A question for bowl1820 or anyone that knows the rules

[got_a_300]

Now for a little information we have our summer league that is a sanctioned
league but it is house run all we have is the league secretary no other officers
like president, vice president or anything.

Now as for my question isn't there a rule that says there is to be at least one
open lane or two between a sanctioned league and open bowlers?

Our center has started putting open bowlers right next to the league and some
of the bowlers are starting to get a little upset with them doing that so should
we all go to the management and complain or are they allowed to do that since
it is a house run sanctioned league?

[bowl1820]

Now for a little information we have our summer league that is a sanctioned
league but it is house run all we have is the league secretary no other officers
like president, vice president or anything.

Now as for my question isn't there a rule that says there is to be at least one
open lane or two between a sanctioned league and open bowlers?

Our center has started putting open bowlers right next to the league and some
of the bowlers are starting to get a little upset with them doing that so should
we all go to the management and complain or are they allowed to do that since
it is a house run sanctioned league?

There is no Usbc rule that requires the center to provide buffer lanes.

Thats something that has to be worked out between the league and the center.

[got_a_300]

Okay thanks bowl1820 I didn't know if there was a rule or not but
what I did know was that you'd know the answer for sure. LOL!!!!

Guess we'll all have to get together and go talk to the management
and see what happens.

[Tony]

Maybe there should be a rule, it's certainly a little disadvantage for the teams bowling next to a bunch of teenagers goofing around, the places I bowl have always left a pair open between the league and open bowlers .....works pretty good !

[fordman1]

You can ask the center to give you a buffer pair of lanes. If they say no they have a right. You only contracted to rent 20 lanes or what ever the league needs. I suppose you could rent the other pair. But the house is in business to make money. You don't even have the right to ask that no one practices on your lanes before you start. Remember your league has the right to move to another center is there are any with openings.

[got_a_300]

Remember your league has the right to move to another center is there are any with openings.

If we were so lucky as to have another center to choose from we only have
the one so guess we're stuck with whatever they want to do with the lanes.

Hmmmm..........maybe it's time for me to make a trip to the bank to see if
I could get the financing for a new center or find some investors willing to
invest in it also.

[LyalC52]

one of the houses in my area (not one I will be bowling league at) announced that starting Fall 2017, leagues will have to pay for one or two buffer lanes to guarantee the buffer.

[J Anderson]

On Mondays our center has three different leagues bowling at the same time, taking up all 56 lanes. The last several seasons the sport league has been cut from 12 lanes w/ 2 bowlers per lane to 6 lanes w/ 3 per lane, and has been asked to not bowl on Martin Luther King day and during school vacations. My other leagues generally have had a pair of lanes as a buffer since theystart at odd times, one at 4p.m., and the other at 9p.m. The afternoon league did have a few weeks when the high school teams literally surrounded us. Evidently it was easier to put the JV teams on either side of us than move our league to either end of the house.

[chip82901]

Being that all the houses in WY are fairly small (my local house is a whole 16 lanes), we don't allow any open bowling until the league is done, even if there is open lanes further down. Even if you have to go down and pre-bowl or make up games, they keep a buffer, as they are bowlers too and it's a respect thing. Although, I did have to pre-bowl in the dark one time last season as we split our youth leagues seasons up and it was their "fun" day, but, it was my choice as that was the only time I had available to bowl

[classygranny]

You can ask the center to give you a buffer pair of lanes. If they say no they have a right. You only contracted to rent 20 lanes or what ever the league needs. I suppose you could rent the other pair. But the house is in business to make money. You don't even have the right to ask that no one practices on your lanes before you start. Remember your league has the right to move to another center is there are any with openings.

Each year our contract for the leagues address this. Some will guarantee with extra payment or higher lanes fees each week. Some will not put the guarantee in the league contract. And this would be at the same house. I think it may depend on time of day and demand.

[fokai73]

Bowlmor HQ said no more buffer lanes, I was told this last Month or after Easter...

[fordman1]

We don't have much of a problem with this. We only have 24 lanes. Both my leagues fill the whole house. Also the manager bowls in both leagues and would always put in a two lane buffer anyway.

[Aslan]

Bowlmor HQ said no more buffer lanes, I was told this last Month or after Easter...

Which is yet another nail in the coffin for Bowlmor...

A quality center won't need to be told or asked to do this...they will understand the need for it. I've seen more than one fight occur between league bowlers and open/casual bowlers when the buffer lanes aren't present. You end up losing league bowlers and turning off casual bowlers to the sport.

Then there's the logistics of it...what if a pair of lanes break down? The buffer lanes are the reserve lanes should there be a problem. No buffer lanes, and you have a pair breakdown...you have two teams waiting 30-60 minutes for repairs. What if the center does stupid glow/laser bowling right after league play? Does that get delayed while the final teams finish bowling on the repaired lanes?

If league bowlers are feeling disrespected by Bowlmor or other centers...obviously they should take their business (and $$$) elsewhere. It's the only language businessmen understand. If you live in an area with too few centers to move...just convince the entire league to take a season off...then renegotiate.