My 2c worth...
The equipment factor is a problem, mostly because people think new equipment is a must to be competitive. That is true to some extent in a carry contest, but on a fair shot it's less of a factor and on a tough shot it really doesn't matter. You can still make money with older or secondhand equipment - I have 4 resin balls (yes, 4, Dwambo!), all at least 3 years old and all got secondhand for a TOTAL of less than $250. They match up to my game well, and I have cut basically on all types of shot this year without spending a cent on new gear. Add a mixture of urethane & really old stuff, and I think I have a shot on just about any pattern, and if not I usually spare my way in anyway. I'll maybe add a new (or old) ball or 2 next year, but realistically I can't justify spending more than that unless I bowl more of the Super Six events.
I think one of the problems is the huge glut of tournaments at the moment - there is one every week for about the next two months. The money at Greenslopes ****s, and Gympie is a bit of a drive, so most casual tmt bowlers will bowl Mary's tournament because it's cheap, close and one day. If either Gympie or G/s were isolated, they would get more bowlers. Its like the Melbourne weather - if you don't like what's on now, just wait a bit. I'm bowling Greenslopes for the points, possibly Gympie, and definitely Townsville. After that are Capalaba and Redcliffe. That's an expensive run for anyone not cashing regularly.
Promotion of tournaments is a big issue, too. Mary lines most of her bowlers up at the previous stop. Dates are set well ahead, she has fridge magnets with all the dates & phone numbers on - it all helps. Townsville is filling fast, and Cairns has 46 entrys already for a tournament in January, off a much smaller bowler base - some people have been laybying their entry for months.
Richlands runs tournament leagues. 24 weeks, 4 games, $20 per week gets entry into the Western Open (first season) and Redcliffe (second season). That's a painless way of covering two tournaments. Get a group together and see what sort of deal you can get for a late night league in dead time. We did, and it works.
I don't have an easy answer for the numbers. It's easy to blame the shot, or the equipment, or sponsorship, but the fact is that a lot of people simply don't look forward to bowling in the tournaments any more. Ten years ago, you'd get fifty people who weren't there to win, but to bowl with and against people like Carl and Drewie. Where the hell are they now? They are still there, but instead of 50 at one tournament we are getting 15 at 3 different ones.
Rob.
PS - thanks Dwambo, it's nice to know SOMEONE think I can bowl!
