Jim Konst/special to vIEWTim Conklin throws a strike for his team in the Tuesday Youth League at Boulder Bowl.
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"It's sure hot out there this summer," Boulder Bowl owner Steve Osborne said. "Why don't you come in, cool off and throw a couple of games with us? We're sure you'll enjoy it. I'm a bowler, too, and I like nothing better than to hang around with a bunch of bowlers."
Boulder Bowl, located at 504 California Ave., is a place where the good times roll throughout the year, Osborne said.
"I love working in the bowling business," the 63-year-old businessman said. "It's what I do, and what I've done for the last 38 years. We put in a lot of hours during peak bowling season, but we enjoy it. It's all I know since I've graduated from college. My favorite part is the people, and we have some wonderful bowlers here in Boulder City."
Boulder Bowl held one of its Scotch Doubles events on June 21 and the winners were Nancy Ward and Ian Hills with 1,064 points for first place, Ally and Steve Wells with 941 for second, Janis and Dan McRoberts with 914 for third and Mickey and Jimmie Stewart with 908 for fourth.
The couple who owns and operates the lanes, Steve and Chris Osborne, are planning the next Scotch Doubles for mid-August.
Boulder Bowl's steady customers sing the praises of the facility and its programs.
"This is the best league I've ever bowled in," Tim Conklin said. "I like it because it gives me something to do over the summer."
Boulder Bowl has been a Boulder City landmark since 1947 when employees had to set up pins by hand. In 1960, automatic pin-setting machines were installed.
The Osbornes have been involved with the eight-lane Boulder Bowl for the last six years, after purchasing it from longtime owners and local residents Vern and Shirley Olson.
"We decided to buy Boulder Bowl because it was the only bowling center in Boulder City, it was for sale, and we loved the community," Steve Osborne said.
The Osbornes have been involved in the bowling business all their lives. They also own a 24-lane bowling center in Killeen, Texas, near Fort Hood to go along with the alley they own and personally manage in their adopted hometown.
"We sure like the town," Steve Osborne said of Boulder City. "We've lived here for six years now, and we really enjoy it. We love our bowlers, and we sure have some characters here in Boulder City."
During the summer months, Boulder Bowl runs leagues on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, in the mornings and evenings. Leagues offered this summer include Tuesday Youth, Foxes and Hounds (No-Tap), Summer Trio, Wednesday No-Tap and Thursday Summer Scratch (when No-Tap scoring is used; a ball that knocks down nine pins counts as a strike).
"My favorite part about bowling in the Tuesday Youth League is spending time with my friends," Gabrielle Wylupski said. "I come every week, and may try out for the high school bowling team when I get older."
About 130 people are involved in league play each week during the summer, and in the winter, that number swells to more than 300 bowlers. Open bowling attracts about 200 bowlers per week in the summer, and more than 500 people per week in the winter, according to the Osbornes.
The Boulder City High School team hosts its matches at Boulder Bowl during the winter after school. The boys team made it to the divisional playoffs again in 2008, while the girls team continued to improve. To spur interest and develop new talent for his school teams, Eagles bowling coach Rod Ball has started a Bowling Club that gathers at Boulder Bowl every week on Thursday afternoons.
"I love bowling at Boulder Bowl in the Youth League," Noah Moorehead said. "My favorite part is the snacks, especially the pretzels."
Boulder Bowl is taking registration for fall leagues; to sign up., stop by. The leagues will start play at the beginning of September and run through the winter. The site offers 10 leagues in the fall and winter.
"We keep updating and repairing whatever we can," said Steve Osborne, "to make the place look better and operate better. It takes a lot of time, money and effort, but it's well worth it."
Boulder Bowl offers birthday packages. The entire alley can be rented for private parties at $100 per hour. For more information on parties or to make a reservation, call 293-2368.
"If you're looking for an ideal way to celebrate a birthday for individuals of any age," said Steve Osborne, "just bring the cake and ice cream, and we'll provide the fun. You can even bring your own CDs to listen to over our sound system. We can schedule you in whenever we don't have open bowling. It's a great place to have a party, and we even clean up the mess. Some of the adult parties are great, and we get to have fun, too. If our customers are having a good time, we're having a good time."
If you have suggestions for future articles, contact Jim Konst at JKONST54@aol.com.
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