According to Izak Hattingh, competition secretary of Springs Town Bowling Club, people might think of bowls as a game that only old people play, but it’s actually something more and more young people are doing.
The love of the game has inspired more people to give it a go too, and like any sport, bowls has some serious competitions.
So if you’re looking for a sport that’s skilful, competitive and fun for young and old, maybe there’s a place for you on the green with the lawn bowling stars of the future.
“If all kinds of sport are encouraged in schools, it will get children into bowls from a young age,” says Izak.
The aim of a bowls game is simple – get your bowls as close as possible to a small white ball (the jack). Izak adds it might sound easy, but the fact that the bowls do not travel in a straight line adds to the tactical challenge.
Bowls can be played indoors or outdoors, and the rules are the same.
All the action takes place on a standard bowling green, which is a flat square 34m to 40m long. This is divided into six playing areas called rinks.
After a coin toss, the first bowler places the mat and rolls the jack to the other end of the green as a target.
The jack must travel at least 23m and, when it comes to rest, it is moved across to the centre of the rink.
The players then take turns to bowl.
When all the bowls have been played, a competitor or team gets one point for each of their bowls that is closer to the jack than the opponent’s closest bowl.
After all the bowls have been delivered, the direction of play is reversed.
Bowls can be played in singles, pairs, triples and four player teams. Each player has four bowls per end in singles and pairs competitions, three in triples, and two in fours.
If you want to see what bowls is all about, join Springswood Bowling Club at 23 Achilles Road, behind Parkland Clinic, on Sunday for their end of season social fun day.
It will start at 9am, and there are lots of prizes to be won.
Entry fee is R50 which includes the green fee and a meal.
To book, contact Eddie Kraft on 082 442 6404.
For more information on bowls, contact Izak on 083 306 2869, Springswood club president Brian Johnson on 083 442 4565 or Sam Herzfield from Springs Old Boys Club on 082 872 5937.
