Page 12 - BCM May 2024

BUSINESS

The Next Big Test for Strings

ehigh Lanes has been serving Tom Clark, it’s a matter of the PBA “We’re excited to be hosting a
L the Florida community of Lehigh “needing to perform due diligence PBA50 Regional,” says Chris Keane,
Acres, part of the Cape Coral-Fort before awarding o cial PBA titles or one of the center’s partners. “ ese
Myers metropolitan area, for more points.” guys want to compete, and they have
than 60 years. It recently underwent a Clark said the PBA50 Regional will no problem doing so with the string
massive renovation that included the be one of a number of Regional events [pinspotters].”
installation new carpeting and fur- that “will serve as great trial runs and Adds Keane: “Like most bowlers,
nishings, as well as QubicaAMF EDGE enable all parties, including the play- we were skeptical of these string pins
String Pinspotters. ers, to provide feedback.” at the start. But after bowling on them
e larger story: e center will be e due diligence also will include [at a nearby center] in January, all our
hosting a PBA50 Regional tournament independent study by PBA Director of doubts were quickly erased.”
May 16-18, meaning Lehigh Lanes will Rules and Equipment Neil Stremmel Keane and his business partner,
go down in history as the rst center on the di erences between string and Dennis Bush, are competitive bowlers
ever to host a PBA tournament on free fall machines. at e ort will con- themselves, Keane in PBA50 events
string machines. e rest of the story: tinue through 2024, which is why no and Bush in USBC and TAT action.
It won’t be a title event, even though title will be awarded in the rst PBA50 Bush had owned the business with
several prominent players believe it event to be conducted in a center another partner, but when their lease
should be simply because everyone is equipped with string machines. Even ran out that partner exited and Keane,
playing in the same environment. so, the tournament hosts are pumped who had managed a car dealership
According to PBA Commissioner up about the tournament. and owned a car wash in New York,

Lehigh Lanes partners Chris Keane (left) and Dennis Bush are looking forward to hosting a PBA50 tournament this month, the rst to
be held at a center with string pinspotters. (Photo courtesy Mike Cannington.)

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