5th Annual 4-Person Handicap Team Swiss Tournament (Any combo of Men/Women)
Saturday, December 13th, 2025
20th Century Bowl, 1411 N. State St, Bellingham, WA
USBC SANCTIONED
*** Maximum of 16 Team Entries Allowed ***
*** FIRST PLACE ESTIMATED $1900 BASED ON 16 TEAMS ***
*** Entries Close Saturday, December 6th, 2025. Minimum $200 Deposit Due by 12/6/25 to hold spot. No refunds will be given if a team drops within 5 days of the tournament. ***
DOORS OPEN AT 8AM FOR CHECKIN, PRACTICE STARTS AT 9:15AM, SCORING STARTS AT 9:30AM
ENTRY FEE IS $400 / TEAM ($100 per Person)
ENTRY FEE BREAKDOWN / BOWLER:
LINEAGE: $ 35.00
ADMIN FEE: $ 5.00 ($2 – EXPENSES, $2 – WCUSBC MASTERS, $1 – JR. SCHOLARSHIP)
PRIZE FUND: $ 60.00
PAYOUTS: -- Prize Fund will be disbursed on a ratio of at least 1 to 4.
HANDICAP -- Individual handicaps are calculated at 90% of difference of average from 220. No minus handicaps. MAXIMUM INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP = 60 PINS.
AVERAGES: -- (1) Average used will be 2024-2025 USBC or CTF Standard Composite Average of at least 21 games. (2) If no averages from (1) above, average will be USBC or CTF Standard Composite Average from 2023-2024 season of at least 21 games. If no average from (1) or (2), (3) bowler will use highest current 2025-2026 verifiable USBC or CTF average of at least 21 games or more. If no averages from (1), (2), or (3) above, then bowler will use 220 average and receive 0 handicap. (USBC Rule 319a(2) – 10 pin Avg Rule WILL apply.) Failure to report the correct average or make corrections prior to the completion of the 1st game could result in disqualification if the reported average is LOWER than the actual average. (USBC Rule 319a(3). IF YOU HAVE NO COMPOSITE AVERAGE FOR THE LAST (2) SEASONS, PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF A LEAGUE STANDING SHEET OF AT LEAST 21 GAMES TO VERIFY CURRENT AVERAGE WITHIN (1) WEEK OF THIS TOURNAMENT.
SWISS SCORING -- Team rosters will be listed from lowest to highest average with the lowest average bowling in position #1. The format is head-to-head competition plus handicap with the other team on the pair of lanes. There is a total of (6) points available each game, (1) for each individual game, and (2) for the team game. Every game after Game #1 in qualifying will be a position round. All team ties will be broken by total pins + handicap.
LANE ASSIGNMENTS -- For the 1st game of qualifying, lane assignments will be made based on order of entering team average (highest team avg on Lane #1). Every game after that will be a position round, with the starting lane for the 1st place team changing each game thereafter.
FORMAT -- QUALIFYING -- There will be (6) games of qualifying with points accumulating after each game bowled. After the initial (6) games, the first cut will be to the top (8) teams that will go on to SEMIFINALS. Team ties will be broken by total pins + Handicap. SEMIFINALS -- The top (8) teams will bowl (1) more position round game with total points from qualifying being carried over. The next cut will be to the top (4) teams that will go on to the FINALS.
FINALS -- The top (4) teams will bowl a (2) Game eliminator to determine the champion. No points or pins will carryover from qualifying. After Game #1, the bottom (2) team scores (total pins + handicap) will be eliminated. The (2) remaining teams will bowl the last game to determine the overall champion.
ANY RULES NOT COVERED ABOVE WILL BE GOVERNED BY CURRENT USBC RULES
Entry Forms & Payment can be dropped off at 20th Century Bowl, Mt. Baker Lanes, or Park Bowl. You can also sign up on the Whatcom County USBC Website. SIGNUP EARLY as this tourney will fill up fast. Remember that at least a $200 deposit must be paid prior to 12/6/25 to hold your team spot. No refunds will be made if a team drops out of the tournament within 5 days of the tournament. Prepaid $$ for that team dropping out will be included in the overall prize fund. Venmo is accepted. The Venmo account is below.
*** BRACKETS AND HI GAME/SERIES POTS WILL BE RUN AS SIDE ACTION DURING THE INITIAL 6 GAMES OF QUALIFYING ONLY.
*** BOWLING BALL RAFFLES WILL BE AVAILABLE THE DAY OF THE EVENT WITH PROCEEDS BEING ADDED TO THE OVERALL PRIZE FUND.
*** IF ANYONE BOWLS A 300 GAME DURING THIS COUNTY-SPONSORED TOURNANEMT, WHATCOM COUNTY USBC ASSOCIATION WILL AWARD $100 FOR EACH SANCTIONED 300 GAME BOWLED.
*** Tournament Director: Marty Rasmussen, rasfamily300@gmail.com, Venmo - @Marty-Rasmussen-3 ***