When it comes to bowling, Butler County will soon be ahead of the game.

The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) has mandated that all county bowling associations must be merged by Aug. 1, 2018. Butler County has three local bowling associations: men’s, women’s and youth.

A transition committee was formed by the trio of local associations a few months ago with the goal of attaining a merged Butler County Bowling Association by Aug. 1 of this year.

That goal will be close to finalized through a general membership meeting at 2 p.m. April 30 at the PARC Building, 100 N. Washington St. in Butler.

“This will be a pivotal meeting in the reconstruction of our association,” transition committee member Mike Coyle said. “A lot will be determined at this meeting and we strongly encourage as many local bowlers as possible to be there.”

Coyle is a longtime member of the Butler County men’s bowling association and is a former president of the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association.

Another former PSBA president — and former county men’s association manager — Jim Bowser is also on the transition committee.

“Whether bowlers favor this or not, the USBC has determined this is the direction its associations must go,” Bowser said. “How effectively it works to the benefit of the bowler remains to be seen.

“We’re trying to make this as organized as possible. Logic states that one association covering everything should mean better service to the bowler. But it also means one association is taking on much more of a workload.”

The newly formed Butler County bowling association will have 39 board members. The current county men’s association has 17.

The April 30 meeting will accept by-laws — as formed by the transition committee — and will elect the new board. Officers for the new board may or may not be determined at the meeting.

“The by-laws should be posted on the three current association web-sites now,” Coyle said. “We suggest they be reviewed by bowlers planning on coming to the meeting so they will know what’s going on.”

County women’s association president Laura Paul has also been serving on the transition committee. She is unsure of what kind of turnout to expect at the April 30 gathering.

“I’m hoping for a large turnout, but I don’t see it happening,” she said. “I’ll be tickled pink if we get 100 people.

“I’m thinking one organization will consistently serve the Butler bowling community and serve it well. That’s the ultimate goal here.”