By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
It is a league that has been around, in the words of Roger Tess, “forever.”
While the name has changed – just last year, in fact – the senior bowling league at Towne and Country Lanes in Burlington, the “Nifty-Fifty +” has been around since the 1980s.
In fact, you shouldn’t even call it senior bowling. John Brensinger said the Senior Center has changed all of its other activities to 50s plus, and it seemed natural for the bowling league to follow.
“The problem with the word senior is,” Brenslinger started and league secretary Ruth Richmond jumped in with a slumped-shoulder, slow-moving imitation of a person.
“It’s a matter of perception,” Brensinger said. “This group is active and out there. This league has seniors who are young at heart.”
Hence the name “Nifty-Fifty +,” though it does create some fun grumbling.
“We voted on it,” Nancy White said after listening to a handful of the male bowlers make fun of the name before play started Friday.
The bowlers in the league represent all ages over 50. While some are close to that age, there are at least three bowlers in the league over the age of 90.
Three of them – Loretta Hedrick, Grace Droskiewicz and Tess – are 92.
“I enjoy it,” Hedrick said. “It gets me out of the house.”
Tess, meanwhile, when someone questioned his age at the league, called out his birthday.
“June 14, 1922,” Tess explained. His fellow bowlers called him very active, golfing several times a week in addition to bowling.
“(It’s) something to do,” Tess said.
The league is not sanctioned, which means it doesn’t count as “official” through the national bowling associations.
Or Richmond said, “It’s for fun.”
Judging by the laughter and smiles being shared at the league, fun certainly seemed to be the order of the day. In fact, Richmond recalled a man joining the league from another state after moving to Burlington.
“He commented about the camaraderie and how everyone gets along,” Richmond said. “It was a fun league.
“It is. Everyone says that,” she added.
The bowling can be taken as seriously – or not – as each individual wants. Al Blum has been bowling since he was a teenager.
“That’s got to be 60-some years,” Blum said. “Time flies.
“I like it,” he added. “Just get out with people and be friendly. Meet people.”
Ron White, Nancy’s husband, added that the seniors who bowl are “the best people.”
“Most aren’t serious about bowling,” he explained.
But Blum quickly added, “I’m serious. And a lot of the ladies are pretty serious, writing their scores down in their books.”
The most important part of the league, though, is the reminder that being a senior doesn’t mean being old, stuck at home – and most important, not living their years.
“It’s life,” Hedrick said. “You’ve got to get out, or else you’ll vegetate.”
Richmond said the league is “definitely looking” for more bowlers, both full-time and subs.
The Nifty-Fifty + bowling league plays on Fridays at Towne and Country Lanes, 264 S. Pine St., Burlington.
To join the league, contact Richmond at
-
-
-
-
-