Too hard to join a league... : (

[Aslan]

As I try to figure out some of the reasons for the decline in bowling...one thing out there is regarding the blue collar to white collar thing. And related to that, the loss of the old church leagues and work leagues. Back then everyone had the same shirt with their name on it...sponsored by their work or church usually.

Nowadays ya don't see that as much. Budgets are tighter...with churches as well as companies. But the other thing is, it's hard to find 4-5 people to play. I am trying to form a team where I work...I got 3 other people interested...but none of em know how to bowl and one lives near hollywood while the rest of live near Anaheim...so thats not gonna work.

I'm super frustrated today...because I've contacted my bowling alley FIVE times about joining a Friday league...and it's up in the air...because I'm just a "guy"...I don't have a team...so they have to find a team with an opening.

First Contact: I'm interested in being a floater, I don't have a team.
Them: NO PROBLEM...we'll get you on a team...what day do you want to play?

Second Contact: Fridays looks good, put me down for that one.
Them: Great! We're getting the league together and I definitely have you down on the list so we'll be in touch.

Third Contact: Haven't heard anything lately and the league starts later this week, just wondering when to get there, what team I'm on, etc...
Them: ....

Fourth Contact: League is supposed to start tomorrow but I still haven't heard anything and I'm wondering what time I should be there and what I should do. Since I haven't heard from you, I'll send a message via the website in case you''re ill or out of town.
Them:.....

Fifth Contact: I sent a message to *** but I haven't heard back and since the league starts tomorrow I kinda need to know what I need to do or if I'm not in the league or what.
Them:....Sorry. I'm at sweeps in Laughlin with a couple other leagues this weekend. I let my manager know to get you established and we'll find you a team later.

So WTF does that mean?? So I show up at 6PM and just walk around in a circle hoping there's an announcement or something?? Then I bowl by myself like a weirdo? And why does it take a WEEK to return my friggin email? Early on it was all a go...everything was great...welcome to the league...etc... Then nothing.

And to tie it in to my initial sentence...thats one of the hard things about bowling is trying to find a "team". You gotta find 3-5 other people...all willing to show up once a week on that day. It's like bowling teams are small enough that they tend to get formed independently (rather than random assignment)...yet large enough that its hard to put a team together.

Frustrated with my game yesterday. Frustrated with this new league today.

[Bunny]

Forget Concourse. There's a fun league starting next week at your favorite lanes Carter. I know you're wanting to get into a "serious" league. I totally understand. I'm looking at joining a scratch league next season. Timing is tough too. Most of the fall leagues have started already.

The Tuesday night league is kind of like Thursday but you get money back at the end. Sweet! The main thing I like is that they're short leagues. I don't have to commit to half a year. They're going with 4 person teams this season as opposed to 2, so there will be teams looking for people. I'm going Tuesday by myself to see what happens.

I like the Tuesday and Thursday schedule. I get a day off in between and I don't have to wait a whole week to bowl league.

Come on down if you like. You'll know at least one person and maybe we can be teammates!

It's a 7pm league the first meeting is at 6pm.

[Aslan]

The Tuesday night league is kind of like Thursday but you get money back at the end. Sweet! The main thing I like is that they're short leagues. I don't have to commit to half a year. They're going with 4 person teams this season as opposed to 2, so there will be teams looking for people. I'm going Tuesday by myself to see what happens.

Yeah, but isn't that "no tap"? I know it's hard to imagine this given my astronomical 114 average and stellar 319 Series yesterday...but I think I'm too advanced to bowl no tap. Don't get me wrong....it aint showin...at ALL right now. But I don't want to bowl no tap.

Eventually, I think I'm probably going to do 2-3 leagues, and probably most or all at Carter. I like their practice rates and free games. But I want at least one league that is sancitoned and sweeps in either Vegas or Laughlin. I've never been to Vegas or Laughlin so it gives me an excuse to finally go. And if I can turn things around...might wins some money to pay for the trip.

Starting mid December I'm gonna only be able to do one league...until I get some stuff straightened out with the ex. But hopefully by the end of next year I'll be able to do 2-3 leagues. At least one "fun" one and at least one "serious/sanctioned/sweeps" one.

I'll probably see you Saturday and we'll see how tonight goes. If it's stupid I might try your Tuesday idea. I tried to go to Carter Lanes to get league info...but one knock on Carter....the AMF website is stupid. I can't find a link to "leagues" anywhere on the site. eClubs and MClubs and birthday parties and food drinks and hours of operation...no league link. There was some link I saw last week to click on to have them call you about leagues forming, but I couldn't find it today. Took me 5 minutes just to get directed from the AMF site to the Carter site...because if you google Carter Lanes AMF...and click it, it goes to amf.com. Then they want you location to find you a bowling center...even though I already KNOW the bowling center I'm trying to go to...ughhhh!! Stupid technology.

