Most of you are now aware that starting Fall 2021 we are renting a privately-owned bowling alley in Strawberry Hill. Due in some part due to it being a private bowling alley and in some part due to it being a historic building, there's some changes in store that we need to make everyone aware of. They aren't bad changes, just different. But please bear with us as the first week or two may run a little long as we adapt. Ready? Let's go!

First, the Location

Click to view larger. Parking areas are shaded in blue. Note: you cannot acces the bowling alley from the east-west alley in the middle of this map.

St. John’s Bowling Alley is at 414 Barnett, Kansas City, KS, directly behind St. John’s Catholic Church. If you've ever driven I-70 or I-670 west toward KCK you've seen this church high atop the hill. The bowling alley entrance does not face the street, it is located in the center of the block. Look for a pair of blue doors with bowling pins on either side.

There is a small parking lot in the center of the block directly in front of the bowling alley. We can use any of those spaces except for those marked as handicapped or otherwise reserved. It is OK to park in front of the dumpster as long as you are not parked overnight.

If the lot is full, there is also parallel parking along the south side of Barnett, as well as plentiful angled parking on the east side of 4th Avenue in front of the church.

Changes to Scoring

This is a well maintained but also very old bowling alley, and because of this it does not have an automatic scoring system. This means we will have a learning curve because it will be our responsibility to keep track of whose turn it is to bowl and on what lane, as well as to record our pinfall on paper scoring sheets after each ball is thrown.

Scoring tables. (Click to view larger.)

We have several people in the league who know how to do paper scoring and will be able to help out, but it would be beneficial if at least one person on each team gets familiar with the process. Here is a short tutorial on how to do paper scoring: How to Score Bowling By Hand. Don't worry, for the first week we have deliberately set up the matches to ensure that there are people who know how to do paper scoring involved in every game.

One important thing to remember is that you must not roll your ball until the person recording scores verifies that the previous ball’s score has been recorded. (Whether that was your own throw or the person who bowled before you.)

This also means we will not have lighted arrows telling you which lane to bowl on. It is the responsibility of all of us to remember to alternate lanes between each frame.

But, before you get too intimidated, there is relief ahead: we are working on developing a hybrid electronic scoring system that will greatly simplify this process, including converting one or more of the bowling alley’s TVs into a live scoreboard. However it is unlikely this will be ready to roll out until 2-3 weeks into the season.

Changes to Payments

Unlike the way bowling fees work for leagues at public bowling alleys, since we are renting a private facility we have to pay a fixed amount every week no matter what. Because of this, we will no longer be able to be as lax about people paying late as we've been able to be for the previous 22 years. So, to make things easier, we are offering incentives for paying early. But before we get to that, a couple of quick details:

• Bowling fees must be paid electronically via Venmo (to @scooterjm) or Cash App (to $gutteralley). Paypal is acceptable in a pinch but we prefer you not use it because its fees eat up too much. CASH AND CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR BOWLING FEES.
• We know things come up, so no one will nag you if you if you have to skip a week and catch up the next week. However, please do not fall more than 2 weeks behind because it puts us in the position of needing to pay bowling alley rent out of our own pockets.

Now, about those incentives to pay early...
(If you work for VMLY&R, the following does not apply to you. You will receive a customized incentive plan by email.)

• Weekly Plan: This is the default. Pay $15 per week, for total of $240. As has always been the case, this includes weeks that you miss unless your team gets a sub and the sub pays for you. However, new this season because we have to collect enough to cover the rent, there is no longer a grace period if you miss the first week. A missed first week now has to be paid for.
• Quarterly Plan: Pay 4 installments of $55 by week 1, 5, 9, and 13, for total of $220. If you miss an installment deadline you revert to the weekly plan for each week until you make another $55 payment.
• Prepay Plan: If you pay for the entire season before the end of bowling on Week 1, you pay only $200.

Changes to Pre-Bowling

Because this bowling alley is privately-owned and is in use by other leagues and for private parties most other days of the week, the only way to pre-bowl here is to do so immediately after the completion of bowling the week before the session you will miss. You may begin pre-bowling as soon as your third game of regular play ends. Track your pre-bowling on a separate scoresheet and give it to Scott or AJ.

For situations where this is not possible, you may also pre-bowl at any public bowling alley of your choosing. If you choose this option remember that you are not a league member at that bowling alley so will have to do it during their open-bowling hours. You won't get properly oiled lanes and will likely only get one lane. You are responsible for paying that bowling alley's rate for three games of open bowling in addition to paying your usual fee to our league. Upon completion, please text a photo of your scoreboard along with your name and the name of the bowling alley to 816-509-4466.

Changes to Post-Bowling

Because this bowling alley is privately-owned and is in use by other leagues and for private parties most other days of the week, there is no option to post-bowl at our bowling alley.

If you MUST post-bowl (allowed only once per team), you may post-bowl at any public bowling alley of your choosing. If you choose this option remember that you are not a league member at that bowling alley so will have to do it during their open-bowling hours. You won't get properly oiled lanes and will likely only get one lane. You are responsible for paying that bowling alley's rate for three games of open bowling in addition to paying your usual fee to our league. Upon completion, please text a photo of your scoreboard along with your name and the name of the bowling alley to 816-509-4466. Reminder: Post-bowling is now allowed for weeks 1, 15, and 16.

We hate post-bowling anyway, so have hope that this puts the nail in its coffin for good.

Changes to Food & Drink

The bowling alley’s snack bar sells basic bowling alley food and has a variety of domestic and imported beer and seltzer.

Bar & Snack Bar

They are not licensed to sell liquor / distilled spirits. However, you may bring in your own! (Bringing in your own beer is not permitted as this would violate the terms of their license.)

Bringing in your own food probably won't get you in trouble, but is frowned upon. The guys who work here are not employees, they are volunteers from the neighborhood working for tips, so lets buy their food to make it worth their while.

If you want a change of page in terms of food and/or drinks before or after bowling, it would be hard to find a better neighborhood than Strawberry Hill for that. We have compiled this guide to all the nearby bars and restaurants hiding in plain sight within a few blocks of the bowling alley.

That should about cover it for all the changes. See you all on September 7!