Strike! Kedah Teachers Build DIY Bowling Lane in School
DIY Bowling Lane Built in School Corridor
Two teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Gedong in Sungai Petani, Kedah built a do-it-yourself bowling lane at their school to provide students with exposure to and training in the sport.
From Inspiration to Reality
Mohd Khairul Farhan Bukhari and Nazar Mahmud started working on their project last May after seeing the positive response to a similar DIY bowling lane at another school in the state.
“We have basic experience in the sport and had previously trained students at a commercial bowling alley near our school,” Khairul, 36, told Bernama.
“So, when we saw fellow teachers at a school in Padang Terap build a DIY bowling lane, which received positive feedback, we began thinking about building one at our own school, especially since we’d had plans to start a bowling club.”
Funding and Construction
Their school’s DIY bowling alley, which cost about RM3,000 to build, is now 90% complete and was funded by the school’s parent-teacher association as well as fees collected from previously organised bowling classes.
Unique Features
Pins are currently set up manually, while the ball-return mechanism uses gravity to allow each ball to roll back to the player. (Bernama pic)
“The length of 18m follows original specifications, except we shortened it by 3m to allow space for students to move. The ball-return mechanism uses gravity to allow the ball to roll back to the player with a slight push,” Khairul explained.
“As for the pin setup, it’s done manually for now, but we’re planning to find an automatic system to improve the current setup,” Khairul added.
Training Sessions
The bowling lane can accommodate a minimum of two players and a maximum of six at a time, allowing training sessions to be conducted in turns.
“Before the lane was built, training was held at a nearby hotel that had bowling facilities, but the cost of RM8-RM9 per session was a challenge, especially for our students from B40 families,” the 52-year-old said.
Encouraging Response
“Now, we can train our students at our own lane, which is more cost-effective and convenient. Our students’ interest in bowling has also grown and, so far, the response has been very encouraging,” Nazar said.
Future Plans
The construction of the bowling lane was approved by the authorities and its recent opening was officiated by the Sungai Petani district education office.
According to Nazar, even before the official formation of the school’s bowling club last year, several students had already joined district- and state-level competitions, including the Malaysian Schools Sports Council bowling championship, as individual participants.
“With our own lane now, we hope more students can nurture their talent in bowling and no longer see it as an elite and expensive sport,” he added.
Conclusion
The DIY bowling lane built by the two teachers in Kedah is a testament to the power of creativity and resourcefulness. By providing a cost-effective and convenient way for students to train and learn the sport, the lane is helping to promote bowling as a viable option for students from all backgrounds.
FAQs
Q: How much did the DIY bowling lane cost to build?
A: The DIY bowling alley cost about RM3,000 to build.
Q: How long is the bowling lane?
A: The length of the bowling lane is 15m, which is 3m shy of a conventional bowling lane.
Q: How many students can train at the bowling lane at one time?
A: The bowling lane can accommodate a minimum of two players and a maximum of six at a time.
Q: What was the inspiration behind building the DIY bowling lane?
A: The inspiration came from a similar DIY bowling lane built at another school in the state, which received positive feedback.