Bowling League Rules and Information

​List of Items

Item 1: The WRL Community & Culture

Item 2: Fees & Prize Fund

Item 3: Teams

Item 4: Scores

Item 5: Bowler Conduct

Item 6: League Details

Item 7: Pre and Post Bowling

Item 8: League Benefits & Team Frame Prizes

Item 9: New Seasons

Item 10: Relax!  Let’s have some fun.

Item 1: The WRL Community & Culture

WELCOME TO THE WRL COMMUNITY! Here at Wheat Ridge Lanes our leagues are FUN and RESPECTFUL! We are a fun beer league focused on having a good time with friends.  The payout is not extraordinarily different between final rankings and everybody gets paid at the end!  So, relax, have fun, and enjoy your fellow bowlers.

 

Please let the staff know if you have any issues with speed of play, rule violations, unsportsmanlike behavior, or inappropriate language.  Although we are currently not sanctioned, we will do our best to have the lanes freshly cleaned and oiled with competition level approaches.  Unfortunately, we are using 60 year old machines and breakdowns do happen. We will do our best to make the best possible arrangements in the case there are issues with play. If there is an issue we appreciate your understanding and patience.

 

PLEASE treat our center and staff with respect.  Food and drink, including water, should not be down in the settee bowling area. ALL bowling shoes should not be worn outside as they can bring in rocks, damage our approaches, and themselves. It would be much appreciated if you would return any house balls you use to their proper home, reuse pitchers and return glasses to the bar when finished, and plates and baskets to the kitchen when done with them.  THANKS!  We look forward to another wonderful season with you and your friends!

 

Item 2: Fees & Prize Fund

1. The flat league rate will be $20 per person or $100 per team for the Season.

2. $15 lineage to WRL, $5 to the prize fund; per person, per week whether here or not.

3. The league operator is responsible for publishing the prize payout per team rank by Week 10 of each league. 

4. Payout night will always be on the week following the last night of bowling or position round for the league.

5. Bowlers can only go two weeks without paying their league fee; if by the third week that payment is not made, the bowler/team will use their absent score for all games until fee payment is current.

6. Vacancies should be avoided at all costs and the league operator can approve a reduction in fees owed each week if the team cannot field the required number of members.

7. The entirety of league fees must be paid by teams by position week (last week of league scoring).

8. IF you pay for the whole season before the end of September we’ll take of $10! = $270

9. IF you pay for the whole season in CASH before the end of September $20 off = $260.

​

Item 3: Teams

1. All WRL leagues will be mixed gender and open to anyone over the age of 21.

2. ALL communication will be conducted through your team captain.  It is his/her responsibility to relay WRL league information and contact us about league questions.

3. Teams will consist of five (5) bowlers and a suggested minimum of three (3) substitutes/alternates. A maximum of 10 bowlers is allowed per team.

4. IF your team doesn’t field a FULL TEAM every week you may be removed from the league.

5. Vacancies that are approved will equate to a 167 or a 501 series.

6. There are no restrictions on the lineups that a team may use on a given night, it is up to each team to set their lineup before beginning the first game. 

   1. Once the first frame has been completed by a team, there should be no switches to the lineup order.

7. Rules for substitutes/alternates:

   1. New substitutes or alternates will not be allowed and deleted in the league following the fourth (6th) week of the league - Week of October 9th! IF there are extenuating circumstances we can approve late substitutions.

   2. Nobody can roll under someone else’s name!

   3. ALL players MUST have an average and handicap by the end of the 6th week (Week of October 6th) or WILL be REMOVED from your team.

   4. Substitutes shall be registered with the bowling counter at least 15-minutes in advance of the start of practice on their first night of bowling in the season.

   5. Substitute situations are dealt with as each team sees fit, but WRL offers these options in relation to fee payment and prize payouts:

      1. Rotations: Bowlers bowling on any given night are responsible for their fee payment, but also receive a percentage of the prize fund based on the number of games they bowled versus the total number of games bowled by the team.

      2. True Substitutions: A substitute does not pay and the bowler they replace pays for their spot. As a result, these bowlers do not receive a share of the team’s prize fund at the end of the year.

   6. Substitutions and alternates are strongly encouraged to come in before league begins to set an average for handicaps. If not, handicaps will be retroactively applied to their scores.

 

Item 4: Scores 

1. Handicap will be 90% of 220 minus the bowler’s average.

2. There are no average minimums or maximums established by the center.

3. Score disputes may be handled by individual bowlers if they know how to utilize the WRL scoring system, otherwise the teams that the scoring issue must notify the opposing team of the issue and request assistance from the bowling counter.

4. Until otherwise addressed by management, all situations that result in an “out-of-range” or not being available to shoot on a second ball, pins will be manually set up to complete the frame.

5. Handicaps will be calculated after a bowler’s first three (3) games and be retroactive to those first 3 games. No handicap will be given to a bowler until their first 3 games are completed. The first week a bowler plays the other team should be notified and their handicap will be applied retroactively. Bowler handicaps will continue to be calculated throughout the season.

6. ALL team members MUST have an average by October 9th or are ineligible to play.

7. POST Bowling for Position Rounds is strictly prohibited. 

 

Item 5: Bowler Conduct

1. WRL asks that its bowlers are respectful of their bowling center and the following:

   1. Being careful of their alcohol consumption.

   2. Keeping food and beverage away from the settee area.

   3. All bowlers are expected to comply with city, county, and state health guidelines.

   4. Not engaging in inflammatory behavior because of performance.

   5. Teams should be seated where their league envelope is until league begins.

   6. Being prepared to bowl when it is their turn. Breaks, including smoking, should be done immediately after bowling turns or between games. We try to complete league by 10:00pm

   7. If there are disputes with the league itself or the rules listed here, or the conduct of another bowler/team, it should be reported as soon as possible to the league operator.

