If you’ve missed the sweet sound of a bowling ball crashing into a set of pins the last few months, you’ll be happy learn that Zone Bowling is officially back open in Penrith.
Not only are locals welcome to throw balls down a lane (or gutter) for the first time since late March, but they can also join one of the many bowling leagues that the centre has to offer.
Penrith resident and long-time ten pin fan, Paul Rokobauer, said he can’t wait to get back into competition-mode again in the coming weeks.
“I’ve been dying to get out there… I bowl in two leagues at the centre,” he told the Weekender.
Zone Bowling runs leagues on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Rokobauer President of the Wednesday Warriors League.
He said the mid-week competition, which is on the hunt for bowlers, is often made up of eight or nine teams of two.
“You form a team with one other person and you’re in that team for the entire season,” Rokobauer said.
“We usually have the same familiar faces come back each season but anyone is free to join, the Wednesday league is a very casual league.”
Zone Bowling has put numerous measures in place to ensure the safety of its bowlers during the pandemic.
Along with venue capacity limits, there will be an increase of hand and wipe sanitising stations around the centre, while bowling shoes will be cleaned before and after each use.
Rokobauer, whose highest score ever is 253, said people don’t require their own bowling ball to take part in one of the many leagues.
“The Wednesday league features a lot more casual bowlers, so at least half of the people use communal gear at the lane,” he said.
“Zone Bowling will sterilise everything before it’s used and will have wipes for everyone to use as well.”
So, if you’ve always wanted to take your bowling skills to the next level, why not give a ten pin bowling league a try?
Competitions will resume following the conclusion of the upcoming July school holidays.
For more information about leagues at Zone Bowling Penrith, call 1300 368 067 or visit zonebowling.com/league.
Ten Pin Bowling Australia has also released return to play guidelines to help professional bowlers navigate the safety measures in place as a result of COVID-19. For more details, visit http://www.tenpin.org.au.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.