In a move that is a sign of Professional Bowlers Association’s strength and growth, the PBA will start restricting non-members from competing in nationally televised events.

Starting in 2019, bowlers will need to be members of the PBA to compete for than a dozen national titles that will be broadcast as part of the FOX TV deal. Previously, non-members were allowed to compete but restricted to cashing in two events before being forced into membership to bowl another event.

Non-members will still be allowed to compete in regionals, PBA50 events and PBA Xtra Frame Tour on FloBowling events, however, the two-cash restriction will remain.

The lone exception to the rule will be the United States Bowling Congress Masters, one of the PBA Tour’s majors but run by the sport’s governing body. The Masters has a long history of amateur/non-member participation and that will continue.

Why does this matter to fans? Because it’s a great sign that the PBA is operating from a position of strength now instead of taking entries from anyone who can afford it. In other words, the PBA is as healthy as it has been as an organization in many years and continues to get stronger. It also provides another benefit to PBA membership, which should help encourage more bowlers to join the PBA.

With new media deals in place, the PBA’s stock is rising and restricting non-members is a return to the policies of when the PBA Tour thrived. PBA Deputy Commissioner Kirk von Krueger summed it up perfectly.

“It’s a privilege to be able to compete with and against the best bowlers in the world, not a right,” von Krueger said in a PBA news release. “Restoring the original policy is simply a matter of restoring one of the building blocks of the PBA.”

Here’s the full list of events that will only allow PBA members to compete:

• PBA Hall of Fame Classic, Arlington, Texas
• PBA Oklahoma Open, Shawnee, Oklahoma
• Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship, Shawnee, Oklahoma
• PBA Lubbock Sports Open, Lubbock, Texas
• PBA Tournament of Champions, Fairlawn, Ohio
• PBA Players Championship, Columbus, Ohio
• PBA Indianapolis Open, Indianapolis
• PBA Greater Jonesboro Open, Jonesboro, Arkansas
• World Series of Bowling X, Allen Park, Michigan (including the Cheetah Championship, Chameleon Championship, Scorpion Championship and PBA World Championship)
• PBA League, Portland, Maine