Bowling? Right Down Their Alley

There weren’t any gutter balls thrown at Westminster Lanes one recent morning, even though the bowlers were a bunch of 3-year-olds.

Judging from their average scores of 60 to 70 points per game, it might seem that these precocious youngsters were actually bowling prodigies preparing to join the professional tour.

But there was a reason behind their remarkable consistency: The gutters of each lane were covered up for a morning of “bumper bowling” at the 40-lane alley, which each summer helps hundreds of children learn the game without the frustration of gutter balls.

“As soon as a kid is able to pick up a 6-pound ball and carry it unaided to the foul line, they can bowl,” explained Carole Wilson, junior league director at Westminster Lanes. “The bumpers are excellent for morale, because the kids don’t get discouraged.”

Although some of the youngsters are already competitive, the emphasis in bumper bowling is to have fun and learn, Wilson said.