Greater Miami International About Us

About the GMI

Bowlers from around the world are welcome to participate in the Greater Miami International, held
at the Cloverleaf Lanes in North Miami - 50 synthetic lanes with AMF automatic scorers, restaurant and bar.

This open tournament has two divisions for both Men and Women - Regular Division and Senior Division. The Regular Division is scratch competition. The Senior Division, for bowlers of 50 years
of age or older, is handicapped by age (Seniors 50-55 years= 0 pins, 56+ receive one pin for each year in age).

During the week-long event, each bowler rolls 18 games of singles and 12 games of doubles.
The top five scoring bowlers in each division roll a stepladder final event for the All Events Championship in pro-style bowling. Three places of trophy prizes are awarded in each division (*see rules). The All Events Champions also receive a special Champions tournament jacket.

Don't have a bowling partner for doubles? There are others who do not and we will partner you with one of these players.

Bring the family - the week in Miami isn't all bowling. There are parties, sightseeing, shopping, an evening gambling cruise, and a "fun tournament" to enjoy with special prizes. All these activities are included in your bowler or guest entry fee.

Don't forget your bathing suits and sunscreen. Our Headquarters hotel is on the beach in the Sunny Isles area of Miami Beach. Enjoy an excellent beachfront hotel at special tournament rates. (Details on hotel reservation form and on entry information page.) If you would like to extend your stay in Miami our tournament hotel rates apply for both before and after the tournament dates.
And don't worry about driving in Miami - the tournament provides buses, running between the lanes, Headquarters hotel and all of the activities on the schedule.

Make your plans now to join us in Miami for a great bowling vacation.

More details? - go to Entry Information. Then print out your entry form
and hotel reservations and send them along to us. Or enter and reserve your rooms on-line.

Purpose of the Tournament

Over the years, many requests were made to open our invitational FIQ American Zone ranking tournament, the Lee Evans Tournament of The Americas, to bowlers outside of the American Zone. Not wanting to disturb the traditions of that tournament, John I. Smith, as Executive Director of the Bowling Tournaments of The Americas Association, decided upon a new annual tournament to extend the friendship and hospitality theme of the Tournament of The Americas to bowlers world-wide. This annual singles and doubles scratch competition is open to all ABC, WIBC or FIQ adult bowlers. To stress camaraderie as well as competition, many activities are planned during the week to encourage the bowlers to make new friends and to enjoy their stay in the Greater Miami area.

History of the Tournament

As Founder and Executive Director of the Bowling Tournaments of the Americas Association
and General Manager of Cloverleaf Lanes, John I. Smith, with foresight, inspiration and a positive attitude, created the Greater Miami International Bowling Tournament. And on June 4, 1988, the inaugural Greater Miami International Bowling Tournament was held at Cloverleaf Lanes with a small group of bowlers from Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Holland, Norway, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Thailand and the USA.

The original tournament format had only Men’s and Women’s divisions competing for top honors in Singles, Doubles and All Events Stepladder competition. Two new divisions were added in 1993, Senior Men and Senior Women. The Senior division changed from scratch competition to being handicapped by age in 1998.

Mr. Smith retired with his wife Leota to Iowa in March 1990 but continued his involvement as a Member of the Board of Directors. In November 1996 John passed away. However, the spirit that John I. Smith fostered in both the Greater Miami International and the Tournament of the Americas tournament will continue. The 10^th Anniversary of the tournament in 1997 was dedicated to Mr. Smith and the tournament will now carry his name, in memory, as the John I. Smith Greater Miami International Bowling Tournament.

With a Board of Directors and Tournament Staff dedicated to continuing the tournament and the help of many people spreading the word, the Greater Miami International has seen an increase in bowlers and countries represented since its small beginnings.