Glenmerry Bowl has the pins all set up and is looking for bowlers ready to roll into its new season.
Glenmerry Bowl, in conjunction with Youth Bowling Canada, is particularly interested in getting beginner bowlers involved in its programs.
YBC was launched in 1963 by the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Canada and has developed youngsters into top players across the country. The focus is on creating a fun and healthy environment where all kids play regardless of ability.
For those looking to more competitive bowling, the YBC offers the Four Steps to Stardom, a championship event which begins at the house level and progresses through regional, provincial and eventually the YBC National Championships.
Every Saturday youth from ages 5-10 are invited to the bowling alley in Glenmerry at 10 a.m. to have fun on the lanes. Then on Sundays the young adult league starts at 5:30 p.m. with the seniors (age 15-19) and junior (11-14) knocking down pins.
An even greater incentive for young bowlers to get started, is a scholarship program offered by the bowling proprietors of B.C.
“There’s been some really good kids stay with the program,” said Glenmerry Bowl owner Ron Sandnes. “What they do, the kids apply and they get sent from the (bowling) houses of British Columbia . . . and then the bowling proprietors office makes the selection, based mostly on their scholastic but also on their competition and how they’ve done over their late years in bowling - if they’ve made it to zones, provincials, or nationals.”
Last year, Trail bowler Jeffery Horan received the scholarship while Curtis Flack won it in 2011.
Sandnes says the younger the kids get into the game, the longer they tend to stay with it.
“A lot of the kids that started at 5 years old are now in junior or senior.”
Glenmerry Bowl also offers In-house tournaments throughout the season to help get beginner bowlers familiar with tournament competition. All bowlers are handicapped - to make a level bowling lane - so even a novice can win.
Registration for youth bowling goes until Friday; call 368-6211 to register.
Adult bowling also starts up this week, and bowlers and teams are still able to register for Ladies Coffee league at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the Mixed Money League Tuesday at 7 p.m., Mens Night on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Senior’s Bowling on Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Mixed at 7 p.m. Thursday.