While lawn bowls has long been popular in Saugeen Shores, beginning in Port Elgin where the Cenotaph is now located, it has always been considered as a seniors’ game and for good reason.
The gentle sport of lawn bowls shares a curved path feature with curling and, sometimes, lawn bowling is referred to as “curling on grass.” In fact, these two sports share many terms, such as skip, head, weight, draw, take-out, hog line, amount of ‘ice’/’grass’ and jitney, but not sweeping.
The curved path feature gives rise to some interesting and varied elements of delivery technique and game strategies. From tradition, many have a stereotypical image of lawn bowlers outfitted in white, long-sleeved blouses or shirts and long skirts or pants. This is no longer the required attire for lawn bowling. For most events, attire is strictly the bowler’s personal choice.
Lawn Bowls was, in fact, created in ancient Egypt and became popular in the U.K. in the 1200s. After dying out in popularity, lawn bowling was revived again by the Scots in the 1800s, who drew up the rules and established that flat greens were to be playing fields.
While lawn bowling is becoming more popular in Southampton (Bruce County), it is serendipitous in that the first lawn bowls site in 1588 was in Southampton, England and was thought of as a game for an elite class.
In Canada, British garrison officers were the first to introduce the game and, in 1888, the first lawn bowling green was established in Canada at Annapolis Royal, NS. The Dominion Lawn Bowling Tournament was inaugurated in 1892. In 1904, Canada sent a touring team to Britain and, two years later, a British team toured Canada and Canada was admitted to the International Bowling Board in 1928.
Currently, there are more than 18,000 Canadian lawn bowlers and 271 clubs. There are numerous categories that compete, including men’s, women’s senior, mixed, and blind players.
Today, the sport is seeing even more of a revival, particularly in Southampton, where a Friday night league, ‘Bowl and Brews’, is keeping the history of lawn bowls alive and no experience is necessary for the fun evening.
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Many of the participants cycle to the lawn bowling club on Victoria Street to complete a full evening of physical activity.
Everyone is invited to take part every Friday night and become active in an ancient sport that has seen an exponential growth in popularity. No experience is necessary and a tutorial begins at 6:00 p.m. Come on out and join in the fun.
