Lawn bowling? It’s for old people, right?
Ha! First off, I am “old.” Secondly, it is not just for old people, and wearing white is not a prerequisite. Lawn bowling is for all ages and fashion statements. In fact, in our sixties, my husband and I are among the oldest in the recreational league we recently joined.
I didn’t realize it when we became members of our local club, but the recreational league we play in is part of a push to revive the sport in England and Canada.
A 2023 article in the Globe and Mail talks about how Brits and Canadians are trying to revive the sport and attract younger participants. Go figure! The article mentions adding “party-like events” where players bowl barefoot while holding a can of beer. So, it’s not just our Wednesday night league! And yes, bowling barefoot is wonderful. The field is very lush and tickles your soles! And of course, the beer tickles your soul, as does the uptempo, loud music. Gotta love that!
Hopefully, the more social atmosphere will help bring more people in because it turns out that lawn bowling is actually a lot of fun! But, in Canada, lawn bowling numbers have dropped from 24,000 to around 13,000 in the past 20 years, mainly because it has in the past catered to an older demographic.
Sheila Anderson, 49, is one of the new, younger players. She has been a member of the Mayfair Lawn Bowling Club for two years and is one of the organizers of the Wednesday Social League. She helps buy groceries, looks after the BBQ and bar, and communicates with the board. Yes, you read that right. You can enjoy a pre-bowl burger, a beer, and some tasty snacks!
“I started lawn bowling because I thought it would be a fun sport to meet people. I actually bought (a house) in the area for a list of reasons, and lawn bowling was one of them.
I think more and more young people are trying out this sport, which is wonderful. Last year, I heard we had 40 members, and this year it’s closer to 60. I think it’s word of mouth and people inviting friends to try it out. It’s also a very laid-back, inclusive vibe.”
What is lawn bowling? Also known as Bowls, it is a strategic sport that can be played by anyone. Without getting into a lot of details, here are a few things you should know. Lawn bowling is played on a “green”, or a large, smooth grass surface. The bowls are hard resin balls that, when thrown or rolled on the green, change direction depending on the curve. This is because the bowls are not spherical. They have flat sides.
The game begins with the placement of the “jack.” This is a small white ball that one team rolls down the green to the opposite end of the lane. Players from each team then take turns rolling their bowls down the green toward the jack until all the bowls have been played. The bowls closest to the jack get points, and the team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner. Games usually take about two hours.
Lawn bowling is a good form of low-impact exercise. Your arms and upper body get a workout as you throw the bowl down the field, your legs get a workout as you lunge into the throw, and you will add steps to your routine as you walk up and down the green. Playing bowls will also improve your hand-eye coordination, as you must determine how hard to roll the bowl and how to get it as close to the jack as possible.
As you can imagine, bowls involves some offensive and defensive strategy. And just when you think you’ve got a few points, someone hits the jack and moves it, leaving your bowls in the middle of nowhere!
And, of course, there is a lot of social interaction when playing. We have three or sometimes four people on our team, so at least six people are playing. Funny story. . . I accidentally threw the wrong bowl and joked about needing to get my eyes checked. One of my opponents said, “You should come see me!” It turns out she is an eye doctor! I am now sporting a new set of glasses, and I no longer have an excuse for throwing the wrong bowl!
My husband and I thought about joining lawn bowling about 20 years ago (yikes), but the only options to play were Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and between the two of us, we had other commitments. Last year, a friend invited us to come and give it a try. We did, and we really enjoyed it. But it was late in the season, so we did not become official members. This year, we were in there right at the beginning. We are on a team, Skip Out the Back, Jack (a play on the little white ball you have to aim for), and aside from finding a wonderful eye doctor, we have met some interesting people. We are enjoying it! The season got off to a slow start because of the inclement weather we had here, but now things are rolling. We even managed to get a game in last week right before thunder and lightning chased everyone off the greens.
Our Wednesday night games are purely recreational, which is a good thing because even with my new glasses, I’m not very good. I know I have to aim for the skip. I know how to tell which way the bowl will curve. But knowing is different from doing, and no matter how hard I try, that darn bowl still goes off in a completely different direction. I mean, there are several things to consider. How hard should I throw the bowl? How do I get through the other bowls that are in my way? How do I not hit my teammate’s bowl? How do I get close to the jack? How can I get the bowl to curve at the right time? I need to focus, be more mindful (a constant theme in my life!), and be patient with myself. You see, there is much more to learn in lawn bowling than just getting close to the jack.
So, what’s stopping you from coming out and giving it a try? You’ve missed the May open house, but the first couple of bowls are free, so you can still try it before you commit to purchasing a membership. We did!
Interesting Reads & Things
What Is Lawn Bowling? A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide (bowlingforbeginners.com)
Jokes About Lawn Bowls – Jack High Bowls
‘That is ridiculous’: brilliant bowls shot lights up World Indoor Championships (youtube.com)
The EVOLUTION of Lawn Bowls (youtube.com)
One of the most epic Lawn Bowls Shots ever! (youtube.com)
Cosburn park lawn bowling is Toronto’s 90-year-old lawn bowling club (youtube.com)
Wanderings Art 
We are Mayfair Lawn Bowlers and began bowling in our early 60’s. We were looking for summer exercise and a connection to socialize. We found that at Mayfair. Our 20+ years of lawn bowling has taken us to many greens in Saskatchewan for competition, as well as Canadian Championships in different cities in Canada. We are now in our mid 80’s and still enjoying a competitive spirit, and have enriched our lives with a whole family of bowlers. Additionally, when fall comes along, we join a Short Mat club, which is similar in some way to Lawn Bowling, using the same bowls. Short Mat brings together the two lawn bowling clubs in Saskatoon. Retirement cannot get better than this! Mayfair Lawn Bowling Club will celebrate 100 years in 2025 and there will be many exciting events! Join the club and don’t miss out on the fun! Lorraine and Ivan Layton
LikeLike