For over half a century Grand Haven’s George “Yutz” Nietering was the most accomplished bowler in the Grand Haven – Muskegon area.  From the mid-1930s up to his retirement from the sport in 1991, Nietering was consistently ranked at the head of the list of local bowlers, maintaining top pin totals and leading his teams to winning seasons.  Despite his competitive success, Nietering remained modest and easy-going – always popular with teammates and competitors alike, a true gentleman and a credit to the sport of bowling.

Nietering was introduced to bowling while still a teenager, setting pins at Grand Haven’s Seifert Alleys in the early 1930s.  He soon participated in league play and quickly rose to the top of the ranks of local bowlers.  At age 20 he was already posting averages around 200, a remarkable figure during the 1930s.  Beginning with a straight-ball delivery, his scores improved dramatically once he developed a more effective hook-ball.  In a 1936 practice session, he compiled an unheard-of 772 series, the best ever at that time in Grand Haven bowling circles.

By the late 1930’s, Nietering began bowling in top-ranked leagues in Muskegon and averaged 191 over the next 20 years.  In 1940, he led the crack Wolverine Express teams in establishing a record single-game team total of 1230 pins.  Two weeks later, his team set another local record with a team series of 3165 pins.  In 1942, “Yutz” rolled the highest ABC-sanctioned single series in Muskegon – a 762 series in five-man league play.  The record lasted for 23 years.  By this time, Nietering was taking his bowling skills to tournament action throughout the region, winning the prestigious Jack Sharkey Singles Classic in Battle Creek in 1948 and finishing in the money at the Peterson Classic in Chicago in 1955.  He also was competing in league play in Grand Rapids and fared well enough in that bowling hotbed to be named to the Grand Rapids Herald’s All-City team in 1951 with Furniture City legends like Billy Golembiewski.  During his prime years, Nietering competed in 10 ABC National tournaments, always finishing on the prize list.

Throughout the decades of the 1950’s through the 1980’s, Nietering continued to bowl regularly in Muskegon and Grand Haven, winning numerous individual trophies in singles, doubles, and all-events competitions.  During the 1957-58 season, Nietering became the first Muskegon league bowler to finish with an average of over 200 pins per game – 202 to be exact.  He attained bowling perfection – the 300 game – on two occasions: once in a practice game at Muskegon’s Maple Lanes in 1953 and once more in League competition at Grand Haven in 1972.  A rotator cuff injury in his bowling shoulder forced Nietering to give up the sport for good in 1991.