Is Lawn bowls derived from "upper class roots" and has it become a game primarily for stuffy well off bods from the "leafy suburbs"?

Decide for yourself. Here you will find flat listings of the whereabouts of Bowls clubs. Addresses and research information to give you a brief insight into the game. For hardened pros and newly hooked amateurs you can link direct to the official (as far as we know) lawn bowls web-site.(further down page) Please use your [back] browser button to come back to us for a lot more information on entertainment available in your area and across the UK.

Who can play ?

Although considered by many as a sedentary game reserved for the middle class retired. This is a myth and anyone can play. However to play at the top level you need to be fairly fit there is a lot of walking bending and stretching involved As for the class thing? Well there certainly are many "clickey close knit groups" around. Although in fairness, many recreation parks have a bowling green and if you get a group of you together you can hire the green and the kit between you for no more than it costs to ice skate or go to the Cinema.

The aim of the game:

You need to get your bowls closer to the jack (that’s the little white object slung down the green at the start). Than the opposition do. You score points for each one of yours bowls that goes closer to the jack than the closest opposition bowls delivered by the other side be it single or teams. You must direct your bowls from a special mat and there are limits on the distance the jack can be from the mats when starting each round known as "ends". A match can last 14, 15, 18 or 21 ends.

Tactics

During the game if it looks bad for you, whack a fast bowl down the lane and try to move the jack. This is perfectly legal and could end up leaving your bowls closer all round (or not). It's risky because you may push the jack closer to the opposition's bowls, and the fast bowl usually ends up in the gully not scoring. Then again, if you are losing badly at least it will help you work off pent-up aggression.

On the www.lawnbowls.com site, John Davenport, the World Champion Bowls player gives a professional insight into the game and its roots. Describing in detail the complexities of the game. What you need to understand in order to get good. He describes the in play rules and general etiquette very clearly while providing a little history too. The site also lists the official rules for entering a whole range of competitions at all levels and abilities. Also check out our own listing for a club in your area.

We welcome new club listings to the site. To include your club in the county listings email bowling@accessentertainment.co.uk stating your club name, club address, and club telephone number.