Bowling's Bucket List

Bowling's Bucket List 

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If you’ve been around bowling for a while, you may feel like you’ve seen just about everything there is to see on the lanes.

However, there still are a few tournaments and venues that are a must-do or must-see for every bowler. Today, we’ll take a look at a few of the places that rank high on bowling’s bucket list.


TOURNAMENTS

USBC Open/Women’s Championships

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With more than 200 combined years of history between the two events, the Open and Women’s Championships offer every USBC member the chance to compete on the biggest stage in bowling.

 

The Open Championships, which debuted in 1901 and is running for the 112th time in El Paso, Texas, in 2015, is drenched in history and the place where many of the sport’s biggest names made a name for themselves, like USBC Hall of Famers Joe Norris, Bill Lillard and Bob Hart.

The Women’s Championships opened its doors in 1916 and is making its 96th appearance in 2015 in Reno, Nevada. The Women’s Championships is open to any female USBC member and offers a one-of-a-kind tournament experience. The event also changed its format in 2014 to offer more divisions, an all-scratch format and introduced four-player teams for the first time in tournament history.

There’s still time to sign up for the 2015 events and registration for the 2016 Open and Women’s Championships already is open. To learn more about each event, visit these pages: Open Championships | Women’s Championships


The Petersen Classic

 


Commonly referred to as “America’s Toughest Bowling Tournament,” the Petersen Classic offers a challenge like no other in the sport of bowling.

Participants at “The Pete” compete for eight games across 16 lanes that feature an obstructed view of the pins, off-set racks and a difficult lane condition. To make things even tougher, competitors are allowed to check-in a maximum of two bowling balls.

The tournament takes place annually between April and August in the Chicagoland area. For more information on the Petersen Classic, visit here.


VENUES

National Bowling Stadium

NBS

 

The National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, opened its doors in 1995 and has been home to many of bowling’s greatest moments since its debut. The five-story facility features 78 lanes, high ceilings and a championship atmosphere.

Known as the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins,” the NBS has been the host of nine Open Championships, six Women’s Championships and countless PBA events. You also may remember its cameo appearance in the movie, “Kingpin.”

As the venue nears its 20th birthday, it already has started a multi-million dollar upgrade which includes a satellite hall of fame and 10-lane bowling center and bar on the first floor, a renovated squad room and the replacement of the 78 main lanes.

Upgrades scheduled for the upcoming years include the removal of the stadium setting for additional exhibit and vendor space, exterior renovations and a new restaurant. To learn more about the NBS, click here.


International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame

IBMHOF 


If you want to see what more than 5,000 years of bowling history looks like, look no further than the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in Arlington, Texas.

The IBMHOF opened in 2010 and gives a rundown of bowling’s roots from the ancient Egyptians all the way to the latest and great advances seen in today’s game.

If you didn’t get the chance to see our Source Spotlight featuring the IBMHOF, click here

 

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