Bowling places are typically referred to as either an alley or a LANE. An alley is a five letter word for a bowling place, while a LANE is a four letter word for a bowling place. Bowling alleys and lanes are places where people can go to play the sport of bowling. They usually contain multiple lanes, which are long, narrow strips of wood or synthetic material that the ball rolls down. The alleys and lanes are usually surrounded by gutters, which are designed to catch the ball if it goes off course.