Are all Las Vegas centers so easy?

[1VegasBowler]

When the humidity does rise here in Vegas, Strike Zone in Henderson is the absolute worst. In fact, it's down right dangerous because you can not slide.

Gold Coast - Been bowling there in 2 leagues for the winter, and there are always mechanical or computer breakdowns. Except when there's a tournament going on (imagine that).

Silver Nugget in NLV not only damages balls, but there always seems to be some kind of sticky substance on my ball when it comes back.

No issues of any kind with the rest of the centers here in Vegas.

[RobLV1]

When the humidity does rise here in Vegas, Strike Zone in Henderson is the absolute worst. In fact, it's down right dangerous because you can not slide.

Gold Coast - Been bowling there in 2 leagues for the winter, and there are always mechanical or computer breakdowns. Except when there's a tournament going on (imagine that).

Silver Nugget in NLV not only damages balls, but there always seems to be some kind of sticky substance on my ball when it comes back.

No issues of any kind with the rest of the centers here in Vegas.

Being that you are relatively new to Vegas with limited experiences here, I thought you might want to hear a somewhat less limited viewpoint. First, when the humidity goes up in Vegas, many centers have a hard time dealing with it. The two with the worst reputations in terms of sticky approaches are the two centers that are located in basements: Texas Station and Sam's Town. Next on the list are the centers that are located nearest to the outside of the large casino buildings: Strike Zone and Red Rock. High humidity is sometimes made worse by casino policies that don't take into account requirements of bowling like being able to slide. A couple of years ago, they decided to shampoo the carpets overnight at Red Rock during one of those periods of high humidity. We tried everything including bowling with socks only, and many of us, myself included, ended up using a one-step approach with no slide at all.

The idea that the Gold Coast always has mechanical or computer breakdowns except during tournaments is absurd. I've bowled leagues at Gold Coast, Sun Coast, Red Rock, Southpoint, and Santa Fe, and there are no more breakdowns at Gold Coast than anywhere else. Pinsetters are nothing more than machines, much like cars, and like cars, they occasionally break down. What is important is how responsive the center is to a malfunction, and the staff at Gold Coast does a better than average job.

I cannot comment on Silver Nugget, since I haven't bowled there in several years. Other than than, I can say we absolute conviction that we who live and bowl in Las Vegas are spoiled rotten in terms of what we've come to expect from bowling centers in a city where there is more competition to attract bowlers than virtually anywhere else on the planet.

[Aslan]

Last time I had sweeps at Gold Coast, the pinsetter broke down. The guy on the opposing team had the front 7 and like most of that league....it was rather....well "trailery". Like...well...the point is...they were pitching a fit...that I have not seen adults pitch in some time. So, 35 minutes later, we were allowed to continue...and the guy of course missed the next shot...and then kicked the ball return...then got warned for that...and the drama started all over again. We got done over an hour later than everyone else.

Not sure if thats indicative of Gold Coast....first time I had a problem...and in fairness....it was the other team being drunk and obnoxious more than the Gold Coast.

[1VegasBowler]

Just found out this past Monday night, the USBC went to the Gold Coast for their re-certification and it didn't go well for them.

Their oiling machines are placing patterns that don't conform the USBC standards with the oil not being placed properly. The 2nd hit on their oiling machines is that they are actually putting water on the lanes!

And here's another clue they are losing business: They have made it a priority to get rid of one of the locker areas to make another arcade in there!

While they have time (no idea how much) to get their oiling machines in order, they are also in danger of losing their USBC Certification.

Of the 10 teams that bowl on Monday and Wednesday nights, both of them are going to lose close to half of the teams that are there because it is going down hill so quickly.

In fact, one of the Monday night leagues folded just before the mid point of the season in December.

They have also discontinued the midnight bowling as of September 2015 due to lack of participation and are sending people over to the Orleans.

[RobLV1]

Just found out this past Monday night, the USBC went to the Gold Coast for their re-certification and it didn't go well for them.

Their oiling machines are placing patterns that don't conform the USBC standards with the oil not being placed properly. The 2nd hit on their oiling machines is that they are actually putting water on the lanes!

And here's another clue they are losing business: They have made it a priority to get rid of one of the locker areas to make another arcade in there!

While they have time (no idea how much) to get their oiling machines in order, they are also in danger of losing their USBC Certification.

Of the 10 teams that bowl on Monday and Wednesday nights, both of them are going to lose close to half of the teams that are there because it is going down hill so quickly.

In fact, one of the Monday night leagues folded just before the mid point of the season in December.

They have also discontinued the midnight bowling as of September 2015 due to lack of participation and are sending people over to the Orleans.

