On May 8th / June 19th clubs all over the country, many of which are part of city parks and recreation departments, will host free lessons, games, food, and other activities to showcase a game that not only has been apart of U.S. sports culture for nearly 400 years, but is also played competitively in over 50 countries around the world. This fun, budget-friendly activity will have the whole family off the couch and rolling.
In addition, the sport is beyond affordable: club membership for a year is just $100 which breaks down to less than $9 a month- all for a low cost, low-impact, outdoor activity with health benefits similar to yoga.
“It’s a great sport to get people of all ages playing a game that has skill, fitness, socialization and conditioning,” says Lisa Hoffman, exercise physiologist, author, and founder of Solo Fitness and Wellness based in New York. “It’s also wonderful way to promote health and fitness, especially as new health care reform puts greater emphasis on preventative care.”
The USA is divided into seven geographic regions that hold seasons based on weather; two open house dates are set to accommodate all divisions:
• Saturday, May 8th – The majority of clubs in the country- South East, South West, Pacific Inter Mountain, and North West divisions.
• Saturday, June 19th – North East and Central divisions.
• Visit www.USLBA.org for division info and club locations.
The object of lawn bowls is to roll a ball, or bowl, closest to the target ball, a small white ball called a jack. The bowl’s design, slightly flattened on one side, creates a bias to the roll, which is the challenge of the game. Though it’s easy to learn, it’s difficult to master.
Sir Francis Drake, George Washington, J.D. Rockefeller, and Walt Disney were all great bowlers from history, but today, the state of lawn bowls in the 21st century is taking on a whole new shape with a new generation of bowlers. Besides a diversity in ages, club members come from various occupations and backgrounds including: students, actors, musicians, landscapers architects, software engineers, artists, teachers, lawyers, wine makers, writers and more. Traditional white garb is sometimes still embraced at some clubs and at tournaments or events- a playful homage to the sports’ English roots. Other clubs, however, have found their own culture and rules of engagement, including an enthusiastic gallery of onlookers cheering away. Regardless, there is always fun to be had on the green.
Team USA recently returned from Hong Kong for the Tiger Bowls, and coming up this fall the Team USA will face Canada in Milwaukee for the North American Challenge Sept 8-11.
Other 2010 tournaments include:
*US Open, September 25-October 1 (S. Calif.)
*MAP International Challenge, October 3-9 (San Diego, CA)
*US National Championships, October 23-27(Sun City, AZ)