The Clean Indoor Air Act passed by the state of Pennsylvania goes into effect Sept. 11 and bowling centers are going to be impacted.

There will be no smoking in bowling centers, and, as many of you know, smoking has always been an issue at bowling centers. Most establishments have either improved their air circulation in the building, or have designated areas where smoking is prohibited.

Bowlers will have to go outside to smoke, which brings a whole new set of problems. Bowlers will have to take their shoes off to go outside, and that may hold up the league from bowling quicker while waiting for someone to return from a smoke break.

Some may forget to take their bowling shoes off, venture outside, and then come back in to bowl with moisture on their shoes, a potential sticking hazard for the bowlers and approaches alike.

Where do I stand on the issue? I do not smoke and I think smoking is a bad habit. But I do not condone the government forcing a law on businesses on something that is an optional activity.

The bowling centers should be allowed to decide how to handle smoking in their buildings.

What's next? Is the government going to outlaw the drinking of soda and eating of nachos because they potentially cause cavities and obesity? How is our wonderful government going to compensate bowling centers for the loss of bowlers who smoke and would rather quit bowling than comply?

This is a fine example of our lawmakers sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong. It stinks.

I want to thank Ruth Geller of Mars Lanes for bringing this to my attention.

League bowlers who want to be competitive this season should consider adding a bowling ball or two to their arsenal this season.Each bowler should go into league play with a ball that is drilled for more hooking potential on long oil conditions, one that is drilled for drier conditions and doesn't hook as much, and one that is plastic for use as a spare ball or as a corner-pin ball.The plastic ball is optional, because it is possible to make a corner pin by simply throwing your strike ball straight. It takes some practice, but it is not impossible to do.

The United States added some more gold medals at the World Tenpin Association Men's championships held in Thailand.Walter Ray Williams, Jr. won the gold medal in the Masters singles, and the team of Bill Hoffman, Chris Barnes, Rhino Page, Tommy Jones, and Patrick Allen won the gold in the team event.

This year's United States Bowling Congress championships will be held in Las Vegas, and it is already looking like it is going to set records for participation.Fifteen thousand teams have already entered, and this year's tourney at the Cashman Center will have 60 lanes, enough to accommodate 17,400 teams.If that becomes a reality, it will be the largest USBC tournament in history, eclipsing the 17,285 teams that participated in the inaugural tournament at the Nation Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev, in 1995.The largest tournament held outside of Reno was in 2005, when 13,222 teams entered in Baton Rouge, La. The USBC tournament opens on Feb. 21 and ends on July 2.Closing date for entries is Dec. 12. For more information and to enter, visit bowl.com.

The Mike Kelly Automotive League needs bowlers. The league is a men's handicap league that bowls at Sherwood Lanes on Wednesday nights. Contact Sherwood at 724-287-1054 or Don at 724-285-4289 for more information.Ron Willison is a bowling columnist for the Butler Eagle.