Consider this a warning for the bowlers out there with a PBA card going to nationals wanting to do the 40 frame game.
So, myself and a small group went up to Sam's Town yesterday to bowl the 3 PM squad of the 40 frame game. 3 out of 4 of the people going are PBA members. As we reserved, we were told we had to be there by 2:15.
Before I left for nationals, a lot of people told me if I do any side tournaments, I should do the 40 frame game, so I was pretty excited. So, I start to read the rules while waiting to check in and they have the rule updates posted pretty big, so I saw at the bottom of them that if you are a PBA/PWBA member, you must inform the tournament officials before you bowl.
I just figured this means that we'd bowl scratch, no big deal. I proceed to go to the tournament official doing check in and asked what the deal was with informing them that we're PBA members. He proceeds to tell me that "if you're making a living off of bowling, you won't be able to bowl the tournament." Fair enough. I've bowled 7 PBA events in my lifetime (but only one since I've gotten my card) and have cashed in 4 of them (did not cash in the one since I joined). My friend that I bowl with has bowled in 9 events and cashed in one.
So, the guy says that we would have to wait for the official tournament director, who would be there in less than 10 minutes. We proceed to wait, hoping for some kind of rule outline or something stipulating what the qualifications are for PBA members to bowl the 40 frame game.
The official tournament director shows up and we ask for clarification of the rule. It was basically a "tell me the number of tournaments you've bowled and how many you've cashed in and I'll think about it, make up a rule on the spot, and let you know if I think you're too good to bowl the tournament." So I tell him I've cashed 4 of 7 PBA events I've bowled and that I've only bowled one tournament since I've gotten my card and didn't cash. He then thinks about it for a second and he says "ehhhh, this is more of a fun tournament, we don't want pros coming in to ruin it for everyone." ... So then he asks my friend, who says he's cashing in one tournament out of the 9 he's bowled...
1/9 is too much for them, too.
Ok, we're making a living off of bowling going 4/7 and even 1/9.
I'm not upset, I totally understand the rule, or lack there-of. I would just like to see this more outlined/INCLUDED in the rules next year and not have it be a procedure where you tell a number to a guy and he determines if you're "too good" and that we would make it "Not fun" for the other people bowling.
A funny sidenote is that later I informed him I only booked 210 last year, and he reveresed his decision on the spot and said only I could bowl. This is another example of why I'm posting this. These people don't even have their own rules outlined and they make up rules on the spot.
So, just as I opened with, consider this a warning if you're planning on having a fun outing with some friends if you've got your PBA card.
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-Ricky-
Member of the St. Louis, Missouri USBC Adult Rankings
Member of the PBA since 12/08
MORE Speed = LESS time to PANIC
Current Arsenal: Roto Grip Rogue Cell, Roto Grip Mars, Brunswick Rattler, Brunswick Wild Ride, Columbia 300 Rival, Brunswick Viz-A-Ball Cow (MOO!), Motiv SX-1, Brunswick Power Groove, MoRich LevRG
