Bowling ball survives fire, thrown for 300 game

By MIKE NEUMANN The Independent

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As far as Jeff Goudie knows, his bowling ball is the only one to survive the Edgetown Bowl fire two-and-a-half years ago.
Sure, other balls made it through the fire to last for a few games, but an interesting thing started to happen months after the fire. They began cracking down the middle, probably due to exposure to excessive heat, rendering them useless. All except Goudie’s Brunswick Pro Zone Active ball, which he purchased from a friend a couple of years before the fire.
Back in October, he used the ball to throw his first ever 300 game during his Tuesday night league at the rebuilt Edgetown Bowl. While other bowling balls couldn’t stand the heat, Goudie has a theory as to why his ball has remained intact.
“Before putting it in the locker, I wrapped it in a towel and put my shoes over it,” Goudie said, hypothesizing that the little bit of protection was enough to make a difference. “My spare ball cracked in half like the others.”
Goudie has been bowling as long as he can remember, noting that his parents had been in leagues since he was a child. Now living in Capron, Goudie has been bowling in Woodstock for the past 13 years, the last several at Edgetown Bowl. Over that time, he has seen his average creep from the 150s and 160s all the way up to 217. He had never captured that elusive 300 game, however, until Oct. 30.
The evening Goudie bowled his 300 game was not how anybody would script it. Earlier that day, Goudie was cleaning out his garage.
“I had this old leather coat, so I tried it on to see if it would fit,” he said. “There was a bee in the sleeve, and it stung me right in the wrist.”
Goudie said the sting caused his arm to swell up a bit, giving him a feeling similar to wearing a wrist brace.
“I almost felt like Spiderman,” he joked.
During the first game of his three-game series, Goudie began with four strikes before recording a spare. He struck out the rest of the way ending with a 279. He thought he had missed his chance.
To add insult to injury, one of Goudie’s opponents, Jerry Slack, rolled his first 300 game the next round. In game three, Goudie shot out of the gates with five strikes in a row, earning himself a free drink.
“I was happy to get the free drink,” he said. “I didn’t think there was any chance in the world that I was going to bowl a 300 right after Jerry got one.”
But with each frame, the feat seemed more reachable.
“I buried my 10th and 11th shot,” Goudie said before describing his final shot. “By this time, everybody is done bowling. There are people coming out of the bar to watch. I could feel all the eyes on me.”
After taking a deep breathe, Goudie made his approach. It wasn’t his best shot, but was just enough to do the trick.
“I hit the high side,” Goudie laughed. “I buried a Brooklyn.”
Although Goudie said he loves his ball, he noted that it’s about time he retires it. The oil from the lanes is starting to saturate it, causing him to miss his marks occasionally.
“I was planning on getting a new ball,” he said. “How do I tell my wife I need a new ball now?”
Goudie credits Edgetown Bowl, at least in part, for his accomplishment, saying that ownership takes pride in keeping its lanes true.
“The conditions are phenomenal,” he said. “ I could come on a Friday league or a Saturday league or on a weeknight and know I’ll have the same oil pattern.”
Although Goudie said he was “devastated” when he heard the news of the March 2005 fire, he added that some things have changed for the better.
“There’s more room now and more seating,” he said. “The lounge and the pro shop are better. Ever since they got the bowling alley back and running, I’ve been getting better.”
When asked what’s next now that he’s accomplished the ultimate milestone, Goudie quickly noted that he would like to roll an 800 series, which he missed by six pins on Oct. 30.
He’s seen his average slip some, however, in recent weeks, joking that he’s not been giving the fans what they want.
“I’m kind of like Carlos Zambrano after getting the big contract,” he laughs. “I’m not living up to the hype.”

This article was published in the December 12, 2007 edition of The Woodstock Independent.