San Francisco USBC Board Member

source: SFUSBC

On my way to Wednesday night league last summer, I was unloading my bowling equipment from my car when the current president of San Francisco's USBC approached me.

She told me my comments at a previous meeting open to league bowlers impressed her. She asked if I'd be interested in becoming a board member.

Surprised, honored and flattered I accepted. Due to a schedule conflict, I didn't become a board member right away. Meetings were taking place Wednesday nights, the same nights I bowl league.

This past November that changed. Meetings were moved to Sunday mornings. Perfect day and time as I'm already at the center for practice every week. Our most recent board meeting took place this morning.

In my capacity as a San Francisco USBC board member, some duties include:

• Lane inspection/certification
• Fund raisers 
• Local tournaments
• Management of sanctioned leagues at Classic (Daly City), Sea (Pacifica), Brentwood (South San Francisco), and Presidio (San Francisco).

As the 2018-19 season has officially started, I attended 3 league meetings last week (including my own) to introduce myself and briefly describe San Francisco USBC's role and upcoming events.

Being a board member requires time, dedication, and passion combined with a strong grasp of diplomacy. Not all that different than a full-time job. I find both roles very fulfilling and hope that I'll continue in both roles for a long time.

2016 - 2017 Bowling Stats - Season to Date

Monday night, Bel Mateo Bowl

Wednesday night, Classic Bowling Center

The above screenshots are taken from my Monday and Wednesday night leagues. It's my guess most bowlers don't know their weekly statistics, or like me, never really looked at them. Or you don't care because you're there for fun. Game and series score ranges are consistent across both leagues.

This past Wednesday, I set 2 personal records, 2 games above 200 in a series, and scratch series of 575. I have a total of 5 games of 200 or above for the 2016-17 season. Of the 5, I bowled 3 of them in the past 2 weeks.

Season in both leagues will end in 2 weeks, just before I head to Europe. Both teams in currently in 2nd. If we hang on, we'll be in contention to bowl for the bigger bucks in position round.

Wish me luck.

No-Tap Bowling

As summer league wraps up, I bowl sweepers tomorrow and head to Reno for the Chinese-Japanese Invitational Tournament for the Labor Day weekend. I bowled no-tap this weekend. When I return from Reno, I'll bowl another no-tap tournament on Labor Day.

No-tap bowling is a casual tournament which usually have league bowlers as participants. It can result in some nice pocket change if you bowl way above your average. Easy concept - hit 9 pins, it's a strike. Not so easy to execute. The oil pattern laid out for no-tap is harder than the standard house shot. I tend to do well in no-tap and have cashed out several times.

Below is my 2nd squad series score from yesterday. Final results aren't yet in but am hopeful I'll cash out again.

Last year, my 695 series score was 127 pins above my highest sanctioned league series.

Here's to big payouts for the next 2 weeks.

Bowling Weekend Overload

This weekend, I was in maximum overload with bowling. No tournaments, only practice. And lots of it.

Yesterday, I bowled 6 practice games.

Today, it was my usual morning practice of 8 games with Wednesday night friends. When I finished, I grabbed a granola bar from the vending machine and caught up on news on my phone. Then I left Classic Bowl and drove to Bel Mateo for fellow Monday night friend Will's 50th birthday.

Wish I'd done what Will and his wife Jules did. They reserved the entire center for 3 hours. If you didn't want to bowl, you could hang out in one of the party rooms, the bar, or like the fanatic I am, roll in my bag and bowl more games.

But first, some much needed food. Then bowled 6 more games with my Monday night teammate Ronnie. Fun, closely fought battles. Probably the most non-league fun I've had since the late Saturday nights at Classic Bowl with Jeff, Burton, and Lester.

In one of the games, it came down to the last frame. I had been ahead most of the way. Ronnie bowled strikes in the 9th frame and 2 in the 10th. In my last frame, I needed to pick up 2 pins (the 4-7) for the spare to win. I picked up only 1. I lost the game by 1 pin.

I finished the afternoon completing 20 games in 2 days. I bowl 3 more games tomorrow night. Can't wait.

Tony Reyes Memorial Services - Sunday, October 7

It's going to be an extremely busy weekend for the Bay Area. Activities include baseball's Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants in the playoffs, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park, Fleet Week, Italian Heritage Festival in North Beach, America's World Cup series races, and a 49ers home game.

If by some small chance, you're a bowler in the San Francisco Bay Area and NOT busy, a memorial service for Tony Reyes (details listed above) is taking place at San Jose State University.

My Wednesday league at Classic Bowling Center in Daly City is selling raffle tickets until Wednesday, October 10. Proceeds will also go to the Reyes family. Tickets are 3 for $5 or 8 for $10. Prizes include a San Francisco Giants XL jacket, Storm Bowling ball roller bag, and a Brunswick Karma bowling ball. The raffle drawing will be held on Thursday, October 11. You do not need to be present to win.

For all SF Bay Area residents: regardless of what your plans are this weekend, traffic is likely to be heavy with all that's going on. Stay safe, drive defensively, and please, please DO NOT TEXT while driving.