JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, TEXAS –
Whether it’s an outing with the family, a unit function or league play, the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Bowling Center provides a variety of activities for both recreational and competitive bowlers.
The bowling center, located in building 870, has several leagues, programs and special events geared toward adult and youth bowlers year-round. A full-service pro shop offers a full line of bowling equipment and accessories – balls, bags and shoes – ball drilling and lessons, and a snack bar.
No matter the skill level of a bowler, from beginner to advanced, they will find an activity to participate in at the bowling center, said Steve Barinque, JBSA-Randolph Bowling Center manager.
“We offer recreational bowling entertainment for the families,” Barinque said. “It’s a good, fun-filled family environment. Also, we offer league bowlers competitive and fun leagues.”
The bowling center hosts summer and fall leagues in several divisions – intramurals, ladies, seniors, mixed and youth – in which hundreds of bowlers participate each year. In 2015, 175 bowlers competed in the summer league, 900 in the fall league.
Barinque said the number of the bowlers who participate in the leagues is one of the highest for Air Force-based bowling centers.
“We have one of the strongest league programs in the Air Force,” he said.
Currently, 136 bowlers are participating in the JBSA Summer Pro Am League, which started in May and concludes in August. The league includes bowlers from the JBSA-Lackland Skylark and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston bowling centers.
Starting in September, the bowling center’s youth league program, for ages 7 to 20, will resume each Saturday morning at 10 a.m. through April. Youth bowlers will receive lessons from certified coaches an hour before league competition each Saturday.
Bowlers who participate in the youth league have the opportunity to participate in state competition in the spring. Part of the youth league proceeds go toward a scholarship fund for the bowlers.
In May, the bowling center debuted a new interactive bowling game program, Bowling Entertainment System, for families to play. The Bowling
Entertainment System includes several interactive games that can be live-streamed on social media, allowing the games to be followed on platforms including Facebook.
Each Saturday from 7-11 p.m. is cosmic bowling at the center. In cosmic bowling, bowlers play a game with lights flashing, loud music and aim for pins under a black light, sometimes with a glowing ball.
The bowling center has several family events that are held throughout the year, including the upcoming End of Summer Bash from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 3. The event is $10 per person and $5 per child 10 years of age and younger. Guests of JBSA cardholders are welcomed.
Other events offered include Bowl with the Grinch Dec. 17. Children will have the chance to take a picture with Santa Claus an hour before bowling starts; the New Year’s Eve party includes cosmic bowling, party favors, a disc jockey and food; and the Easter Bunny Bowl in the spring, when children can have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny.
In addition, the bowling center can be reserved for commander’s calls and team-building events such as unit and squadron gatherings.
Possible fall activities at the center include a class, Bowling 2.0., which covers the basic fundamentals of bowling for beginning and experienced bowlers. Bowlers in the class will learn from a certified bowling coach, and with their registration fee receive a ball, bag and a certificate of class completion.
For information on activities, lessons and programs, call the JBSA-Randolph Bowling Center at 652-6271 or go to the bowling center’s Facebook page, key words “Randolph AFB Bowling Center.”