Tuesday afternoon bowling league populated by retirees
BUTLER TWP — Dave Rouda has aged over the past 50-some years, but the lanes he bowls on now are pretty much the same as they were when he started playing the sport around age 15.
Now, he just saunters up to the foul line with help from his cane before rolling his ball toward the pins.
Rouda is just one of the few-dozen bowlers who participates in the Tuesday Senior Color Pin League at Sherwood Lanes.
The league meets at noon every Tuesday. It has been going since before the lanes changed ownership — about 10 years ago — with some members rotating in and out.
“I’ve really been bowling since I was 15,” Rouda said, “been coming here for probably the last 10 years.”
Rouda and several people registered in the league commented that the average age of the members of the Tuesday Senior Color Pin League is around 80 years old. While the league attracts older people who are able to get to the alley on a Tuesday afternoon, Rouda commented that the noncompetitive league is a good opportunity to practice bowling, meet new and old friends, and stay active while aging.
“It’s exercise — it’s good exercise,” Rouda said.
The lanes at Sherwood were pretty open Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 7, allowing members of the Senior Color Pin League to spread out and go through rounds relatively quickly. On the other end of the paint is a women’s league, which also meets on Tuesdays. Their banter matched that of the men’s league where Rouda was bowling on Jan. 7.
John Slomer helps organize the league as one of its youngest members at under 70 years old. He said that while several members who attend the afternoon sessions are in competitive leagues that take place at other times at Sherwood Lanes, the Tuesday sessions are for casual practice. Although, the members can make a little money from each round, which is doled out from the dues they pay to be in the league.
“They just come to have fun,” Slomer said. “It’s a noncompetitive league. They can get a dollar if they get a strike, and 50 cents for a spare.”
Rich Kline, a manager at Sherwood Lanes, said the lanes are occupied several nights per week by bowling leagues, but the alley is typically populated with retired folks in the afternoon.
Kline added that some senior citizens frequent the alley, and there was a group of regulars who met up at the alley more or less daily for years.
“Five to 10 used to come in every day of the week and bowl,” Kline said. “It was that way for years.”
Kline said the alley has several leagues people can join — their registration capacities are dependent on the individual group. He said anyone who wants to start a league of their own can contact the alley to find a good time slot to schedule for.
“As long as there’s availability we can get you in,” Kline said.
Even the Senior Color Pin League is pretty free-flowing, with Slomer saying drop-ins are typically welcome.
“They can come at any time,” Slomer said. “I came with my father-in-law on a Tuesday to bring him to bowl.”
Rouda’s cane doesn’t hold him back from being a good bowler — he hit a strike or two on Jan. 7 while playing with the league.
The bowlers in the group can still hit a strike or pick up a spare, their ages not affecting their game.
Chuck Dight said bowling has remained the same in the years he has been playing the sport. He is one of the longest-lasting members of the league.
“I’ve probably been bowling for 50 years,” Dight said.
The biggest change, at least at Sherwood Lanes, is the new pin pickup system, in which the pins are attached to strings which pull them back into place after a player’s turn. Members of the Tuesday league said the new stringed system might affect how the pins fall, but several of the members also admitted they may not be good enough bowlers for them to notice.
The Professional Bowlers Association evaluated the use of stringed pin machines, and found that they meet the association’s standards for fairness and competition. The association also said the machines maintain the integrity of the sport while offering benefits like reduced maintenance and increased efficiency.
Most of the Tuesday players bring their own bowling balls, a lot of them more than one each session. John Vensel, a bowler in the league, said the players bring balls with some variations, so they can be used for different pin setups.
Certain days, however, a ball might be unlucky.
“I have two; most of the guys here have at least that many,” Vensel said. “The other night I couldn’t hit anything with my black ball. It was hooking too much.”
Slomer added that anyone is welcome to attend the Tuesday league, they will just have to speak with him and organize paying their dues.
“Come any time,” Slomer said.
