SPOTLIGHT ON SPORTS
QATAR BOWLING CENTER
Photos provided by Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation
The centre has been opened to Qatar’s bowlers for many years as an independent entity. In 2006, the Qatar Bowling Federation gained control of the 32-lane bowling centre. Its debut as a premier international bowling facility took place during the 3rd West Asian Games, back in 2005. A year later the center hosted the bowling competitions of the 2006 Asian Games. The Qatar Bowling Center is located in Central Doha in Al Mannai Roundabout. The centre aims to promote the sport and it is the venue used by the Qatar National Bowling Team to practice. The impressive bowling recreational facility provide players with an automatic scoring system, bumper lanes for kids below eight years of age, billiard and snooker tables, a table tennis, baby football, computer games, restaurants and wide parking spaces. It is the perfect recreational facility for everybody to enjoy a great day out.
GENERAL TIPS FOR BEGINNER BOWLERS
want to play with the big boys, when knowledge of scoring counts.
Bowling is a sport that is suitable for just about anyone. Both the young and the old can equally enjoy the game. Bowling is a sport that can be played individually at a competitive level or just for laughs with friends and family. The aim of the game is to roll a bowling ball down a wooden alley in the hopes of knocking down as many of the 10 pins that you can. The first step in bowling is finding the right ball for you. The perfect ball weight you should be looking for can be calculated as 10 per cent of your total body weight in pounds. So if you are 120 pounds, you ideally should be looking for a ball weighing 12 pounds. Now that you have a ball, shoes are always readily available for rent or purchase. Ordinary shoes cannot be worn, as the under sole needs to be smooth (special bowling shoes are required) as you will need to slide before you ‘release’ your ball at the foul line.
For beginners, it is highly suggested to understand bowling etiquette, as more seasoned bowlers should not be reckoned with. Bowling is always played on lanes next to each other side by side and people need to take turns. If you don’t, you may get socked in the eye or distract another bowler who may be trying to get that extra pin to make a win. Once someone has their foot on the ‘wood’ which is at the beginning of the ball return that person has the right to go first. You cannot just rush and hang around on the ‘wood’ as this is deemed as disrespectful to other bowlers. As bowling is a friendly sport, it is important to take into consideration the ‘high five’ factor. After every turn you must ‘high five’ your team mates. It doesn’t matter if you don’t make a strike or if you ball goes in the gutter the sport was born to ensure that people have fun. So reach out to all your teammates, smile and enjoy the game.
Everything else from there is straight forward, as the scoring system comes up automatically as you play - unless you
For more information about the Qatar Bowling Federation, call 4432-9178 or visit www.bowlinggqa.com
TOUNAMENT NOTES During the Holy Month of Ramadan no weekly tournaments will be taking place. No tournaments will be held during December 2011, due to the Arab Games. Tournament months: May, June, July, September, October, November and January 2012. More than 30 bowlers play on each Wednesday that the tournament takes place. Each player has to play six games on the weekly tournament.
Dates of tournaments taking place during the summer
July 6 July 20 September 7 September 21
95 QH JULAUG 2011 F.indd 95
6/26/11 12:30 PM