Inside Cal Poly’s bowling class

Mustang Lanes, located in the University Union, is the only bowling alley in the city of San Luis Obispo. It’s also home to a bowling class offered by the Kinesiology Dept. that Cal Poly students can take for one unit of course credit. Several sections of KINE 109 are offered each quarter and meet twice a week for fifty minutes at a time. 

Students form teams of four and compete against each other in a simulated league throughout the quarter.

Mark Montague is the instructor for the bowling classes and the mechanic for Mustang Lanes. 

“Most students say that this is the most fun class they’ve taken on campus,” Montague said. “They get to bowl with their friends and just providing that competitive atmosphere and just knowing there is a prize they can win at the end of the class, they really take it seriously. 

Montague attributes the popularity of the class to the fact that bowling is such an accessible recreational activity and for many students it provides a welcome stress reliever.

“With the stress of actual class and real life we also like to tote that we provide a little bit of a stress relief,” Montague said. “You get to huck a ball down a lane and get some aggression out that way.”

Mitchell D’india, a business administration senior who is enrolled in the class in winter 2023, says in addition to stress relief he had another motivation to enroll in the class.

“We’ve always had the bowling lanes here but they cost money, so I thought it would be fun to hang out with some pals without it costing any money,” D’India said.

This quarter while in class, D’Iindia says he experienced what he calls a bowling high. 

“That bowlers high once you get a spare or strike, there’s nothing like it and it really makes you yearn for retirement,” D’India said. 

Due to its popularity, KINE 109 can be challenging to get into. For anyone interested in enrolling in bowling for spring quarter, Montague has a word of advice.

“Spring quarter is the absolute worst quarter to try and take the class if you are an underclassmen,” Montague said. “Most upperclassmen, seniors, fifth years, grad students, since they get priority registration they tend to fill up with them very quickly.”