USBC membership -- waste of money for rec bowler?

[Monte]

I've been thinking about joining the USBC. The problem is, I don't really bowl in a league, and I don't really bowl tournaments. So it almost seems like a waste of money.

Though if things change, and I get better and some better equipment (I'm fighting a thumb blister problem right now, no way I could bowl a full tourney), I might actually want to bowl in a tournament or two near where I live.

So if I'm just a rec bowler, should I even consider joining USBC? I know the choice is ultimately mine, but it's good to get other's opinions.

[1VegasBowler]

If you're only going to do open bowling, I wouldn't join.

If you do join a league and that league is USBC sanctioned, you can join the day/night it starts. And if you want to participate in any sanctioned tournament you have to be a member of the USBC.

[bowl1820]

As Vegas said if all your doing is open bowling, you don't need to join.

You only need a membership if your bowling in a USBC sanctioned league or tournament.

[J Anderson]

If you think that you may want to eventually try bowling in tournaments you will need to join a USBC certified league at least a couple months before entering any tournament in order to establish a average.

The USBC tends to do a poor job of communicating its value to the sport and to its members. Even non-certified leagues benefit by "borrowing" long established USBC rules for their leagues. In just my local bowling center, over 460 man-hours will be spent by volunteers coaching youth leagues during a 32 week long season. The USBC, through USA Bowling, provides free training for level one coaches.

It's very easy, especially for those of us who have been in this sport for a while, to criticize the USBC. If we want it to be better, we need to get involved at the local level and help, rather than sitting back and saying it did something stupid again.

[fordman1]

John pretty much nailed it. He even said "Certify" rather than sanction like we did a decade ago. You will all agree that one of the major problems many league and tournament bowlers whine about is sandbagging Wait until more and more leagues stop certifying and now one is able to check averages. Wait until the rules are broken and you need help settling a dispute.
They raised the rates this year and I can already hear the league bowlers screaming. Our local went up $2 and the National went up $3 so now I have to explain how it is still worth it. Especially to the bowlers who have previously won 3 and 8 hundred rings. They forget that for years they would get a ring for 300, 800 and 11 in a row every year. They bowlers who paid for those rings didn't gripe just paid every year. Now the shoe is on the other foot and listen to the high avg. bowlers whine.
Sorry forgot to say if you don't bowl in a league or tournament don't CERTITY!

[YODA]

I personally dont have a membership, however I have been just getting back into bowling. Now that my average has settled and my scores are alot closer I have decided to try some leagues, so I of course will be joining now. I personally wouldnt recommend it until you get to where you want to league bowl or compete in any form.

[manke]

There is no way i would pay the membership fee!

[Albundy]

Useless if the house doesn't submit your membership and avg to the local usbc. When I called to find out why my avf wasn't there first my name was spelled wrong...still not corrected and my alley only submitted 3 of it's dozen summer leagues.

[fordman1]

There is no way i would pay the membership fee!

Check out bowl.com Dan someone is using your name and has a membership.

[fordman1]

Useless if the house doesn't submit your membership and avg to the local usbc. When I called to find out why my avf wasn't there first my name was spelled wrong...still not corrected and my alley only submitted 3 of it's dozen summer leagues.

Why is it USBC's fault the center spelled your name wrong or didn't turn in the league data? Maybe you should call USBC directly and ask to get your name corrected.

[1VegasBowler]

I agree on all counts that have been mentioned here, and the biggest factor for individual bowlers, is, where it concerns tournaments.

First is your average. Every tournament is going to go by your book average. If you don't have one, you have to go with they deem is the scratch average, which is usually 220-230.

Second, if you aren't a member of the USBC and you want to bowl in a tournament, guess what happens? You'll either have to pay the sanction fees on the spot OR you won't be able to participate.

As far as all of the other stuff with all of the USBC fees, that is for another thread.

[manke]

Fordman1 i was answering his question. I am in a couple of sanction leagues.

[fordman1]

I Apologize Manke

Vegas as a Brunswick rep you should use correct terminology it is Certification not Sanction.

[bowl1820]

Actually the correct terminology is "Membership dues" if you look in the rulebook. When You become a member you get a membership card, not a certification or a sanction card.

Usbc doesn't certifiy bowlers, as a member you have a certified average.

[fordman1]

In 04/05 the application for a league stated
LEAGUE SANCTION APPLICATION FOR ABC\WIBC LEAGUES

FROM 2005/06 ON THEY SAY
UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS LEAGUE APPLICATION

So you are correct you are paying membership dues to bowl in a certified league or tournament.
No one is sanctioned and hasn't been since 2005.