Dating advice - too aggressive or interested?

[Lolailo]

I would like to get some advice for the following situation.

I am not sure how much context to add, but I have been single for 5+ years. I haven't dated much dealing with other things life threw at me.

I am kids free for two weeks and last night I decided to do something I enjoy and I joined a meetup of a "bowling" group. I'm quite good at bowling and have played for many years. A man approached me (very friendly) asking about my game and we chated briefly. We met again while ordering at the bar and I mentioned a friend of mine during our conversation, to which he asked me if she was cute. I told him yes and that she was single. Then he asked me "what about you?".

I deflected and brushed it off without answering his question, and then he insisted in paying for me beer. I thanked him saying I should pay next time, to which he responded he hoped so, because it meant he would see me again.

He asked for my social media, and when the competition was done we stayed to hang out and play some more (as so did a lot other people). He also tried to "stay in touch professionally". I don't want to be outing, but let's say that if I was a baker he asked me if he could order a custom cake from me.

He has added me in social media today and sent me a message that I haven't opened yet.

I find him very attractive physically and intellectually. But I thought he was a bit young. In looking at his socials he is at least 30 for sure, but I think he is JUST 30. I'm 40.

I would like to get to know him (we share a hobby and he is as good as me and was really fun to play) BUT if he keeps being so straightforward:

A. Friendzone him
B. "What about you? Are you single?"

So is the original man not in the picture with you now? I'm confused but it doesn't take much these days!

I declined the dinner with original guy and told him that I preferred we kept meeting at bowling (only).

He is not completely out of the picture, I will meet him when I go bowling. I don't reject the idea that he may be a great guy and when I get to know him I end up liking him and then we go on a date, but that's a possibility with just everyone, isn't it? But at this point the risk of ruining my hobby is not offset by any palpable benefit.

I only went bowling once more and he was not there (he didn't know I was coming). I asked his friend who told me he was on a business trip.

Re directness: what nationality is he? For example Meditteranean men are really direct and straightforward and don’t lose time going after the girl they like.
when I arrived to the UK I thought that British men do not like me at all. I was so used to Greeks/Italians etc that I wouldn’t pick up on the subtle British flirting. I now kind of get it but I realise I lost so many oportunities.
His directness might be a cultural thing then.

It would be interesting to hear an update and whether this was a successful meet cute story.

Update for you @occhiazzurri

I connected much better with guy #2, Tom (the one who walked me home). We kept going to the meetup and getting to know each other. He has tried to kiss me a couple of times, but has not forced anything when I moved away 😀

Original guy got jealous of Tom and a bit too much, so I stopped going to avoid him. I am meeting Tom this weekend at a different event and just enjoying myself.

However, finding this post was interesting since I haven't thought of these guys much in the last few months. I started having feelings for my boss and maybe using Tom to distract me from them.

So the excitement of meeting someone new didn't last past 2-3 meetings. I don't have feelings for Tom. And I am gaga about my boss.

And I remember all the posts about age... Tom is 34.

Ah that’s a shame! I was looking forward to a successful meet cute story.

Go for it. I approve