The baby boomers of the post World War II era are coming of age. Many are now retiring and have more time to enjoy one of America’s greatest pastimes–bowling! The senior leagues around Fond du Lac are a place where, on cold Wisconsin winter days, new retirees can get out of the house, renew old friendships, make new pals and enjoy very affordable ($7.00) fun times on the lanes filled with excitement, camaraderie and healthy competition. The leagues which generally run from mid September to mid April are always looking for new individual bowlers, teams or substitutes.

All bowlers in the senior leagues are equally competitive. Handicap levels the playing field and provides a vehicle for bowlers to compete both individually and as part of a team. It doesn’t matter if one has a 200 average or a 100 average handicap equalizes all averages. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) recommends leagues give bowlers 100% handicap of the difference between their game average and that of the league’s set game average (approximately the highest average in the league). Thus if the set average is 200 a bowler with a 100 average would receive 100 pins handicap per game and if he/she shot a 100 game the net score would be 200. A 200 average bowler would receive no handicap and would have to bowl their average (200 scratch) just to tie the score.

Actually, the higher ones average the more difficult it is for a bowler to shoot because there is a lot less room for error. Many times the teams and individuals at the top of a handicap league’s leader boards are those that bowl consistently close to their average and now and then get “hot”. For example, a 100 average bowler who bowls a 201 game would have their handicap of 100 pins added to that score resulting in a 301 game a score impossible for any of the “hot shots” (scratch bowlers) to obtain. Currently one senior league’s top three individual games with handicap are 335, 310 and 304. The individual and team handicaps are also added to scores in determining end of season individual and team high games and series awards.

Recent example of bowlers using their handicaps based on a 210 set score to obliterate their opponents include: Gladys Lamers who, at 91 years young, averages 113 bowled a 150 game with 97 pins handicap resulting in an excellent 247 game. Retired Reverend Stan Hayes, age 88, averages 83 and fired a 119 for a net game with 127 handicap of 246.

Most senior bowlers participate in the leagues because they enjoy the friendly atmosphere. To them their scores, either scratch or with handicap, are not that important. Many of the bowlers have the same attitude as did Vern Wendt and Fred Baldwin two prolific yet modest Fond du Lac all-star senior bowlers who often downplayed their success by commenting, “It’s just a number” in reply to congratulations from fellow keglers on their firing a high series or game.

Still, shooting a nice scratch score or witnessing one is always an exciting experience. Marv Korb provided some of that excitement on February 8th at Ledgeview Lanes in the Pizzaville Sr. League when he laid down 12 accurate pocket hit shots resulting in a perfect 300 game and becoming only the third senior league bowler to reach that coveted milestone this season.

While the big guns continue to shoot big numbers some, who were lying in wait, finally have come out of hiding firing barrages of rockets to the pocket blasting out nice scores to include: Doc Hanson’s 740; Gerald Shady’s 729 series; Ben Bengel’s 727; Joe Ciofani’s 710; Joe Schroeder’s 707 with a 289 game; John Kryzanowski’s 706 with a 279; Elmer Hintz’s 702; Dan Wyrobeck’s 700; Roger Jewson’s 699 with a 287; Bill Ryan’s 698 with a 279; John Klement’s 279; Paul Tetzlaff’s 278; Sandy Binotto’s 255, which is the high game thus far this season for the senior women; Marlene Perry’s sparkling 639 series; Fritz Wiesner’s 583 and Sarah Wetzel’s 552.

We were very saddened with the passing of Fond du Lac’s bowling icon and pioneer Frank M. Hilbert Sr. who passed away on February 16, 2010. Our condolences go out to his entire family.

George S. Kulas