When the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association Tournament got under way in Butler last weekend, strikes and spares were understandably on the minds of most people who would be participating in the 11-weekend event.

But for Butler County as a whole, the positive economic impact of this multi-week event, which will resume the weekend following Easter, will be tallied in the seven-figure range - that is, in excess of a million dollars.

It could in fact be much more than that threshold figure.

Whatever the actual amount, the county isn't going to record a "gutter ball" on the tournament, which is expected to have in excess of 1,800 teams competing for shares of a $270,000 prize fund. Amid that total-teams statistic will be at least 88 local teams.

It has been 10 years since Butler County hosted the PSBA tournament, and this year's tourney marks the first time since the statewide event began in 1940 that the event has been held in the hometown of the PSBA's current president.

While that is a first - Jim Bowser of Butler heads the state group - more notable is the effort put forth by the Butler County Bowling Association to have this year's tournament pins in place here, rather than in Erie, which also bid for the event.

Because of the BCBA's work, Butler County, through the weekend of June 18-20, will be the mecca for some of the best bowlers in the state. And, in many instances, accompanying those bowlers will be wives, children and other family members. The visitors will rent hotel and motel rooms, buy meals at restaurants, buy gasoline, help bolster the bottom lines of local merchants through their purchases, and use various other services that are available.

It's possible that some of the visitors will visit some of the tourist sites in this and neighboring counties on their way to or home from the event.

For the various levels of government, this economic shot-in-the-arm will translate into additional tax revenue. For churches, the tournament will mean additional contributions in collection baskets.

Virtually all segments of the economy benefit when something so big comes to town. That is why so many areas seek to attract conventions, tournaments, shows and displays that not only focus on the event at hand, but also showcase the host community for possible future visits and business opportunities.

For the Johnstown region, the annual All-American Amateur Baseball Association tournament in August generates an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million for that area's economy during its weeklong run, according to Dennis Grenell, treasurer of the sponsoring Johnstown Oldtimers Baseball Association.

"Back in September of 1999, the board of the Butler County Bowling Association made a commitment to bring this tournament back to Butler County, for Butler County," said Mike Coyle, BCBA president. "Anybody who believes volunteerism is dead, this board proved otherwise. We've worked together over the past five years with a common goal in mind, to make this tournament a huge success."

That is what it is destined to be.

Nobody will be able to gauge the exact amount by which the tournament will have bolstered the local economy, once the tournament champions are determined. However, this will be a memorable spring for the local economy, and businesses are gearing up for what lies ahead.

The sound of pins being blasted away in this competitive environment is the visible part of what the tournament means in and to Butler. But the "invisible" competition between local businesses and service providers to cater to the wants and needs of tournament participants and those accompanying them will be just as formidable.

Butler welcomes all tournament participants and hopes their stay will be pleasant. Officials of the county and area municipalities should show their appreciation to the PSBA, BCBA and tournament competitors by showing up to help cheer the competition on.

Hospitality has long-term benefits.

- J.R.K.