KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 ― Adam Abdul Hamid comes from an era when tenpin bowling was a novelty, a parlour sport dominated by Chinese.
He not only made a name for himself but has become an expert in the business of the game.
In Selangor colours, he was a national bowler from 1967 to 1970 when the sport was in its infancy. It was also when he competed in the International Masters which is now known as the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup and South Pacific tournament in Australia.
He was a hit on the local circuit winning tournaments when he was better known as Tom Adam.
Almost half a century later, the Malacca-born Adam, who turned 70 last month, had the honour of being involved in the first bowling centre in Kuala Lumpur — the Jackie Bowl which was a 14 AMF-lane attraction — in 1966.
Bowling in Malaysia began with the first centre in Penang in 1961 when six lanes was the centre of pride at the International Hotel known as Penang Bowl.
At Jackie’s, Adam was the pro-shop assistant cum coach assisting the resident pro from the US and also managing the day-to-day operations of the centre, tournament and league competitions.
Jackie’s Bowl then changed hands and name to become Intan Bowl where he was assistant manager responsible for the overall operations and profitability of the centre including the restaurant and club.
It was work that cut short his playing career as his employers gave him an ultimatum — continue playing or concentrate on his job.
“It was something of a blessing in disguise because I have made a career out of bowling. Although I stopped bowling for the national team, I continued practising after work and in the many centres that opened at that time,” recalled Adam who doesn't look his age.
It was also when other centres sprouted in and around Kuala Lumpur namely the Shah Bowl, Federal Bowl and Star Bowl at Merlin Hotel (now Concorde Hotel).
“Bowling was a rich man’s and glamorous pastime then. One has to be in the circle to bowl and I was lucky to be working in the centre and record some decent games, too. This got me invited to join teams.”
Adam said bowling in the early days was more a parlour game but one had to be good to survive.
“The scores were not high. If you scored 220 regularly, you might be among the top bowlers,” said Adam who had never scored a perfect game.
He recalled: “My closest to a perfect game was in a local tournament where I had a spare in frame six and had strikes in the rest for a 279. Next day it was reported in the newspapers.”
Adam said bowling had been his whole life and he had no regrets.
“Friends tease me saying if bowling was taken away from me, I might not know what to do with myself.
“It may be true. I am good at what I do and I love my job,” said Adam who was equally good in slow and fast lanes.
Starting as a bowler and working as pro-shop assistant, helped him set-up bowling centres of which he was project manager, beside managing a host of centres in Malaysia and Indonesia.
He also doubled up to coach and manage the national team while also specialising in lane maintenance and lane conditions.
In the process he set up several state bowling associations. Currently, he is on the council of the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) and Kuala Lumpur Tenpin Bowling Association and a bowling consultant in management and supplies.
Adam’s history with the sport makes him an icon in the industry.
In fact, it was Adam who introduced MTBC president, Datuk Dr P.S. Nathan to his first bowling ball and got him hooked to the game to become a national bowler.
“Datuk Nathan used to come to watch his wife, Datin Malu, who was already into bowing and I asked him to take up the game. After some initial resistance he finally gave in. He became a good bowler and eventually formed MTBC in 1974.”
A national bowling association was formed in 1965, but it folded quietly in 1973 giving way to the new body.
Adam has been involved in setting up many centres in the country including the Mirama Bowling Centre, Bukit Beruntung Golf and Country Club bowling centre, Perdana Hotel Superbowl in Kota Baru, Sabah Bowling Centre and when he teamed up with a joint venture company between Malaysia and AMF, he was involved in setting up centres in Johor, Seremban, Kuantan, Selangor and Sabah.
Adam holds a Dick Ritger Academy coaching certificate qualifying himself to work in Indonesia and Singapore.
“I came up the hard way but I suppose the way bowling was played those days made me learn fast,” said Adam.
“Betting was heavy and unless one was good, you stand to lose money. That made everyone work hard to improve. In way, I felt it was a good incentive.”
Adam recalled an incident: “There were five bowlers and at the end of the game, the bottom placed bowler had to pay RM10 to the rest. I was the last bowler and in the final frame I had a split (with the No. 7 and No. 10 pins standing) and had to spare to avoid finishing last.
“All players asked me to pay up before bowling my last ball except, one guy who told them to let me bowl first. I stepped up and spun my ball and got I spared to my own surprise. I felt the money at stake made me concentrate and do my best.
“I am not advocating gambling, but it makes it interesting and fun. Bowlers automatically get focussed and give their best.
“Sometimes long training sessions could be boring. Even putting a 50 sen stake for throws and various other occasions will add excitement and focus.”
“Bowling was fun those days. I even organised Novelty Moonlight bowling where lights in the centre were turned off expect lights on the pin deck. I played deejay and called on a particular lane and offered a challenge and other prizes from sponsors. It can be anything from leaving a particular pin standing, sparing splits, strikes, consecutive strikes and many others.”
Adam said his dream was to set up a themed bowling club.
While awaiting to be commissioned for his next job through his bowling management and supplies company, he spends time with his son, Qalif Adnar Adam, who is national junior bowler who recently won the doubles gold medal at the Asian Youth Championship in Macau while partnering Muhd Rafiq Ismail.
His other children Natasha, Nordina and Johan were all involved in bowling but have since stopped to pursue studies or their careers.
Adam exudes bowling knowledge and is a one-stop centre for anyone interested in any area of the sport — be it the game, management, bowling industry and equipment. He remains a rare commodity in the industry.
