BOWLING IN BRITAIN

Tenpin bowling was taking off internationally during the 1960s. The sport entered the United Kingdom with a bang around 1960, with American manufacturers like AMF assuming it was sure to be a hit. Bowling centers opened at an exponential rate, and homegrown manufacturers, such as Excel Bowling Ltd., popped up to furnish the lanes. Local interest in bowling, however, was not quite as enthusiastic as expected. The growth of alleys far outpaced the engagement of bowlers, and many centers were forced to close due to low revenues, high rent and a constant churn of management.