At what stage do you normally think about entering tournaments?
I started bowling in major scratch tournaments after I'd been bowling for 4 years. I've learnt stacks, and made my first cut at a youth tournament after 6 years in the sport (2 years bowling major tournaments), after missing one of the matchplay cuts by 10 pins earlier in the year. You learn from that when it is your last shot that costs you a finals spot.
Do you wait until you have a decent average?
It depends what you want to gain out of a particular tournament - if you want just experience of "the big league", by all means enter. If it's scratch, I wouldn't set hopes on winning if you've only been bowling a short time, or average 160. The way I see it.. to be a fringe cut tournament player, 190-200 average will put you in a top 30 ballpark if you bowl well, but to be able to consistantly cut it at tournament level (at least nationally) - 210+ depending on your centre.
Do you just think "what the hell" and wanna see what's what?
Sometimes that can be a good idea, but maybe go down and have a look around the year before you decide to enter - it's a very different environment. Don't forget to give way two lanes..
Above said, do you care if you finish last?
Frankly, no. But I like to bowl well, so if I do that then generally I'm happy. Making a cut is a bonus, helps you understand what's required to do it more often.
Do you gain anything by the experience, do you lose anything by the experience, is the experience worthwhile?
Absolutely you gain from the experience - you gain experience which in itself, if you take lessons from it and apply it to your game, which is priceless. People keep saying how $300 to enter a national tournament is expensive experience.. as far as I see it, you can't put a price on experience if you want to be the best. It is going to take a lot of "donations" before you gain the knowledge necessary and experience to cut at a major event, and then winning often takes longer again. It's a process, and success is unlikely overnight. Unless you are really emotionally fragile or have massive self confidence issues, then you stand to lose nothing from the experience, except the entry fee the first few times. The experience is as I said, priceless, if you want to be the best.