the field

Question
QUESTION: What's the best way to get involved in the field? Bear in mind I'm 54, been back to bowling for 2 years from a decade or two off, and have a regular job, at least for another 5-6 years. I bowled 1 league the first year back, 3 leagues the 2nd year and may cut back to two this year just starting out.

ANSWER: Jim,
To clarify, you want to get into the bowling industry?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes. We only have 1 center within a 15 -mile radius. It's privately owned by a person who inherited it from his father. He has personally told me (on several occasions)that he has no interest in bowling or bowlers - is that unusual or what? Anyway, he hired a manager for several months this year about 1/2 way through last season to see what changes could be made I guess. I'm not sure what happened but as summer rolled around and business slowed down, the manager was nowhere to be found, so we're back to the owner again. We tried a parent/youth league this summer but of the 10 teams who started, only 5 finished. But it was a start at something different to draw more people to the center.
What I'm trying to ask, I guess, is how can I talk to this owner or introduce something new so that the bowlers / customers can get more out of their participation there?
I thought about coaching - at least getting USBC certification and see if I can get involved more that way.
Can you make any suggestions? I love this sport, the competition, the social aspects, the recreational bowlers, the league bowlers, everything.

Answer
Jim,
Unfortunately, the sport has situations like yours all over the country.
I think that the children of bowling center owners like the cash generated but without a connection to the sport, they just run the business like a hot dog stand. Understanding the passion of the sport can make some centers almost magical.

Try to get a part time weekend job with your local center. You'll get a little taste of how they do what they do. Building on that can then happen when you retire. There is education available through the Bowling Proprietor's Association of America too.

The owner is a businessman. If your ideas make sense, why wouldn't they give them a try? What part of the country are you in?

Thanks for the questions. Good luck.