Bowling is a beloved pastime for many people across the United States, and Orange County is no exception. In the 1980s, bowling alleys began to introduce automatic scoring systems, which are displayed on video screens above each lane. This technology does all the hard work while bowlers enjoy the game. At Irvine Lanes, Southern California's premier 40-lane bowling center, you'll find state-of-the-art automatic scoring and bumpers for the little ones.
The venue also offers a wide variety of food and beverages to make your bowling event even more enjoyable. Ten-pin bowling is highly organized and strictly regulated. The American Bowling Congress (ABC) inspects each bowling alley and its lanes annually, and also approves teams for bowling leagues. The Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) and American Junior Bowling Congress (AJBC) also use ABC certifications when selecting teams for their leagues. When it comes to zoning ordinances, bowling alleys are typically allowed in local or neighborhood business areas on rare occasions. If commercial areas with limited uses designed to serve surrounding industrial uses become popular, then a bowling alley may be an appropriate use in them. Corbin Bowl is one of the best bowling spots in the Valley.
Whether you're playing with friends or competing in a league, it's the place to be. The largest bowling alley reported by Bowling Magazine (September 1995) was located in Detroit and had 88 lanes. The National Bowling Council estimated that there were about 97,000 rinks and 9,000 bowling lanes across the country in 1956. The Gable House Bowl in Torrance is a traditional bowling alley with a bar at the back. It offers regular bowling nights as well as Bowl and Glow events, where you can play in the dark.
The Winter League bowling season usually lasts 30, 32, or 35 weeks and starts in September (ABC memberships renew in August and end in spring). Special efforts are made to attract housewives to bowling alleys for shopping; many freshman and senior high schools have even incorporated bowling into their physical education programs. To organize a regular league of eight teams, eight courts are required, so the bowling business considers that the minimum size of a bowling alley must have eight courts. The Handbook for Community Builders22 recommends that bowling alleys be allowed only in centers with 50 or more tenants and that they be assigned to a secondary location. Shopping malls often satisfy those who want to bring the bowling alley closer to suburban or middle-income customers. The National Recreation Association provided information on the importance of bowling in recreational programs sponsored by companies or industries.
As all commercial uses are allowed in most industrial areas under the current cumulative zoning system, there should be no difficulty if a bowling alley owner wants to locate their business in an industrial area. A questionnaire was sent out by PLANNING ADVISORY SERVICE and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), the national organization of bowling alley operators, to its 3,200 members. This survey asked about their experiences with zoning ordinances. So do all bowling alleys in Los Angeles County have automatic scoring systems? The answer is yes! All commercial bowling alleys must meet certain standards set by the ABC, WIBC, AJBC, and BPAA. These standards include having automatic scoring systems installed on each lane. So if you're looking for a great place to bowl in Los Angeles County, you can rest assured that you'll find an automatic scoring system at any commercial alley you visit.
