If anyone is keeping score, it seems Langford Lanes started its first frame with a strike.
The bowling centre has become an overnight success, with lanes reserved months in advance and drop-in bowlers often having to wait two to three hours for a lane.
The overwhelming popularity and pent up demand for bowling has taken management by surprise.
B次元官网网址淲e never expected to be this busy,B次元官网网址� said Corey Barager, Langford Lanes general manager.
B次元官网网址淲e definitely anticipated a huge need for a bowling alley,B次元官网网址� said Laynia Palubeskie, director of marketing. B次元官网网址淏ut, we didnB次元官网网址檛 anticipate it to be this busy.B次元官网网址�
The 20-lane facility is packed with a combination of public bowling, league play and private bookings.
The 18 leagues at Langford Lanes B次元官网网址� populated with menB次元官网网址檚, womenB次元官网网址檚, mixed, youth and special needs teams B次元官网网址� have about 500 active members, with another 500 on waiting lists.
Su Brock, Langford Lanes league and tournament manager, isnB次元官网网址檛 surprised with the numbers.
B次元官网网址淭here hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a bowling centre for five years and at the previous centre they had more than 500 in the league,B次元官网网址� Brock said. B次元官网网址淲hat did surprise me what that 80 per cent (of our league players) hadnB次元官网网址檛 bowled in a league before.B次元官网网址�
With the popularity of leagues, the bowling centre is looking into adding more league play on some nights. The centre offers two 20-week leagues during the year and the next league season is starting in March.
Langford Lanes is also looking into opening a high school league that will run weekdays after school.
Leagues operate nearly every day, but Brock said the centre has tried to create an equal balance for all bowlers. Many lanes during high-volume weekend times remain open to the public.
Staff try to keep walk-in times available, but it can be tough to roll a few frames without booking in advance.
Any given Saturday has about 300 bowlers walk through the doors, and weekends often have wait times of several hours. Lane reservations are booked solid until February.
B次元官网网址淭he slowest times (for public bowling) are weekdays in the late afternoon,B次元官网网址� Barager said. B次元官网网址淲e do try to save some room for drop-ins.B次元官网网址�
Barager is glad to be managing such a popular facility. His advice to people who want to come play is B次元官网网址渟how up early.B次元官网网址�
Barager loves bowling, but even he hasnB次元官网网址檛 had much time to knock down pins.
Langford Lanes is the first 10-pin bowling alley in the region since Mayfair Lanes closed in 2006. Before the centre opened, the closest 10-pin bowling alley was in Duncan.
When anything new opens there is always a bit of novelty, but Barager said, B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 going to stay pretty steady.B次元官网网址�
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
