Gym Shorts: Lawn bowling is amazing fun

Lawn bowling was not what I expected. I thought I was going to be bored; I was anything but.

I had such a swirl of emotions come over me when I tried lawn bowling for the first time. There was humility, awe, and the surround sound of happy people and children, along with the gush of waves hitting the beach. This was, of course, slightly drowned out by the clacking of the bowls and the soft laughter of folks enjoying the game of lawn bowling.

One evening last September, Jim and I joined the Kincardine Lawn Bowling Club to find out if we would like this sport. We were warmly greeted by strangers - club members who gracefully took the time to teach us how to bowl. The club is situated on Lambton Street in Kincardine next to Macpherson Park behind the children’s Tiny Tot play area. The green bowling lawn consists of six lanes.

Club member Linda Snyder explained that the balls are called “bowls” and the goal is to roll a bowl as close to the “jack” (a small white ball) as possible. The jack is rolled first down the length of the green to start the play.

There can be four or six players in a lane, and the players take turns rolling their bowls toward the jack. Points are scored by the bowl closest to the jack. It is similar to curling where you can also knock out other bowls that are close to the jack. The bowls are weighted so the challenging part is figuring out how to toss them so they curl toward the jack.

You simply cannot throw it!

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Like any sport, there are some rules and etiquette to be observed when playing … most dealing with respect of the game. My favourite, of course, turned out to be admitting my flukes, hopefully with grace. Snyder reminded me that it is doubly important to shake hands at the end of the final game.

It wasn’t just the cheerful players that got my attention. It was the richness of activities surrounding us. Snyder was right, “You come out for some friendly competition in a beautiful location.”

On that warm and light breezy evening last September, I could also spy the sailboats sputtering down between the two piers as they headed harbour home. As the game played on, we were hit with that fabulous sunset squeezing itself through the copse of trees along the shoreline.

Lawn bowling is a great way to soak up the fresh air and be more active. Like any sport, it can also reduce your stress levels, and may even alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression.

With that fabulous view, I also found myself sighing throughout the game. I should mention that sighing is also good for the heart and soul.

As a reminder, you should always consult first with a medical professional or coach before starting a fitness program.


















Fifteen club members help get the bowling lawn and club house ready for the 2024 season



The Kincardine Bowling Club season begins Thursday, May 30