A man in a brightly colored shirt stands with arms crossed in a room filled with rows of shelves holding beige hats, reminiscent of the vibrant vibe at Spare Time Texas. A black jacket with "Coach Dug" written on it hangs on the wall beside him, echoing the fun-loving spirit found at a family fun center.

For anyone who’s participated in our Bowling Leagues, Free Kids Bowling Lessons, or just visited the Bowling Counter at Spare Time Texas in Pflugerville, they all know Coach Dave Stanton.

Coach Dave arrived at Spare Time in Pflugerville in August of 2021, where he’s worked consistently as one of our primary Bowling Counter attendants. If you ask most people though, they’ll tell you his greatest role at Spare Time is the coaching and teaching he does throughout the year with the youth of the area. Not only has he coached bowlers at the high school and collegiate level, but he also hosts our Free Kids Bowling Lessons throughout the year, as well as oversees our Youth Clubs and Leagues.

“Spare Time has given me an opportunity to expand my horizons as a bowling coach. I really enjoy working with the kid’s lessons. The best part is sharing that moment with them, standing at the foul line, when they’re knocking down pins without the assistance of bumpers. I wish everyone could experience that moment.”

– Coach Dave Stanton

But it’s not just the kids that Coach Dave loves helping. He’s always ready and willing to offer wisdom and advice to beginners and experienced bowlers alike. “One of the most interesting aspects of my job here at Spare Time is meeting and sharing experiences with both my fellow team members and our guests,” says Coach Dave. “I think they appreciate the time that I spend working with and coaching both kids and individuals with a variety of abilities.”

A bald man in a blue shirt, wearing an earpiece, writes on a clipboard while sitting next to a young boy in a light blue shirt at the Spare Time Texas family fun center. The boy stands close, watching him write, surrounded by chairs and the dark wall of the bowling area in the background.

Outside of coaching, one of his biggest hobbies is collecting baseball cards, with a collection in the hundreds of thousands! “I’ve lost track of how many,” he says, “Heck, I once traded 100,000 cards for a single card.” One of his favorite aspects of his collecting hobby is attempting to collect autographs from players, often at minor league baseball games.

In his spare time, a man in a red and white shirt organizes a collection of beige and green shoes in a wall-mounted cubby shelf at the family fun center. Each cubby holds a pair with numbers on the heels as he carefully places them in their spots, ensuring everything is ready for the next round of bowling.
A person wearing a black jacket with "Coach Dave" and a logo sits on a bench against a stone wall at the family fun center. The background includes a walkway and grass, hinting at the lively atmosphere of Spare Time Texas. The weather appears cloudy.

When you ask him what he’s most grateful for, though, the answer comes quickly. “My family and friends. It’s taken a while, but I’m starting to learn that the ‘what and where’ are not as important as the ‘who, when, and why.’ Time goes by too fast.” However, there are still plenty of things he looks forward to each day. “Throwing that last strike and finally rolling a 300-game wouldn’t be a bad day. Maybe some BBQ, tacos, or a good chocolate shake.”

MINI GOLF IS FINALLY HERE! JOIN US STARTING ON FRIDAY, APRIL 24TH AT 5:00PM TO EXPERIENCE THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE BACKYARD AT SPARE TIME TEXAS IN TEMPLE!

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