Bowling for a record this weekend
<p>A bowler at Sunset Bowling Center in Coeur d'Alene throws his ball down the lane on Wednesday afternoon. As a part of National Bowling Week, July 31 to August 7, Sunset Bowling will make anyone's first game free in an effort to help set a new record for bowling games played in a single day.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Whether you toss a strike, spare or split, on Saturday you'll have a chance to be part of bowling history.
More than 3,200 centers nationwide will be part of an effort to break the record of 741,821 games bowled in one day.
Vern Oertel, owner of Sunset Bowl in Coeur d'Alene, said they will be part of the action, and offering one free game to anyone.
He believes it will be a great time to introduce folks to bowling, as well as unite bowlers in a common goal. Perhaps someone will throw a perfect 300 game.
Oertel has owned the 24-lane bowling alley for four years and has high hopes for Saturday's record try. The goal is 1 million games bowled nationwide.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said.
The event caps National Bowling Week, which is from July 31 to Aug. 7.
Sunset is offering one free game every time anyone age 19 and younger stops in through the end of August.
The bowling alley at 202 W. Sunset Ave. will be open from noon Saturday to 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
Balls are available free to use, and shoes can be rented.