I am not a good bowler in the slightest, something which is completely evident from my constant scoring around the 130 points. Similarly, I just might be the world’s worst football player, evident from pretty consistently being one of the last picks for teams.

Considering these two factors, one might think that fowling – a newly conceived trend integrating bowling and football into one chaotic venture – might be my worst nightmare. So, how I wound up at Cascade Road’s Fowling Warehouse on Superbowl Sunday might forever be a mystery to me.

However, this unique activity quickly proved my preconceived notions wrong and surprised me with how enjoyable, adaptable, and versatile the Fowling Warehouse could be, even for a particularly uncoordinated player like myself.

Walking in, dozens of lanes immediately became visible to my party of about a dozen. As we were all under 21, we were immediately marked with “Xs” on our hands to designate us as underage, as the warehouse is a popular destination for adults to relax and unwind. Nevertheless, the setting was unintimidating and extremely welcoming as we were escorted to our lanes.

The concept is simple. With two classic ten-pin setups facing each other, players use a football rather than a bowling ball as a projectile of choice; the aim of the game becomes being the first to lob the football over to knock down all ten of your team’s pins.

While I was unsurprisingly still one of the last picks for teams, the sport proved to come easier to me than most might have expected. The sheer fact that I could knock down more than eight pins is evidence enough that fowling is not the toughest mountain to conquer.

In this way, fowling proved to be flexible and exciting for all. While the activity may be difficult to completely master, it takes only a few rounds to get into the correct motions. The experienced dads next to us were lobbing strikes from the back line, while my friends and I attempted spares from the front line; a uniting theme between all groups, however, was simply an afternoon of fun.

The facility is extremely well-run, and while the lanes are placed slightly close together, flying footballs were more of a slight nuisance than a cause for genuine concern. It was obvious that the equipment was in great condition and well-maintained, and the variety of distances rendered it perfect for players of any age or experience.

My friends and I didn’t frequent the restaurant or bar adjacent to the lanes, but it was clear that everyone there was enjoying their experience. Consistent themes of the Fowling Warehouse seemed to be high quality and an obvious dedication to customers’ enjoyment.

While there are different pricing options, such as reservations and open play, the activity in general is on the costlier side.  A lane reservation for two hours runs at $120, though up to ten people can play per lane. But for a unique experience every once in a while, the Fowling Warehouse is more than worth it.

All in all, fowling opened my eyes to a distinctive, entertaining way to enjoy two already enjoyable sports. And the Fowling Warehouse provided me with a great introduction to this activity, one that I’m sure to tackle again soon.