Her arm held high as she practiced her swing positions, Kathy Meredith learned something new during a July 6 event at Lakeview Lanes, 10502 W. Thunderbird Blvd.

“Straighten your arm out as you swing,” Mike Dirmyer, Recreation Centers of Sun City bowling director, told the Sun City resident as he demonstrated his tip. “Notice your follow through, watch your arm swing.”

Meredith is one of dozens of RCSC cardholders and members who take advantage of Bowl With the Director, 10:30 a.m.-noon the first Thursday of every month at Lakeview Lanes. Dirmyer began the event after taking over leadership of RCSC bowling about two years ago. It is an opportunity for those who may not have bowled in a while to regain their confidence and remember the skills that they enjoyed in the past, explained Dirmyer, a bronze level certified coach. Many also join to get pro tips from Dirmyer and other area coaches who help out.  The event is free to cardholders and members and no reservations are required.

“Some people have not picked up a bowling ball in maybe 20 years,” Dirmyer said. “We want to help reintroduce our members and cardholders to bowling, so they can regain the joy the sport has always brought all ages and generations.”

In many cases, Sun City residents are asked to join a bowling league by a friend, but want to try out their game and practice before jumping right in, he said.

“It’s really amazing to see how thrilled people are to have an opportunity to regain their confidence and start enjoying one of our nation’s favorite activities again,” Dirmyer said. “We want our Lakeview and Bell lanes to be special places for our members and cardholders to create new memories well into the future.”

The event is helpful for first-time bowlers, intermediate bowlers looking to fine tune their game or even advanced bowlers looking to discuss lane play, oil patterns and ball layouts. It’s a great way to meet other bowlers as well.

The training even has high-tech opportunities, in which members and cardholders can have their performance measured with detailed accuracy as to the direction of their throw, the speed of the ball and more.

Meredith practiced her new throw several times, smiling and laughing with friends who joined her.

“I came up to practice, and ended up learning a new throw,” she said.

Dirmyer often sees bowlers return to learn another tip after perfecting the latest tip from a prior event.

Judy Bonner’s love for bowling has her playing in two leagues, and she enjoys coming to the Bowl With the Director event to build her confidence and enjoy time with her bowling friends as well.

“I have learned a lot; I learned to move more to the right, to not drift — it really has built my confidence,” she said. “I love bowling!”

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