USBC Moving to Digital Membership Cards Beginning in 2027-2028

The United States Bowling Congress has announced that it will no longer mail printed membership cards beginning with the 2027-2028 season, marking a significant change in how bowlers access and manage their membership.

For Oregon State USBC members, the 2026-2027 season will serve as a transition year as USBC helps bowlers, league officials and associations prepare for a fully digital membership card system. During that season, members will be encouraged to use the BOWL.com mobile app to access their digital membership card. Members also will be able to print their own membership cards, if needed, through the Find A Member feature on BOWL.com.

According to USBC, the move is part of a broader effort to modernize the membership experience and make it easier for bowlers to join, renew and access their information. Online membership sign-up at BOWL.com/JOIN and use of the mobile app are expected to become central parts of that process.

USBC says the shift to digital membership will bring several benefits for bowlers and organizations alike. Those include instant activation and access to membership without waiting for a card to arrive in the mail, convenient access to membership cards through cell phones, improved efficiency during league and tournament check-in, and easier renewals and upgrades.

To help make the transition as smooth as possible, USBC will provide tools and guidance throughout the 2026-2027 season. Associations, league officers and bowling centers will receive support materials this summer, including new membership applications with QR codes for online sign-up, posters for display in centers, and handouts for league officials to use at league meetings.

USBC said the move is supported by recent survey data. In a membership survey, more than 85 percent of respondents said they either did not use their printed membership card for anything or simply carried it in their wallet. Only 11 percent said the printed card was a valuable part of their membership. At the same time, smartphone adoption among USBC’s core demographics now exceeds 92 percent and continues to grow.

USBC believes those numbers show that most members already are relying on digital tools, making this the right time to move toward a system that better reflects how bowlers interact today.

The change also ties into USBC’s larger digital transformation plans, which include upgrades to the membership system, improvements to the mobile app, stronger data-driven communication efforts and more cost-efficient strategies. USBC said a digital membership experience also better serves tournament directors, youth operators and local associations by allowing faster and more reliable membership verification.

For bowlers in Oregon, the key message is that printed membership cards will still be available through the 2026-2027 season, but that year should be viewed as an opportunity to get comfortable with the new digital process before the fully digital rollout begins in 2027-2028.

USBC said more information about the transition will be shared in the weeks and months ahead.