The United States Bowling Congress and the Professional Bowlers Association are expanding the PBA Experience program to include PBA Experience Tournaments.

Beginning in October 2008, proprietors who host a PBA Experience League or PBA tournament will have the opportunity to include a PBA Experience Tournament into their mix of offerings for their local bowlers.

These are standardized events that offer a four- to five-hour, one day format, which includes: five qualifying games, single-game match play brackets, PBA Experience lane patterns, established prize funds (based on entries) and a basic set of rules and regulations.

The PBA Experience, part of the USBC Sport Bowling program, currently exists in a league program for USBC Sport Bowling members. PBA Experience leagues offer bowlers the unique chance to compete on the PBA's five different lane conditioning patterns - Chameleon, Cheetah, Scorpion, Shark and Viper.

These patterns, which have varying oil distances and characteristics, all comply with USBC Sport Bowling rules for lane oil application with at least a 3:1 ratio of oil on the inside boards versus the outside boards.

"The PBA Experience is different because bowlers play on the identical playing fields - the lane conditions - as the pros," said Director of USBC Sport Bowling Steve Wunderlich. "This truly is the pro experience for those who are passionate about the sport. That means you will be making the same kinds of decisions about adjusting your angles and target, playing different parts of the lane and changing bowling balls as the pros. It's a one-of-a-kind concept that will give you a close-up look at what the pros face each week on Tour. Now we are excited to partner with the PBA to offer that same experience in a tournament atmosphere."

PBA Experience Tournaments are designed to fit nicely into a small timeslot that a proprietor may have open and offers local bowlers the opportunity to enjoy a low-cost, fast-paced PBA tournament bowling experience in a social atmosphere among friends and family.

The events are open to local bowlers who live or bowl in the USBC association that services the bowling center hosting the tournament. Exempt players on the Denny's PBA Tour and past PBA Tour champions are not eligible.

The PBA Experience tournaments are operated by PBA members in good standing. In an instance that a PBA member is not available to manage the tournament operation, written permission to operate an event may be granted (by PBA Regional Managers) to bowling center managers or proprietors who host PBA Experience Leagues or PBA tournaments. PBA includes a set of rules, a standardized format, pre-designed entry blanks and score sheets, plus user-friendly tournament software to assist tournament operators.

A $400 sponsorship fee is required for each event, which serves to pay tournament operators and hosts, standardize events, provide quality control, make future improvements and protect the USBC and PBA brands.

For more information about PBA Experience Tournaments, contact the local PBA Region Manager:

PBA Manager, West & Northwest Region
Gary Mage
P.O. Box 87100
Vancouver, WA 98687
Phone: (360) 600-1229
Email: gary.mage@pba.com
The West Region includes the states of California, Utah, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona.
The Northwest Region includes the states of Oregon, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho and Alaska.

PBA Manager, Midwest Region
Rich Weber
P.O. Box 820
St. Peters, MO 63376
Phone: (636) 233-4304
Email: rich.weber@pba.com
The Midwest Region includes the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.

PBA Manager, Southwest Region
Pete McCordic
24507 Pelican Hill
Katy, TX 77494
Phone: (281) 627-3976
Email: pete.mccordic@pba.com
The Southwest Region includes the states of New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana.

PBA Manager, Central Region
Bobby Jakel
P.O. Box 88
Lockport, IL 60441
Phone: (815) 483-3032
Email: bobby.jakel@pba.com

The Central Region includes the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia and Ohio.

PBA Manager, East Region
Russ Mills
P.O. Box 7066
Auburn, NY 13022
Phone: (315) 253-2527
Email: russ.mills@pba.com
The East Region includes Washington, D. C. and the states of Maine, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania.

PBA Manager, South Region
Harry O'Neale Jr.
P.O. Box 393
Ravenel, SC 29470
Phone: (843) 906-6005
Email: harry.oneale@pba.com
The South Region includes the states of Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and North Carolina.

The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than 2.6 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

The USBC Sport Bowling program is an optional membership level allowing bowlers to experience a new competitive challenge, satisfy their competitive nature and improve their bowling skills. Sport Bowling leagues and tournaments are contested on challenging lane conditions that emphasize delivering the ball accurately and consistently, making adjustments, reading lanes and converting spares. Most of the today's premier bowling tournaments are contested on Sport Bowling oil patterns.