Bowling

Dad taught me to bowl when I was 12-13 years old (See memoir “FUTURAMA”). I took to it immediately and it was an activity Dad and I shared for a couple of years. As we each improved at our game, Mom and I got Dad his own bowling ball and bag for his birthday February 12th. I was with him when he was measured for the ball and fitted for the finger holes. It was a complete surprise to me when on my 15th birthday, March 19th, I received a bowling bag from Mom and Dad, and Dad took me to be fitted for mine. Now when we went bowling, we were all decked out in our gear. At about that time a new bowling alley, Garden Grove Bowl, opened in a small shopping center across the street from Futurama Lanes. It was brand new and much easier to access than FL that had only a tiny driveway off busy Garden Grove Blvd that led to a rear parking lot. It was brighter and airer inside and had more lanes: I believe 32 compared to 24 for Futurama. Dad joined a league and bowled once a week. After a few months, GG Bowl started a junior league for kids like me. Dad encouraged me to join. He said it was good practice for me. He said he would bring me on the weekend. I joined! I made new acquaintances, some guys from Bolsa Grande High School, a rival of my school, Westminster High, and we played with the league for a long time, maybe a year. We all became better bowlers. I was not the best nor the worst, but I played well and had my moments. I averaged about 165 and my high game was 208 which I wrote in ink on the soles of my shoes, under the heels. Junior year in high school a group of bowling alleys started a traveling league where we formed teams and competed at a different bowling alley each week. Each bowling alley sponsored one of the teams and provided them with uniforms. A group of us from GG Bowl formed a 5-man team and we were sponsored by Fullerton Lanes. We each got a beautiful bowling shirt embroidered on the back with a bowling pin, Fullerton Lanes, and some leaves. The design was modeled after Professional Bowlers on TV. Our teams had Ernie Sullivan, Ken Mazur, Norm Turner, Bill Kobayashi and me. Each week Dad drove me to a league event, we picked up Bill Kobayashi from his home, a small wood house like ours. GG Bowl had its own team headed by Johnny Liccardo, the owner’s son. The last event I recall was a tournament, a one-time event giving both team and individual awards. Our team placed high, but not enough to win. I bowled my average, then about 170 and did not win anything but I loved every minute of it. I remember the star player was Bob Briggs, who was 180-190 range but scored 200. Ernie Sullivan, Ken Mazur, Mom, Bill Kobayashi and me. Each time Dad drove me to a league event we picked up Bill Kobayashi from the knee, and he rode with us. GG Brad had his own team (with Johnny DeCarlo, the owner's son). The last event I recall was a tournament, a six team event giving both team and individual awards. Our team placed high, but not enough to win. I had an average then about 170 and did not win anything, but I loved every minute of it. I remember the other player was one Bob Briggs, whose average was like 190—scores of several games over 200. Dad taught me to bowl when I was 12–13 years old (see memoir "FUTURAMA"). I took to it immediately and it was an activity Dad and I shared for a couple of years. As we each improved at our game play brought in more bowlers, Mom and I got Dad his own bowling ball and bag for his birthday on February 13th. It was a complete surprise — he never saw it coming. March 17th, I received a bowling ball & bag from Mom & Dad. Cool! Dad took me to be fitted for mine. Your shoes are not loaner. Dad got me a pair of bowling shoes. We were all decked out to roll. At about this time, a new bowling alley, Garden Grove Bowl, opened in a small shopping center across the street from Edwards Cinema. It shared a huge parking area with the stores, center, and was much easier to access than Tustin Lanes, and Dad & I began to patronize Garden Grove Bowl. It was brighter and airier inside, and had more lanes, I believe 32 as opposed to 24 for Tustin. Dad joined a league and bowled once a week. Either per month GG Bowl started a junior league for kids like me. Dad encouraged me to join. He said he would bring me on the weekend. I joined! I made new acquaintances, some guys from Bolsa Grande High School, a rival of my school, Westminster High, and we played with the league a long time, maybe a year. We all became better bowlers. I was at the top with a variety of players all of which had my number. I averaged about 165 at age 14. I grew into 200 which I wrote in ink on the scorecards the weeks I'd go. In junior year, high school a group of bowlers (alley) started a traveling league and every week we competed @ a different bowling alley. Each one sponsored one of the teams & provided them with uniforms. A group of four GG Bowl formed a 5 man team and we were sponsored by Fullerton Lanes. We each got a beautiful bowling shirt (lavender) with a white collar & had my pic on our team & fighting stance. The league was called the Junior All Stars Traveling League.