By Steve Cichon
steve@buffalostories.com
@stevebuffalo
Forty years ago this week, one of professional bowling’s great all-time champions was at Hamburg’s Airways Leisureland on Camp Rd. offering free lessons.
During her childhood growing up in Brant, Phyllis Notaro’s family opened “Main Bowling Academy” bowling lanes in Angola. From there, through the ‘40s and ‘50s, she became one of the country’s top amateur bowlers, going pro in 1958. She won the tournament known known as The US Open in 1961, and in 1963, she bowled a 300 tournament game.
Known for having ice water in her veins and an unequalled ability to concentrate on nothing but the pins in front of her, Notaro’s concentration and confidence were complimented by her graceful delivery and smooth finish.
A member of the National Bowling Hall of Fame and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, Notaro also wrote a series of articles published in dozens of newspapers around the country giving aspiring bowlers easy-to-follow tips for better scores.
If improving your bowling game was on your to-do list 40 years ago this week, and you weren’t at Airways Leisureland, you missed a great opportunity.