I am running a squad at the Petersen Classic this year, and I have a couple spots left to fill.  It is next Thursday, July 13 at 7:00 PM.  The squad is made up of men and women bowlers ranging in average from 116 to 216, and everything in between.

For those who are unfamiliar, the Pete is a scratch tournament, held at AMF Hoffman Lanes in Hoffman Estates, IL, a northwest suburb of Chicago.  It consists of eight games, across eight pairs of lanes.  The lane conditions are, to say the least, different.  The scoring pace is always low.  I have seen bowlers such as Pete Weber and Brian Himmler average 180-190 at this tournament.  This year, the current leader has 1560 - yes, an average of 195.  Average 200 (easier said than done), and you will get a big check ($25,000 is the first prize).

The cost for the squad will be $130, which includes the $85 entry fee plus $45 for some non-optional pots as follows:
- One mystery pot per game (eight total), paying $25 each
- Top four high games for each of the eight pairs of lanes ($40, $30, $20, $10)*
- Top four "best three of eight" ($50, $30, $20, $10)*
- Top six on the squad overall ($100, $70, $50, $30, $20, $10)*
- High low game ($25)*
- High game out of the money ($25)*
*  Due to the diverse nature of the bowlers on the squad, these pots will be run using handicap based on the Petersen entering average (three year composite of 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005).  Handicap will be 90% of 200.  All dollar figures above are based on a full squad of 32 bowlers.

We will also be running brackets (by pair), high game side pots, doubles (by pair), and 2 survivors (by pairs).  These optional pots will also be run using handicap.

BTW, all of the non-optional and optional pots mentioned here are run by me, not the Petersen Classic.  They have their own optionals.  In addition, they pay squad prizes to the top five or six (I forget which) bowlers on the squad.  Those squad prizes are scratch.

If you would be interested in participating on my squad, please let me know via PM.
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RW (THB)

Edited on 7/6/2006 3:22 PM

Edited on 7/12/2006 8:38 AM

Lane conditions
No arrow or dots on the lanes
Pins off-sopt intentionally  
Lane conditions
Poles at the front of every ball return
Banners hanging to about 5 ft above the lane about 3 feet out
Lane conditions
Limited to only 2 balls
No warm up
Lane conditions
Wall on 1 & 16 right up against the gutter
Oh and did I say Lane conditions

I am sure I missed other things that make it such an interesting tournament.


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"I cannot change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination." Jimmy Dean


Edited on 7/19/2006 6:56 AM

Franchise,
You shouldn't have any trouble getting on a squad.  Go to http://www.thepetersen.com/ for more information.  Click on "Squad Openings" under the menu in the upper left on the home page.  You can also call Sandy at the phone number on the website, and she'll do whatever she can to get you hooked up.

TP pretty well summed it up.  This year, most of the lanes seemed a bit on the tighter side, although there were some that were hooking insanely.  There was also the occasional hook-set-hook reaction.  One thing I noticed this year was that there were not as many lanes with bad racks, and there didn't seem to be as many yellow pins as in the past.  I wonder if they have picked some "new" pins lately - hmmmmmmm!  Either way, the scoring pace is low so far this year, so the "better" racks and "newer" pins don't seem to be helping anyone.
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RW (THB)

Edited on 7/19/2006 9:16 AM

Franchise,
I wasn't paying attention to what Andy was doing, because he was a few pairs away from me, but the guy that led our squad was playing with plastic most of the time.  Even the lanes that are flooded have some quirks to them.  Surface wouldn't be a bad idea, but make sure your other ball is plastic, because when the they hook, they HOOK!  OTOH, when they don't hook nothing will hook on them, not even a briquet.

Have fun, and good luck!
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RW (THB)