The Broken Pins were tournament champions of the adult, co-ed recreational bowling league that plays at Garden Street Bowl in Kennebunk.  Broken Pins includes, from left, William Avison, Jeremiah Ouellette, Dan Peacock and Greg Pons. League play begins again in January and is seeking additional members. Paul Coughlin photo

KENNEBUNK – What to do indoors, in town, this coming winter, and beyond? Those who take part in the co-ed recreational leagues say bowling, downtown.

It is fun league play members say – a good time, with laughter and camaraderie.

The co-ed recreational leagues play Mondays and Wednesdays at Garden Street Bowl and volunteer league organizer Paul Coughlin said folks who are interested can get in touch now at gsbleagues1@gmail.com. He said new leagues form and begin 10-pin play the second week in January.

Coughlin became interested in the league as his wife, Teri Collard, bowls. After COVID, the couple was wondering when league play would restart at the venue on Garden Street.

“They said they didn’t have anyone to run the leagues and I volunteered,” said Coughlin of the operators of Garden Street Bowl.

He does not bowl in the league – running keeps him busy – but he grew up playing candlepin, as many did in New England. These days, 10-pin play is popular and is the type of bowling played at Garden Street Bowl.

“I was an avid bowler, growing up,” said Julie Doyle, a member of the adult co-ed recreational league. “When Garden Street opened, I asked if they were going to have leagues and I’ve been in it since it started. I love to bowl … I love meeting the people, hanging out, and it’s really laid back and everyone is cheering for everyone else.”

Coughlin said the league draws a diverse group – people in the hospitality industry, small business owners, school employees, landscapers, lobster fishermen, musicians, and others.

Recently eight, four-person teams took part in league playoffs. Coughlin explained that the playoffs were a single-elimination bracket.

The adult co-ed recreational league that plays at Garden Street Bowl is looking for additional members. For more information, email Paul Coughlin at gsbleagues1@gmail.com. Tammy Wells photo

“All eight teams bowled in two-team matches in the first round, four teams went on to the semi-finals, two teams bowled in the championship round,” Coughlin said.

As it turned out, a team whose prospects weren’t as robust as others took home the bragging rights.

“In a real underdog story, the #7 seeded team (called) Broken Pins defeated the #1 seeded team Alleyoops in the championship round,” said Coughlin.

Coughlin said Garden Street Bowl provided a pizza buffet for league bowlers during the playoffs, prizes for the winning team and the runners-up in the finals, along with prizes to the man and the woman with the highest bowling averages during league play.

Coughlin said folks do not have to be “ace” bowlers to take part.

He and the others are looking forward to new league play, come January.

Doyle said she enjoys the laughter and the fun atmosphere.

“It’s nice to have one thing I know I going to be doing in the winter,” she said. “It’s a really fun time, no pressure… just come out and have fun.”