1. Do I need to get a team together to lawn bowl?

No, you can bowl as an individual. In most games played at the club all the names of bowlers that showed up that day are drawn into random teams to bowl.

You can form your own teams to go into competitive bowling tournaments if you wish.

You can come down and practice bowling by yourself or with your partner or friends anytime.

It is also nice for a couple in that they can bowl together in mixed pairs tournaments, or not.

The sport is not gender biased in any way. Women can bowl just as well or better than men, and many do.  It is a sport that you can play in together with your whole family (Son / Daughter / Husband /Wife / Grandfather / Grandmother / neighbour / co-workers).

2. Are there any other costs involved?

No, the $120 annual membership fee($75 1^st year) and bowls rental cover all bowling costs.

If you enter competitive tournaments there is usually an entry fee that is distributed back to the winning teams.

3. Do I have to wear white clothing all the time?

No, we only wear whites for tournaments and some special events. Even then we are not strict. But flat soled shoes are required to protect our greens. Any other time you bowl you can wear anything you want (within reason), but we do require some clothing!!

4. Are all lawn bowlers old and retired?

Lawn Bowling is a popular senior’s activity because it is one of the only sports that seniors can easily play.  (Unlike hockey, baseball, basketball, etc) But no, it is not just for seniors.

It is a sport for all ages.

People starting to bowl in their twentys or thirtys or earlier, have an opportunity to become great bowlers and even compete in Canadian, World and Commonwealth tournaments around the world.

The sport requires excellent co-ordination to become a competitive bowler, but the nice thing is at local draws and fun tournaments, anyone can participate at any age. At our club the average age is around 55. We have a few members in their 80’s as well as a few teenagers.

5. Is the sport physically challenging?

Yes and no.

If you want to get into competitive bowling you need stamina to bowl for many hours at a time. 

For everyday bowling almost anyone can do it. You have to bend down and pick up the 3-4 pound bowls and bend and stretch to deliver the bowls, but there is no twisting that tends to aggrevate joints and muscles as in some other sports. The bowlers also have to walk from one end of the green to the other one time during each end of play and that is about 50 meters.

Club games are 12 ends. 

Schedule:  Monday and Thursday  and Saturday Afternoons:  1:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday Evenings:  7:00 pm
Monday evenings 7:00 pm (to be scheduled)
Wednesday evenings 7:00 pm (to be scheduled)

There are devices available to help people pick up and deliver bowls if they cannot bend low enough. Lawn bowling can keep you fit well into your senior years, and it is a lot more fun than lifting weights!

Tournaments and special in club jitneys can be anywhere from 10 - 14 ends per game (1 ½ to 2 hours), and tournaments can involve two or three games per day. 

6. Is it like curling?

It is played and scored similar to curling, but it is more challenging.

Each bowl is biased to curve in one direction as it proceeds down the rink. A small white ball called the "jack" (target) is bowled first and like curling, the closest bowls to the jack are counted.

It is more interesting and challenging than curling in that the jack can be moved by a bowl, and that creates a new target for the rest of the bowls! Also the team delivering the jack can send it a short way or long way down the rink to make it even more of a challenge.

Unlike curling there are no aides to help the bowl down the rink (such as sweeping), so it is all up to the bowler. Greens can vary in speed and line of delivery due to weather and the maintenance done on the grass.

The grass used on the greens is similar to the grass used on golf putting surfaces.

6. Is it a recreational activity or a competitive sport?

It is truly both.

Lawn bowling is a sport that is very easy to play, but not that easy to play well. 

You can choose what type of bowling is for you.

The majority of members play only at our club in fun games where winning is not the most important objective.

About 20% of our members will also test their skills at local tournaments (There are over 100 clubs in Ontario who welcome you to play in competitive events at their club).   Cosburn Park Lawn Bowling Club offers tournaments for both Cosburn members as well as members of other clubs.

If you find you have a knack for the game and enjoy competitive bowling you can enter Provincial Championships.   3 of our members represented Ontario at the Canadian Championships in Halifax in 2008 and one member represented Canada in events in New Zealand & Malaysia.

Please eMail
Bob
with any questions you may have.
He will gladly respond.

bbates103(@)rogers.com
 (Please  remove the brackets around the '@' symbol to send the email. This prevents spam.)