend Events.
The Current SFT Senior Player Of The Year, Has Won Six Tourneys Since March Of 2012.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association
Phoenix - - - At our jobs, we have to adapt to change on a daily basis. Sometimes changes that we have to adapt to are good for us in the long run. While at other times we question why things can't be left alone at work period This also holds true in the game of bowling, and tournament bowling in general. Sometimes changes in a tournament bowling format can be a blessing as well.
It was the weekend of March 23-25 2012, and the Strike Force Tour/Arizona Handicap Tour Central Division was reborn at AMF Tempe Village Lanes in Tempe.
Like the 60 or so bowlers who entered this event under the new brand, Lynn Arthur of Phoenix, was skeptical on how this new bowling club would transform and take off. His skepticism turned into praise by the end of that day, as he conquered the field and won the initial event. The first of what would be six titles since 2012.
"I was a little bit skeptical of the new brand, because the eight previous years I bowled in the old strike force tour you never knew what you were getting paid at the end of each tournament," said Lynn. "Craig (Spencer, current franchise holder) has what the pay outs will be on paper for you to see.
"Since 2012, we have been paid what were supposed to get," he added. "Craig continues to post the results on paper and on the website, so its no mystery at the end of each tournament as to what we are supposed to get paid."
The SFT/AHT visits different bowling centers in the east and west valley throughout the year on weekends. It is broken down into three divisions. A Division: 190 and Above; B Division:189-176; C Division: 175 and Below. Craig and the bowlers who supported his tournament, learned from what worked and didn't work in 2012 and made adjustments heading into 2013.
"Being named the 2012 Player of the Year, was the most meaningful accomplishment to me in the game of bowling thus far," said Lynn, a mainline fiber optics tech for Cox Communications. A job he has held the past 33 years. "I have always had a very high confidence level in myself when it comes to the game of bowling. The ability to being able to compete against the higher average bowlers, has never been an issue with me."
Bowlers who bowl in a SFT/AHT event for the first time, have three entry options in which to choose from. An Economy Parlay, $25; Qualifying Entry, $50; and Qualifying Entry and Progressive Pot Entry, $75. First place guaranteed is $1,000 with 65 qualifying entries, and $600 with 35 qualifying entries.
"Even though we all compete against each other," said Lynn, of the other bowlers. "We have become one big family, and root for each other to do well at tournaments."
With its fifth anniversary coming up soon. Franchise holder Craig Spencer, is happy where things are at the SFT, and can't believe it has been that long already since he has owned the Central Arizona Division.
"Absolutely," he says, on being happy where he wants to be with the SFT in just five years. "I just wanted a place where bowlers could come and improve and meet others with the same interests and passions as them. The goal was never a certain level of entries."
Since the SFT is a tournament bowlers club, it costs perspective members $30 a year to join. Among some of the perks of being a member are: having a shot at winning the Senior and Regular Bowler of the Year award; having an end of the year event in Laughlin, Nevada; and having an end of the year awards banquet.
"Well, because the club had taken many years off from a membership based approach, we had zero members in 2012," explained Craig, of starting a new bowling club from scratch. "And five years later, we currently have hundreds of AZ bowlers who bowl the events at least once a year. Membership fee is $30. It has benefits and things that come with it and last 365 days."
Another thing the bowlers can look forward to while bowling in the SFT/AHT events, is bowling on different lane conditions. Lynn's second SFT/AHT title came on April 29, 2012 at Glenfair Lanes in Glendale. His third at Mesa East Bowl on April 28, 2013. His fourth, on July 14, 2014 at Brunswick Zone Mesa. His fifth, on March 8, 2015 also at Brunswick Zone Mesa. And his sixth title at Brunswick Kyrene Lanes on July 3, 2016.
"Lynn is exactly the kind of guy that makes me happy to have put the events together," said Craig, of his current Senior Player of the Year. "They mean a great deal to him. His dedication and commitment to them, himself and winning are contagious during the events over the years. I have seen him make friends with so many other bowlers he wouldn't have, if it weren't for the events."
Some of the patterns that he has bowled on in tournament play are: the 41-foot USBC Open pattern; the 37-foot Sport pattern; and the 47-foot Scorpion pattern.
"My favorite oil patterns are the longer the better. I have a lot of lift on my ball, while my ball speed is slow," he said, of his favorite patterns to bowl on. "I am able to get the ball to the pocket better on harder patterns. For some reason, I just struggle on shorter patterns. I have never bowled on that many harder oil patterns before, until I started to bowl in SFT events. By bowling in SFT events, bowling on house shots in leagues have become much easier to me.
"I bowled on wood lanes in the 70s, and on wood lanes a few times in Arizona," he added. "I did not prefer to bowl on wood lanes. To me wood lanes were always too dry and hooked a lot."
But, then again, he says bowling on wood lanes was a good learning experience for him.
"I had to use less aggressive equipment on wood lanes," he admits. "There was a big difference on the kind of bowling balls that worked and did not work on wood lanes. I was not a big note keeper when it came to taking notes on a particular center that had wood lanes. But, I learned from the mistakes I did make on wood lanes and moved on."
In addition to winning the Player of the Year title on the SFT in 2012. Lynn has also been named back-to-back Senior Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. Player of the Year honors are given to those who earn points for every time that they win an SFT event, and every time they cash in an event. In 2013 the members seemed to know what they were doing in SFT/AHT events a lot better, as the entries increased from 60 to 80 entries per tournament. The 2014 season has been its best thus far, as tournaments averaged 120 bowlers per event.
"I have struggled a little bit the last couple of years due to some health issues. I used to average in the 190s in leagues," said Lynn, who does his league bowling at AMF Deer Valley, in the Arizona Draft League. And fills in as a sub at AMF Union Hills. "I have been able to build the stamina back up, and hope to average in the 190s again. I am also working on being more consistent with my scores. I was just happy to be able to be bowling again at the end of 2015."
Originally from Lake Placid, New York. Yes, that Lake Placid where the USA Men's Hockey team defeated the Russians in the 'Miracle on Ice' game. And the then went on to win the Gold Medal in the 1980 Olympics. Lynn started to bowl at the age 13. He had given up the sport for a while, but picked it up again at age 22.
"When I first started to bowl, I threw a back up ball. Bowling balls were not that aggressive on the lanes as they are now. Kerry Bond, a childhood friend of mine, taught me how to throw a regular hook. The game of bowling has been a learning process for me ever since," he said. "I have gone back to using a urethane burgundy Hammer. The bowling ball is a lot smoother for me to roll, has a great snap on the back end, and has a predictable finish to the pocket.
"Being at the 1980 winter Olympics was one of the most special times in my life," he added. "I was 19 years old, just out of high school, and had a blast. 30 years later, I saw a 'Miracle on Ice' replay. And when they showed the crowd, I was in the back round of the picture with a heavy winter coat."
He also throws a mean cast into the water when he goes fishing.
"Bowling and fishing are each a part of my work life balance and both give me stress relief. I was on a vacation in Jacksonville in 2011, and caught a 112 pound Cobia. It was a record weight for that fish. I used a spinning reel and it took me one-and-a-half hours to reel the fish in."
He also has a Arizona State Senior singles title. His 727 scratch series took first place for his age group, and it came in 2015.
Phoenix Bowling News - February 13, 2017