Exhibit 1 The undersigned hereby agree to purchase or cause to be purchased Zero Coupon Convertible Debentures due 2018 (the "Debentures") of AMF Bowling, Inc. and/or 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2006 (the "Notes") of AMF Bowling...

                                                                       Exhibit 1

            The undersigned hereby agree to purchase or cause to be purchased
Zero Coupon Convertible Debentures due 2018 (the "Debentures") of AMF Bowling,
Inc. and/or 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2006 (the "Notes") of
AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc., in each case, in open market transactions for the
accounts of the undersigned based on the proportions set forth on Schedule I
hereto. Each party hereto may terminate its participation in such purchases by
providing the other parties hereto with written notice of such termination. In
the event of any such termination, the proportions set forth on Schedule I for
the remaining entities shall be proportionately increased. This agreement and
acknowledgment may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original, and all of such counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.

Dated as of the 12th day of November, 1998.





                                       GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                       By:  GS Advisors, L.P.
                                            General Partner

                                       By:  GS Advisors Inc., its
                                            General Partner

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II OFFSHORE, L.P.

                                       By:  GS Advisors II (Cayman), L.P.
                                            General Partner

                                       By:  GS Advisors II, Inc., its
                                            General Partner

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO. VERWALTUNGS GMBH

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       THE XXXXXXX XXXXX GROUP, L.P.

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:


                                      -2-



                                       STONE STREET FUND 1995, L.P.

                                       By:  Stone Street Value Corp., its
                                            General Partner

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       STONE STREET FUND 1996, L.P.

                                       By:  Stone Street Empire Corp., its
                                            General Partner

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       BRIDGE STREET FUND 1995, L.P.

                                       By:  Stone Street Value Corp., its
                                            Managing General Partner

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       BRIDGE STREET FUND 1996, L.P.

                                       By:  Stone Street Empire Corp., its
                                            Managing General Partner

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:


                                      -3-



                                       XXXXX INVESTMENT ASSOCIATES V, L.P.

                                       By:  Xxxxx Partners V, L.P., its
                                            General Partner

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                       XXXXX EQUITY PARTNERS V, L.P.

                                       By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:


                                      -4-







                                   SCHEDULE I

                             ALLOCATION PERCENTAGES
              

                                                          %
                                                       -------
                                                    

           Xxxxx Investment Associates V, L.P.          14.5%

           Xxxxx Equity Partners V, L.P.                 1.6%

           GS Capital Partners II, L.P.                 54.1%

           GS Capital Partners II Offshore, L.P.        21.5%

           GS Capital Partners II (Germany) C.L.P.       2.0%

           Bridge Street Fund 1995, L.P.                 1.4%

           Bridge Street Fund 1996, L.P.                 1.5%

           Stone Street Fund 1995, L.P.                  1.3%

           Stone Street Fund 1996, L.P.                  2.2%


              TOTAL                               -------------
                                                       100.0%