   8. As a rule, neighboring lanes aren’t in view or bowl while players bowl - etiquette.

 

1. Bowling shoes should ALWAYS be covered when going to the bathroom or outside.

1. WRL reserves the right to remove players from the league due to their conduct.

   1. If a team has a member removed it is their responsibility to fill the spot within a week or play the remainder of the season with ZERO bowler scores.

 

Item 6: League Details

1. Summer league seasons will consist of a 7-week season with a week following to allow for prize payouts.

2. The league start time is:

   1. Practice begins promptly at 6:30pm on the night of the league. If there are delays because of maintenance or open bowlers, the center will make its best efforts to assure the lanes will be available at the start time. Delays will be communicated to the bowlers as soon and as frequently as possible.

   2. IF a bowler is more than 3 frames behind when they arrive late OR if they leave early, they forfeit that game, but can play the remainder of the games.

   3. The start of the first game will be at 6:45pm or when practice is completed. Teams will need to prepare their lineup and insert any substitutes by this time.

   4. If there are extenuating circumstances preventing any teams from participating on their league night, the center will accommodate the bowlers to the best of their ability to get their games completed.

      1. The center will attempt to notify bowlers of any extenuating circumstances (COVID) as soon as it is known that the given teams will not be able to bowl on their scheduled lanes that night.

3. WRL operates night leagues on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights in the Winter seasons.

4. Gambling of any sort is not organized, maintained, or sponsored by Wheat Ridge Lanes.

5. The center will strive for consistency through oiling the lanes with the same pattern within 24 hours of the league start time; given the nature of the business, WRL will not prevent open bowlers from utilizing the lanes after oiling before the scheduled start time. 

   1. If there is emergency maintenance needed on the lane machine, the lanes will be prepared/oiled as best as possible and can differ from the programmed oil pattern.

6. Position Round (Championship Week):

   1. On the last night of the league scoring (Week 7 for most leagues), teams will bowl in order of their placement within the league to finalize positions to be paid out from the prize fund.

   2. IF there is a tie, positions will be decided by total pin count, head to head, or whatever WRL decides.

 

Item 7: Pre and Post Bowling

1. Pre & Post Bowling is allowed ONLY under the following parameters.

   1. Each player is ONLY allowed 3 Pre/Post-bowls per season.                                  After that it is a ZERO score.

   2. Pre Bowling:  IS allowed, BUT if an individual or team abuses this option it will affect the invitation for the next season and future league play at WRL.  

We want teams to be here on league night!

1. Post Bowling:  Bowlers are NOT allowed to post-bowl individually except under certain circumstances approved by WRL.  Any postbowling should happen BEFORE the next week of play. However, if a team can not meet the requirements for the minimum line-up of 3, the WHOLE TEAM may post-bowl, but they have to incur a 10 pin penalty for every player.  Every additional week post bowling will add 5 more pin penalty.

2. Post Bowling for Position Week is strictly prohibited.

3. ANY post bowl should be completed BEFORE the next week of play begins.

 

1. Arrangements to pre or post bowl will be made with the center as soon as possible. If the scheduled pre/post bowl time is during a peak time, the center will not be able to guarantee lane availability but will make a reasonable effort to prepare the lanes for the pre/post bowlers.

   1. Peak times (on a wait) will be provided by the center on a seasonal basis, typically 6:00-11:00.

   2. REMEMBER: DO NOT try to come and pre or post bowl on the weekend. 

         We are busy, man.    MONDAY/SUNDAY NIGHTS ARE GOOD!

 

Item 8: League Benefits

1. After the first week of bowling until the start of the following league season, league bowlers will be offered league rate cards from WRL for $3 per game during off-peak hours (not on a wait).

   1. WRL does not limit the number of games used for this card, but abuse of the card may lead to revocation of the card.

2. If all bowlers on a team are present and throw a strike…

   1.  In the FIRST (1st) the team can win a pitcher of their favorite beer on the house!

   2. In the THIRD (3rd) frame the team can receive WRL ball wipes for the playing team.

   3. In the FIFTH (5th) frame of a game, the team can win a fried basket of their choice.

   4. In the SEVENTH (7th) frame  the team can win switchblade combs for the present team.

   5. In the NINTH (9th) Choice of beverage from the cocktail menu for the present team.

      1. Team must bring a WRL staff member to approve of the occurrence. 

      2. A team can only win one prize per night and cannot win the same prize twice.

      3. Prizes will not be carried over to other weeks.

      4. Only valid when the kitchen is open and operational.

3. Other benefits can be provided by WRL at any time, and WRL reserves the right to make changes to the league benefits offered at any time and without the need of providing advance notice.

4. If a bowler rolls a 300 scratch game during league they earn a custom made 300 Pin OR a 300 ring to immortalize them.

5. Prizes & Payout Night is a fun night where you bowl for free, score independently, can invite outside players to join us, likely get a free drink, and play fun bowling games.  Please join us!  

 

Item 9: New Seasons

1. If teams are in good standing, they will have a priority spot reserved for the same league in the next year (season). The league operator will confirm if a reserved team will bowl in advance of the league beginning. So if a team does not respond, they will be removed from the roster of teams.

2. Bowlers can sign up for the next available league, but the league will not be able to guarantee the team a spot in the league. Sign up sheets will be ordered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

3. WRL will officially post flyers/sign ups for the next league 3-weeks in advance of the league’s start night or before the previous league, whichever is earlier.

4. Teams that have attendance, conduct, or payment issues will not be invited back to the league.

 

Item 10: Relax! 

This is just a fun beer league. Let’s have a fun season!

This is not a contract; so just relax.