Brandon bowling center owner gets national award

Bob Dykes, owner of Oakfield Lanes of Brandon, was selected Proprietor of the Year by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America at this summer's International Bowl Expo 2010 in Las Vegas.

Dykes seemed surprised by this recognition, given to only 15 bowling-center owners in the nation.

"I think I may have been chosen Proprietor of the Year because of my dedication and service to the industry," said Dykes, who has served as a board member, secretary, treasurer, vice president and president of the Bowling Centers Association of Florida.

Native-Floridian Dykes moved to Brandon from Miami in 1962 and started as an architect in the firm Dykes Johnson Architects. In the 1980s he and two partners built the independent bowling center Oakfield Lanes. About seven years ago he retired and became actively involved in running the bowling center although he has turned the day to day operation over to his daughter Tammy Jacobs.

"In a lot of ways we're a community center," Dykes said. "Now we're seeing second and third generations bowling. Some parents have passed on, but some still bowl. We have children who are as young as 6 and a couple of 87-year-olds still bowling. There's a commonality that transcends the generations."

The http://bowlingdigital.de/bowl/ Web site said the industry has been growing for the last four years and continues to involve more participants than any other sport in the United States.

"Individuals and whole families participate as long as they are physically able to play the sport," Dykes said. "In the early days, children didn't like gutter balls and got negative connotations about that. Now children ricochet balls off the bumpers and get strikes, which motivates them to come back and bowl some more."

The current economic climate has influenced Dykes' business, but not in a negative way.

"When things really get tough for individuals and families, they don't take long trips, but they still want to participate in activities. They don't want to lock themselves up in the house. They find family things that children and their parents can do together, like bowling.

"We think we provide a very positive environment," Dykes said. "We cranked up this place in 1983, and it's been a lot of fun. We've met a lot of great people."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Oakfield Lanes of Brandon

FEATURES: Individual bowling, leagues, youth leagues, parties, tournaments

WHERE: 1001 Oakfield Drive, Brandon

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday

PHONE: (813) 681-4783

ON THE WEB: www.oakfieldlanes.com