Probably everyone in the United States has bowled at least once in their life. Some people are better at it then others. They have competitions at the different bowling alleys throughout the country.
Leagues are formed and it is a good get together for family and friends. Once you decide that you are going to become a serious bowler or even a semi serious bowler , you will want to purchase your own bowling ball, shoes, towel and a bag to carry your ball and shoes in.
The bowling alleys rent these items, but, if you are going to be bowling a lot you will want to get your own. The balls can be purchased at most sports stores. You pick out the weight that you want and then they drill holes in the ball to fit your fingers. The balls come in all sorts of pretty colors now. Some of them are downright beautiful.
Bowling is more skill then luck, you have to take the ball and aim it at the bowling pins that are set up at the end of the lane at the bowling alley. The more balls you knock over the higher your score. If you knock them all over on your first try this is called a strike. Strikes are good and so are spares. Spares are when you go not knock them all over on your first try. You get them all on the second try.
Bowling alleys now are all mechanical. They have a bar that comes down and sweeps all the ones that have fallen over into the trap at the back of the alley. The ball that you throw comes back to you through a mechanical device . It is delivered right back to where you started.
Bowling is not a sport for everyone, there are some people , such as myself who are just not good at it. I get the most gutter balls and it is a waste of money for me.
Yes, did I mention there was money involved. It cost money to bowl. It is different prices at different lanes. Depends on how nice the bowling alley is that you are playing at.
There are bowling tournaments and there are professional and semi professional bowlers. Just like golf, if you are good enough at this game, you can go on tour and make some bucks.