Gary, I have sent info re Twin Tour to almost every State - the same results keep coming back - scratch bowling is the ULTIMATE !!!! WE WANT BIG $$$$$$$$$$$. Our major focus is on the handicap bowlers - Men have a maximum handicap of 35 and the Ladies have a maximum handicap of 45.....separate divisions - over 200 average and you are in the MINUS CLUB (minus handicap!) - to me, this is encouraging the 'not quite elite!!' bowlers to compete and we get great support from the scratch and tournament bowlers - THEY are not happy with minus handicaps but it has not deterred them from continuing to bowl - and after all, THEY DO get a discount on membership and a packet of Smarties!!!!!
The handicap payout is the major payout and the scratch division is very little but you can cash in both......and bowlers WILL support a tournament with $70 for 10 games and a $275 first place - however, be warned that it takes many years to build up the integrity and network to get the mindset of most bowlers changed.....the locals are WELL-TRAINED, supportive and are our best sponsors up here !!!!! The Powder Puff Tour for the ladies only, has been running since the early 90's on this format and the boys wanted part of this format. Word of mouth is the best encouragement and we have great $$$ sponsors also (including Pearson Automotive as our major sponsor and the bowling centres themselves with great game charges!)
All the people I have sent the info. to say the same thing - Oh, we will swap the payout system and make the Scratch division the major prize fund.......
There are enough tourns. around for the Open bowlers surely, and maybe 10 games on different conditions, with different bowlers would greatly improve anyone's bowling - trust me, Gary, it does not make any difference to the competitiveness of any of the bowlers. As the subject of 'Why do I bowl?' is a forum topic at the moment - the Twin Tour motto is 'The Twin Tour is for bowlers who love to bowl' and I think the support from the locals and not-so-locals would bear this out.......
The Twin Tour forum should give you any info. you need to cost the tour and give you Prize Fund details......we have increased the Prize Funds with the more than expected numbers in 2006 also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The numbers in the Vic 150 in the handicap division plus the scratch division entries are an example of how to encourage more bowlers - numbers are important when negotiating game charges in the centres and sponsorship !
GOOD LUCK
FLOWER
