ONLY IN THE VILLAGES – BOWLING

By Donovan Conaway 
The Villages Daily Sun – Thursday, March 16, 2023

Daniel Rudolph remembers the words of his parents whenever he steps up to the mark to bowl – “pretend no one is around you.”

It proved valuable at a time when everybody wanted to see Rudolph finish out a perfect game as part of his Special Friends Bowling Group at Spanish Springs Lanes.

“I was proud of him; he has done wonderful in his life,” said Lillian Thompson, Rudolph’s mother. “He is doing great.”

Rudolph said he was very happy with the accomplishment, which took place Feb. 25 in a game called 8-pin no-tap, meaning bowlers only have to knock down eight pins on their first roll for it to count as a strike.

The Special Friends Bowling Group is for seniors with independent children who have special needs. The group, which began in 2003, gets together at 1 p.m. every Saturday afternoon.

From a dozen members in its early days, the group now consists of 71 bowlers – 31 women and 40 men – enough that members are divided into Blue and Red teams, and the squads alternate their Saturdays on the lanes.

Thomson and husband John, of the Village Santo Domingo, joined the group when they moved to The Villages nine years ago.

“It is good to have support like this,” Rudolph said.

Ray Kleczkowski, a coach and leader of the Special Friends Bowling Group, considers Rudolph one of the group’s better bowlers.

“We are always happy for them, even if they roll a 100,” said Kleczkowski, who has been a part of the group since its inception. “Everyone roots for one another; there is no competition during the matches. It is all about a good, fun time with them all.”

Kleczkowski doles out recognition as an incentive for his bowlers to give their best. Any man who bowls 200 and above is celebrated over the center’s loud- speaker. The threshold is 175 for women.

Rudolph, who bowls twice a week, has been active in the sport for more than 20 years. And while it’s easy to get excited when things are going well, his parents have worked to teach him not to get nervous.

“We tell him to pretend no one is around you and just concentrate on what you are doing.” Lillian said.

Rudolph said he had not nervousness when he was approaching the 11th or 12th frames.

Rudolph enjoys the friends he has made in the bowling group, and his parents have seen the improvement over the years.

“He loves the bowling and the people,” John said. “He has made a lot of friends and the camaraderie is great. He just makes more and more friends.”

On Saturdays, Lillian said Rudolph is dressed has his bowling ball ready more than three hours before heading to the lanes.

“He has the ball waiting by the door to be loaded into the car; he is just so excited,” she said. “It is good for him to have this outlet. Gives us time to separate for a little.”

Bowling is Rudolph’s time to be apart and live his life, Lillian added, while she still maintains hers. After bowling is finished, they make sure to call neighbors and friends to let them know how he did.

Rudolph works for Publix and walks home more than a mile after his shift for exercise, John said. Many neighbors know him from bowling or working at the store and will offer him rides, but he turns them down.

“Everybody looks out for everyone, it is just wonderful,” Lillian said.