The nine monthlong bowling season kicks off this Sunday at Taku Lanes.
This year, Taku Lanes will host a league for almost every day of the week: Sunday mixed, youth, Tuesday senior mixed, Tuesday major, Wednesday mens, Thursday mixed and T.G.I.F. mixed.
Players form teams of three and five bowlers based on the league they play in.
Taku Lanes owner Cindy Price says the Wednesday and Thursday leagues are the most popular and fill up the entire alley.
Each league requires its members to register with the United States Bowling Congress, the national governing body for the sport. The annual USBC membership fee is $20. In addition, each league charges a weekly rate, between $13 and $20 dollars.
Some leagues use a portion of the income to cover end-of-season awards such as league champion, league runner-up, highest average and most-improved bowler.
For those looking to get in the sport for the first time — or the first time in a long time — 59-year-old Tim Powers recommends the Sunday mixed league.
“You get to meet some new people and it’s actually pretty good exercise,” Powers said. “People don’t think of it being a good exercise until you go out and do it.”
All leagues use a given handicap, a scoring tool that allows bowlers with different skill levels to compete as if they were on an equal playing field.
“Taku Lanes is small and close knit — everybody knows everybody down there,” Powers said.
Keith Brundige, 58, a regular bowling companion of Powers in the Sunday mixed league, scored 299 (300 is a perfect score) last season. Brundige doesn’t play for the trophies though, but rather the healthy camaraderie shared amongst team members.
“It teaches a lot of good principles, lane courtesies, cheering on for others,” Brundige said. “I cheer on my teammates as much as I cheer on those who are bowling against us. I like to see everybody do as well as they can.”
Brundige has played the sport for over half of his life. He started frequenting Taku Lanes when he moved to the Alaska panhandle from the Florida panhandle five years ago.
“It’s what I do — I’m not a professional by any means, but I do love to bowl,” Brundige said, who rolled a perfect game three years ago. “And it’s always challenging to get that perfect game in.”
Brundige rolled a 300 in 2014.
Stuart says there have been only two perfect scores this year, both by the same person. Joe Deluna rolled two 300’s while playing in the summer league.
To learn more, contact Taku Lanes at 586-1595. Stop by the bowling alley at 608 W. Willoughby Ave to pick up a registration form.
Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly identified the owner of Taku Lanes as Cindy Stuart. The owner of the bowling alley is Cindy Price. The Empire regrets the error. The article has been updated to reflect the change.
