HISTORY OF THE OBBA

The Orange Belt Bowling Association was organized first as the Lakeland Bowling Association in 1956. At that time there was no bowling establishment in Polk County and Imperial Lanes in Lakeland, since demolished by fire, was near completion. There were about one hundred potential bowlers anxious to roll the first ball. Several would-be keglers attended a meeting: realizing that an organization was necessary. The Lakeland Bowling Association was formed and membership swelled to about thirty teams or about one hundred fifty bowlers. Of course, the seed sprouted and soon it was necessary to belong to a team or not bowl most nights of the week.

In 1958 two more bowling establishments opened, Planter Lanes in Plant City and Havendale Lanes in Winter Haven. A meeting was held to bring all the bowlers in the three areas together under one association for better service. The name Orange Belt came out of that meeting and on April 17, 1959 the American Bowling Congress accepted the boundaries of our association and chartered the asso­ciation.

Today the association boundaries take in an area surrounding  Lakeland, Haines City, Winter Haven Lake Wales and Bartow. The association has grown to service as many as fifty-seven leagues, four hundred eighty-one teams and over two thousand members. Before the fire at Imperial Lanes there were eight establishments with one hundred thirty-two lanes, This tremendous growth occurred in the short time of four and one-half years.

Although the team participation in the annual Championships Tournament has been low by ratio our association has sent as many as thirty-five teams to the annual Florida State tourney. Although some of these teams have placed well up in the prize list each year.