Americans just treat bowling completely differently from the UK. Firstly in some parts of the US they take it very seriously, blowing every week. It’s not so much that way in California.
On a Saturday night I went bowling with Nikki and some of her friends. After 9pm the serious bowling stops and the party begins. 2 huge projection screens drop by the pins and music videos blare out. The lights are dimmed and UV lights (black-light to Americans) are switched on. To add to all the effect, the balls are all luminuous so glow under the light. Disco lights dance over the polished wooden lanes as the noise of falling pins is drowned out by Keane playing. The only thing close would be a roller-disco in England (but they’re just for kids).
Well as if that wasn’t different enough, all bowling alleys in America serve beer (once you’ve shown ID). We ordered 2 pitchers (which came with metal cooling blocks in the middle). Of course, this being a serious sport you can’t take the beer onto the lanes. But like every drinking rule in America they have a silly way round it….Simply; the beer must stay behind the lanes on top of the rack where the balls are stored.
The beer flowed, my bowling got better and a good time was had by all.