I'd love to know where you got your information. The Vegas bowling rumor mill runs rampant, and most of what you hear is pure conjecture. As far as I can tell after an examination of the USBC website and rule book, the USBC standards for oiling are virtually non-existent; that's a big part of the problem with modern bowling. I know a few years ago, the standard was a minimum of three units of oil from gutter to gutter, and a minimum distance of either 25' or 15' (I really can't remember, but it is so short as to be meaningless). If there are no standards, how can they fail to meet them? As for the discontinuation of midnight bowling, they are simply following the pattern set by most of the bowling centers in the valley. First they start closing the bar at either midnight or 2 a.m., then their bowling business falls off because the bar is closed, and finally they close the center because the bowling business falls off. This all happened at the Suncoast some 5 years ago. Gold Coast is just catching up. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Orleans doesn't follow suit shortly. The problem is that Casinos have begun to look at each department as an individual profit center. If the bowling center bar is not bringing in revenue, it closes earlier. If the bowling center is not bringing in revenue, it closes earlier. If an individual restaurant is not making a profit, it is closed down and replaced with another. As soon as big business took over gambling in Las Vegas, the notion that all you have to do is get people in the door so they will gamble is gone as evidenced by the demise of the $5 surf and turf!

[1VegasBowler]

I'd love to know where you got your information. The Vegas bowling rumor mill runs rampant, and most of what you hear is pure conjecture. As far as I can tell after an examination of the USBC website and rule book, the USBC standards for oiling are virtually non-existent; that's a big part of the problem with modern bowling. I know a few years ago, the standard was a minimum of three units of oil from gutter to gutter, and a minimum distance of either 25' or 15' (I really can't remember, but it is so short as to be meaningless). If there are no standards, how can they fail to meet them? As for the discontinuation of midnight bowling, they are simply following the pattern set by most of the bowling centers in the valley. First they start closing the bar at either midnight or 2 a.m., then their bowling business falls off because the bar is closed, and finally they close the center because the bowling business falls off. This all happened at the Suncoast some 5 years ago. Gold Coast is just catching up. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Orleans doesn't follow suit shortly. The problem is that Casinos have begun to look at each department as an individual profit center. If the bowling center bar is not bringing in revenue, it closes earlier. If the bowling center is not bringing in revenue, it closes earlier. If an individual restaurant is not making a profit, it is closed down and replaced with another. As soon as big business took over gambling in Las Vegas, the notion that all you have to do is get people in the door so they will gamble is gone as evidenced by the demise of the $5 surf and turf!

My information comes from a USBC Board Member who was there when the tests were administered. Not second hand knowledge, but directly from the source. And I take this as a fact, not a rumor.

[Mike White]

I'd love to know where you got your information. The Vegas bowling rumor mill runs rampant, and most of what you hear is pure conjecture. As far as I can tell after an examination of the USBC website and rule book, the USBC standards for oiling are virtually non-existent; that's a big part of the problem with modern bowling. I know a few years ago, the standard was a minimum of three units of oil from gutter to gutter, and a minimum distance of either 25' or 15' (I really can't remember, but it is so short as to be meaningless). If there are no standards, how can they fail to meet them? As for the discontinuation of midnight bowling, they are simply following the pattern set by most of the bowling centers in the valley. First they start closing the bar at either midnight or 2 a.m., then their bowling business falls off because the bar is closed, and finally they close the center because the bowling business falls off. This all happened at the Suncoast some 5 years ago. Gold Coast is just catching up. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Orleans doesn't follow suit shortly. The problem is that Casinos have begun to look at each department as an individual profit center. If the bowling center bar is not bringing in revenue, it closes earlier. If the bowling center is not bringing in revenue, it closes earlier. If an individual restaurant is not making a profit, it is closed down and replaced with another. As soon as big business took over gambling in Las Vegas, the notion that all you have to do is get people in the door so they will gamble is gone as evidenced by the demise of the $5 surf and turf!

From Equipment Specifications, page 47,

D Retention
In addition to compliance with all other terms and conditions of the certification requirements, retention of a certificate shall be subject to the following:
1. If dressing is used, it shall meet specificcations and must comply with the following:
a. Dressing must be distributed from edge board to edge board for the entire
distance that dressing is applied. (In the application of this rule, buffing the lane
is considered applying dressing.)
b. Following any application of dressing, in the dressed portion of the lane there
shall be a minimum of three units of dressing at all points on the lane surface.
c. Any stripping (cleaning) of dressing from the lanes must be uniform from edge
board to edge board and at least from the headpin to the distance to which dressing has been applied.

[RobLV1]

My information comes from a USBC Board Member who was there when the tests were administered. Not second hand knowledge, but directly from the source. And I take this as a fact, not a rumor.

I was a Board member for several years and participated in lane certifications at every center in the Valley. Believe me when I say that the local Board is not immune to the rumor mill.