Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl
High Handicaps Welcome
by Craig Harper
I have been in a bowling league with my wife, Tracey, almost a long as we’ve been married. We started bowling in a mixed league in Novato, CA almost 15 years ago and when we moved to Danville, we joined a league at Danville Bowl and are now bowling in the Lucky Strikers League at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl in Dublin, CA.
What I like about bowling is you get to combine a sport which is as much about challenging yourself as it is about beating your opponents, and, enjoying a social evening with friends and new acquaintances who become friends. Oh, and there’s beer and snacks too!
This week, we had the pleasure of bowling against a team with two of the best bowlers in the league, Barry Blank who carries a 205 average and Bill Cooley who tops the league with a 227 average. Bill used to bowl in PBA tournaments years ago and even took first place in a regional PBA event in Las Vegas in 1981. Their third team member, Jaime Celotti, was absent this week so they used her average. Our team was made up of myself with a 190 average, Tracey with a 141 average and Virginia Tomerlin with a 162 average. Thank goodness for high handicaps. We got an extra 100 pins which helped us win two out of three games and total pins.
The nice thing about the Lucky Strikers league is we have bowlers of all skill levels. The newest team to join our league, Swift Family Robinson, includes two brothers Todd and Jerry Robinson (179 & 182 averages) who grew up in a family of bowlers and Todd’s wife Natalie. Natalie is new to bowling with a 124 average and getting better each week.
We also have a raffle every week where Tom Clawges runs around selling tickets. I believe that half of the ticket sales go towards prizes or a party or something that goes back to the bowlers at the end of the league and the other half is paid out to whomever wins the drawing that night.
Ted Hoffman (the owner/proprietor) is a former PBA professional bowler and was Earl Anthony’s business partner for years prior to Earl’s untimely death. Ted is passionate about bowling and spends a lot of time at the bowling center talking with all the bowlers who stop in. Drop in and tell them The Harper Team said to say hi and the first game is on us*
*Limited time offer – expires April 1, 2007
One Comment
Craig,
You must have been rolling at the now defunct Nave Lanes in Ignacio. My family has been active in bowling leagues since the 1950′s with my grandfather making annual appearance at the state bowling tourney since the late 60′s.
Great article on a fun and precise sport that is struggling to stay in the public consciousness. I love it!