1)  The 2026 Bluegrass Classic Bourbon Bowl will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 and Sunday, February 22, 2026, in accordance with the schedule of events to be published.

2)  The 2026 Bluegrass Classic Bourbon Bowl tournament is an invitational tournament and the tournament’s governing body has the right to deny entry to any individual for any reason.

3)  The Bluegrass Classic Bourbon Bowl is tentatively set for one shift with a maximum registration of 192 bowlers. The tournament committee will consider increasing the maximum registration with an additional shift provided there is sufficient interest and provided reasonable accommodations can be provided by the bowling house. 

4)  PBA member will not be accepted in the 2026 Bluegrass Classic Bourbon Bowl.

5)  The 2026 Bluegrass Classic Bourbon Bowl will be a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) sanctioned tournament, and the following shall apply concerning USBC membership, entering average and handicap:

1. It is required that all participants hold a current season USBC membership card.  Non-USBC bowlers may qualify for entry by purchase of an associate membership; this membership may be purchased at www.bowl.com.  In the alternative, a bowler may qualify for entry by paying a five dollar ($5.00) USBC participation fee. Bowlers that opt for the USBC participation fee forfeit the right to qualify for USBC special awards and recognitions.
2. Bowlers shall use their 2024-25 composite book average (with a minimum of twenty-one games).
3. If no 2024-25 composite average is available, the bowler’s highest current average (with a minimum of twenty-one games) as of December 1, 2025, held in any league shall be used. 
4. A bowler’s December 1, 2025, average will automatically be used if it is ten (10) or more pins higher than the bower’s 2024-25 composite book average.  USBC Rule 319a-2, the “ten pin rule,” shall apply in its entirety.
5. Bowlers whose tournament average (with a minimum of twenty-one games) exceeds their book average or December 1, 2025, average by fifteen (15) or more pins shall use their accumulated tournament average for this tournament.  Tournament averages must be submitted prior to the first game of the tournament.  USBC Rule 319e shall apply in its entirety. 
6. The average of any bowler may be adjusted by the tournament Director upon the recommendation of the tournament Statistician or of the local bowling association of the bowler in question.  Any adjustments must be made before the bowler bowls the first event.  If the assigned average is not accepted by the bowler, the entry fee shall be refunded.  See USBC Rule 319c.
7. Bowlers without a verified average shall enter with an average of 230 for men and 200 for women.  See USBC Rule 319b.
8. Handicap shall be based on ninety percent (90%) of the difference between the bowler’s entering average and two hundred thirty (230).
9. International citizens may substitute verified averages from leagues utilizing American Ten-Pin rules for USBC averages.

6)  Bowlers are responsible for verifying their own average. If the submitted average is lower than required and results in lower classification, the bowler’s scores will be disqualified. If the submitted average is higher than required, prize winning will be based on the submitted average. Average corrections may made up until the end of the bowler’s first game of a series.  See USBC Rules 319a-3 and 319a-4.

7)  A bowler who has qualified for a cash and/or merchandise prize of 1) three hundred dollars ($300.00) or more in any event, 2) total combined prize winnings of $500 or more in any one tournament; or 3) total combined prize winnings of $1000 or more in all tournaments within the last 12 months including “all-events," special features, special prizes and donated prizes in a tournament within the past twelve-month period must provide the Statistician with notification as required by USBC Rule 319d to be used for possible re-rating of the bowler’s entering average. Failure to comply shall result in forfeiture of entry fee and prize winnings.

8)  The receipt of an entry and its acceptance by the statistician for one or more events shall regulate the number of players who shall participate. There will be no refunds after the Statistician’s acceptance of an entry. 

9)  Entries will only be accepted via the on-line registration and payment systems prescribed by the statistician. Entries must be accompanied by the full amount of fees due to be considered complete.  The deadline to enter the tournament is February 3, 2025.  The statistician reserves the right to accept late entries to fill positions as needed. 

10)  Bowlers may only bowl once in each event.  Each event consists of three games for a total of nine games. Team event and Doubles event will be bowled in tandem. 

11)  All protests or claims of error must be submitted in writing to the Director no later than one hour after the bowler or team has bowled. 

12)  Substitutes will be allowed to bowl at the Statistician’s discretion. Substitutes must register with the Statistician at least one hour before entering the event.

13)  A bowler may win only one special awards category. 

14)  Each event, including all-events, shall have its own prize list which will be based upon a minimum return ration of 1:8.  There will be a minimum one hundred percent (100%) return of all prize fees. 

15)  Late bowlers shall start bowling in the frame in which they are prepared to bowl. Missed frames shall be scored as zero (0). 

16)  Bowlers shall check in upon arrival at the bowling facility.

17)  Bowlers are not permitted to practice on their assigned lanes on their scheduled day of bowling.  All games will be conducted at Kingpin Lanes, 9525 Taylorsville Rd, Louisville, Ky.  502-719-5464

18)  All prize money shall be awarded within thirty (30) days of the tournament, unless a pending protest makes that deadline impossible to meet. 

19)  In all matters of dispute, the Director’s decision is final unless an appeal is made in accordance with USBC Rule 329.