Darlene Zandstra
Dar started league bowling approximately 29 years ago, but before that she only enjoyed it as a fun activity with her family. At the age of 8, she would go bowl with her dad, who worked for Brunswick, at the Bowl-A-Rama and that is where she got hooked on the game. If she wasn't bowling with her dad, she was fishing with him, her other passion. Having never bowled in junior leagues, she joined a league at Northway Lanes. Then a couple years after that, she joined a mixed league with her husband, Gary, at Bob-Hi Lanes which they bowled on for many years. Today she still bowls with Gary on the Wayne's Deli Mixed Trio league at Sherman and she also bowls on the Classic All-Stars at Northway Lanes.
Dar is a stay at home wife and mother of one daughter, Marie and proud Grandma of Bailey Ann, Preston and Cody who takes up most of her time if she isn't bowling or fishing. She is even teaching them how to bowl!
Dar has accomplished a lot out on the lanes. Dar rolled her first 600 series in the Women's State Tournament. Her highest average was 206 in 2001 and she has continued to average 200 or better for the last six years. She has rolled the bowlers dream of a perfect game twice, with the first one in 1997 which was the highlight of her bowling career and quite a shock that she did it. She was more excited with stringing strikes with the possibility of winning the big game pot of the league of $7.00. Her second 300 game came in 2002. She also bowled a 299 game and many high 200 games. She has bowled many, many 700 series with her high being 778 which was the city high series for women for 5 years. She said that was the most emotional for her.
She credits Bob Grambau for the many lessons and pointers that he gave her at Maple Lanes when she started getting a little more serious about the game. Also Lisa Bishop a pro bowler who gave her a lot of pointers. She has watched many of the top bowlers in Muskegon like Sue Ellis whom she told "when I grow up I want to bowl just like you". Well Dar, you may not be any taller, but you certainly learned how to bowl.
She has won the GMUSBCWBA's City Tournament Actual Doubles twice, setting a record 1945 in 1999, and again in 2005. Dar has rolled the Season High Game five times and took the Muskegon Chronicle Award twice, for season high series, twice. She has been on the team which took the City Tournament Actual a few times and has many other bowling accomplishments.
Dar says she thoroughly enjoys the game of bowling and has left her mark on three area bowling centers; Muskegon Lanes with a 300 game. At Sherman Bowling Center with a 300 game and at Northway Lanes with a 299 game and a 778 series.
Dar, after leaving your mark in the bowling history of Muskegon, you are well deserved of your induction into the Muskegon Bowling Hall of Fame.