Feisty Friends Bowling League Seeks New Members

Shirley Conway concentrated, took a deep breath and let the bowling ball free from her fingertips, rolling it down the wooden lane at Terrace Sports.

The 78-year-old had already knocked down seven pins, and the ball hurtled toward the last three, sending them flying in different directions as it made impact.

Shirley spun around and triumphantly raised her arms over her head, increasing the stature of her 4-feet-8-inch frame.

“Did you see that?” she enthusiastically asked.

Shirley is a member of the Feisty Friends Bowling League, a handicap, mixed adult league that is sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress. Members play 32 weeks in the winter and 12 weeks in the summer on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Terrace Sports. The winter season starts Sept. 6.

“We’re a fun league,” said president Tonda Clark, 60, who joined six years ago.

A handicap league is one that allows bowlers with less skill a fair chance during games. As your skills improve, you play with less of a handicap.

A mixed league means that at least one member of a four-person team has to be of the opposite gender. In other words, there can’t be a team of all men or a team of all women.

The cost to play is $15 per week, and members must commit to all 32 weeks in the season. Half of the money goes to Terrace Sports and the other half goes toward a prize fund that is distributed at the end of the season.

“Everybody wins money back at the end,” explained Liz Lamagese, 66, league secretary. “Your last-place team gets a decent amount of money.”

Last year, the league had 28 members, and it’s hoping to increase that amount this season. Several members have had to stop playing due to health reasons. Anyone 18 and older can participate, and you don’t have to have a complete team to join.

“We’re not the type that’s looking for your best bowlers out there,” Tonda said. “We’re looking for people who want to enjoy it—any age range. We’d especially like to get some young ones to carry on the league.”

The league got its start in 1989 at University Lanes, said Liz, who has been involved from the beginning. It moved to Terrace Sports two years ago.

“They’ve been really good working with us,” said Shirley, who joined the league in 2008 but was a substitute prior.

“They try to do their best to make us all have a good time,” added Tonda.

John McMillan, owner and general manager of Terrace Sports, said he’s been impressed with Feisty Friends ever since he first saw them.

“They were the first 300 we’ve ever had in the house,” he said, explaining a 300 is a perfect game.

The league also took three of the top five spots in the Greater Tampa Bowling Association’s sixth annual Women’s Handicap in March, and the women have participated in national tournaments for about 15 years.

But Shirley, Tonda and Liz agreed that the best part about Feisty Friends is the lasting friendships that are formed.

“You could meet somebody bowling and you’re basically friends forever,” said Shirley, who still keeps in contact with a bowling friend she met in 1974.

Liz hasn’t been able to bowl for more than a year because of her health, so she couldn’t physically travel to Las Vegas with the other women for the most recent national tournament. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going along. Tonda created cardboard cutouts of Liz and others who couldn’t make the trek and took the silhouettes with the team. The figures sat with the live bowlers and were even included in group photos.

“Just the camaraderie is great,” Tonda said.

After she picked up the spare, Shirley continued bowling, cheering when she knocked down pins and wrinkling her nose when she missed them.

“We have fun, and we’re not out for blood,” she said of Feisty Friends. “Won’t you join us on Thursdays?”

For more information about the Feisty Friends Bowling League, or to join, call Liz Lamagese at 813-988-8865 or email her at lizlama@aol.com.