Host center for Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open provides new model for
USBC championships by improving lanes to top specification quality

ARLINGTON, Texas – Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, in collaboration with the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America, will provide a new level of lane integrity for bowlers at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open.

Bowlmor AMF worked with USBC and Lane Analytics to complete a comprehensive topography evaluation of the lanes at host center AMF Garland Lanes, ahead of the event that will take place Nov. 2-8 in Garland, Texas.

Each board of every lane was inspected and leveled every three feet in 18 locations per lane. As a result, 99 percent of the crowns and depressions plus cross-tilts are within twenty-thousandths of an inch of flat. This dramatically exceeds USBC’s minimum standard of forty-thousandths of an inch using three inspection locations per lane.

“Bowlmor AMF is committed to competitive bowling and playing a leading role in moving the sport forward in a positive way,” Bowlmor AMF Vice President of Leagues Jay Lietman said. “We are proud to create a world-class venue for the U.S. Open and strive to provide an exceptional experience for our league bowlers across the country as well.”

Details of the U.S. Open lane pattern also are designed to achieve a higher level of competition integrity. The lane pattern will not be revealed until immediately before official practice at AMF Garland Lanes. Additionally, there will be no re-oiling of the lanes between squads.

“From an integrity perspective, Bowlmor AMF has provided a venue of the same high quality you find with a custom installation such as the USBC Open Championships,” USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy said. “With no information being provided about the pattern in advance of the event and also no re-oiling procedure during the event, we have taken a step further to leveling the playing field. Multiple angles will need to be played throughout the event to be successful. It’s exciting to think about and I’m looking forward to it.”

USBC plans to use the partnership model developed with Bowlmor AMF to improve lane topography for future host centers of championship events. Limiting the release of lane pattern information already is standard practice for the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour, Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships and most recently, the 2016 Junior Gold Championships.

While many equate a golf scorecard to bowling’s pattern information, Murphy explained a golf scorecard doesn’t change, since yardages are always the same, but bowling patterns migrate on top of the lane with every shot so it’s not static and is always evolving.

“The static piece in bowling is topography of the lane,” Murphy said. “In golf, the scorecard or yardage book that a PGA professional receives the morning of competition is the topography while the pattern is the rough, the speed of the green and the wind. In bowling, the lane map is the topography while the pattern is the factor that changes from shot to shot. For the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open, we have done the work to ensure the lanes are in championship condition by making sure the lanes are well within specification. We also are delivering a scorecard to competitors. You can see a detailed report on the topography of the lanes at AMF Garland Lanes here.

“It is USBC’s role to create a level playing field where the athlete’s skill determines the outcome as we continue to build a future for the sport. We appreciate having a great partner hosting the U.S. Open to help make it possible.”

For more information on the Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open, visit BOWL.com/USOpen.

About Bowlmor AMF
Bowlmor AMF is the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, with more than 300 domestic locations, eight locations in Mexico, and three locations in Canada, specializing in corporate and special events, as well as league and walk-in retail bowling. The company was created in 2013 following the merger of Bowlmor, an upscale bowling and entertainment company, and AMF Bowling Worldwide. Bowlmor AMF acquired Brunswick’s bowling center business in 2014 and its portfolio of bowling retail brands includes AMF, Bowlmor Lanes, Bowlero, Brunswick Bowling, Brunswick Zone, Brunswick Zone XL, and Brunswick's brands. The company has been featured on the INC 500 list of fastest growing private companies in America in both 2014 and 2015. For more information, please visit www.bowlmoramf.com, www.bowlmor.com, www.amf.com, www.bowlero.com, and www.bowlbrunswick.com.