Oh...and on Sunday I thought I'd swing by and practice...they were actually FULL on Sunday. I fortunately called ahead and the manager said there wouldn't be an open lane for a couple hours. I mean, it's good they're busy...but dang...that only happened to me once at Concourse and that was like 8:30PM on a Tuesday or Thursday...when they had two leagues going and two corporate events.

[DLP]

That's really a shame and pretty much the exact opposite of my experience.

We started bowling regularly in May... by June we were invited onto a short 8 wk league (July/August) by the general manager. She set us up with the house league secretary who got us paired up with another couple to make a 4 man team.

We talked to her when we decided to do the Wed night mixed league and she set us up with a group of three other people.

We've never had issues finding a group as there are always others who are short for an overall team and they've always grouped us up with great people

[Bunny]

Yeah, but isn't that "no tap"? I know it's hard to imagine this given my astronomical 114 average and stellar 319 Series yesterday...but I think I'm too advanced to bowl no tap. Don't get me wrong....it aint showin...at ALL right now. But I don't want to bowl no tap.

Eventually, I think I'm probably going to do 2-3 leagues, and probably most or all at Carter. I like their practice rates and free games. But I want at least one league that is sancitoned and sweeps in either Vegas or Laughlin. I've never been to Vegas or Laughlin so it gives me an excuse to finally go. And if I can turn things around...might wins some money to pay for the trip.

Starting mid December I'm gonna only be able to do one league...until I get some stuff straightened out with the ex. But hopefully by the end of next year I'll be able to do 2-3 leagues. At least one "fun" one and at least one "serious/sanctioned/sweeps" one.

I'll probably see you Saturday and we'll see how tonight goes. If it's stupid I might try your Tuesday idea. I tried to go to Carter Lanes to get league info...but one knock on Carter....the AMF website is stupid. I can't find a link to "leagues" anywhere on the site. eClubs and MClubs and birthday parties and food drinks and hours of operation...no league link. There was some link I saw last week to click on to have them call you about leagues forming, but I couldn't find it today. Took me 5 minutes just to get directed from the AMF site to the Carter site...because if you google Carter Lanes AMF...and click it, it goes to amf.com. Then they want you location to find you a bowling center...even though I already KNOW the bowling center I'm trying to go to...ughhhh!! Stupid technology.

Oh...and on Sunday I thought I'd swing by and practice...they were actually FULL on Sunday. I fortunately called ahead and the manager said there wouldn't be an open lane for a couple hours. I mean, it's good they're busy...but dang...that only happened to me once at Concourse and that was like 8:30PM on a Tuesday or Thursday...when they had two leagues going and two corporate events.

We had some pretty awesome bowlers last time believe it or not.

Here's the link to their leagues. We started a week late on Thursday, same for Tuesday, not sure about the other leagues.

http://amf.com/carterlanes/leagues/bowling-leagues


Check out the bowling news they have a lot of info on upcoming leagues and specialty leagues where they bowl different oil patterns, stuff like that.

On Saturdays, usually the first four lanes of the clinic are oiled in a sport pattern. So that's cool.



It's a bit daunting. At one point we had a calendar with the starting dates/times for all the leagues we were interested in at different alleys. That's the only way we could keep track.

Good Luck!

[noeymc]

most leagues will let you join late

[Aslan]

It worked out well. I got there and the guy was waiting for me. He put me on a team with 2 others that only had 2 players. Everything will make more sense next week once a lot of the teams get back from sweeps in Laughlin.

[noeymc]

glad u got to join a league =D

[Bunny]

We had some pretty awesome bowlers last time believe it or not.

Hugo Chavez Jr. bowled a 300 last week at Carter and was in the Tues night no tap last season.

My teammate and I beat him and his Dad, Hugo Sr. when we bowled against them. My 70+ year old partner (210 scratch average) beat Junior scratch.

It was Awesome! The old guy was so stoked!! It's one of the best times I've had bowling seeing the guy so happy.

[Aslan]

Hugo Chavez Jr. bowled a 300 last week at Carter and was in the Tues night no tap last season.

My teammate and I beat him and his Dad, Hugo Sr. when we bowled against them. My 70+ year old partner (210 average) beat Junior scratch.

It was Awesome! The old guy was so stoked!! It's one of the best times I've had bowling seeing the guy so happy.

That sounds awesome!!!