Online Resources
A few links to quickly reference a wealth of information on the sport of lawn bowling. You can find tutorials on YouTube.
What is Bowls How to Play Guide for Beginners Bowls Explained Rules and Equipment History of Bowls
A few links to quickly reference a wealth of information on the sport of lawn bowling. You can find tutorials on YouTube.
What is Bowls How to Play Guide for Beginners Bowls Explained Rules and Equipment History of Bowls
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do I need to bring when I come for Bowls lessons?
The only requirement is flat soled shoes. Greens damage easily and can take a long time to repair. Any size or shape of a heel is strictly not permitted. We also recommend comfortable clothing and sunblock, suitable to the weather conditions; and water to stay hydrated.
Q: Do I need to wear whites?
Lawn bowling is one of the oldest sports with a rich prestigious history. Back in the day the wearing of Whites was customary, however today most clubs have their own colours. For tournaments you still see some whites, but most competitors have adopted club colours and/or team shirts as a uniform or preferred style of dress.
Q: What type of play can I expect?
Many players are content with social or club play, however the club is a member of Bowls BC, the provincial arm of Bowls Canada who collectively represents the sport to World Bowls, and welcome them to drop in when visiting our area. There are invitationals between clubs, tournaments and competitions at the club, district, provincial, and national, levels.
Q: Do I need equipment?
During the first year, club bowls are included in the membership dues, and for a nominal rental fee in your second year. Members are expected to source their own set by their third year as being familiar with how the bowls perform will improve your play, just as golfer prefer their putters; a ball player their glove; or a pickleball-ers their paddle.
Q: Are all bowls the same?
Bowls are a personal preference and you will want your own set. Depending on the brand bowls come in variety of weights and sizes from Quad 0 up to 5. The bias, makes the performance of each set, unique. We encourage trying different club-supplied bowls to learn what you like, before purchasing. Bowls manufacturing is an extremely precise process. Manufacturers are primarily from the UK or Australia. The most popular brands are Henselite, Taylor, Drakes Pride & AeroBowls.
Q: What equipment is needed to play?
Local clubs provide everything needed to play: the green, jack, mat, scoreboard, rake, markers and scorecards. Accessories you’ll find convenient as you gain experience are a measure, chalk, cloth (wet or dry), or maybe even a product like Grippo (makes hands tacky to hold the bowl better). New players needn't be concerned with accessories, as generally the Skip or Third will have them.
Q: How are draws determined ?
It is important to arrive 15 minutes before the draw. Here teams are drawn with name tags pulled from a bag for each position. Game can be played as singles, pairs, triples or fours, depending on how many bowlers show up for a session.
Q: What are the positions in a game?
Lawn bowling has a Skip, Vice-skip (aka Third), Second and Lead. For triples remove the Second. For pairs remove the Third and Second. Singles speaks for itself.
Q: What do I need to bring when I come for Bowls lessons?
The only requirement is flat soled shoes. Greens damage easily and can take a long time to repair. Any size or shape of a heel is strictly not permitted. We also recommend comfortable clothing and sunblock, suitable to the weather conditions; and water to stay hydrated.
Q: Do I need to wear whites?
Lawn bowling is one of the oldest sports with a rich prestigious history. Back in the day the wearing of Whites was customary, however today most clubs have their own colours. For tournaments you still see some whites, but most competitors have adopted club colours and/or team shirts as a uniform or preferred style of dress.
Q: What type of play can I expect?
Many players are content with social or club play, however the club is a member of Bowls BC, the provincial arm of Bowls Canada who collectively represents the sport to World Bowls, and welcome them to drop in when visiting our area. There are invitationals between clubs, tournaments and competitions at the club, district, provincial, and national, levels.
Q: Do I need equipment?
During the first year, club bowls are included in the membership dues, and for a nominal rental fee in your second year. Members are expected to source their own set by their third year as being familiar with how the bowls perform will improve your play, just as golfer prefer their putters; a ball player their glove; or a pickleball-ers their paddle.
Q: Are all bowls the same?
Bowls are a personal preference and you will want your own set. Depending on the brand bowls come in variety of weights and sizes from Quad 0 up to 5. The bias, makes the performance of each set, unique. We encourage trying different club-supplied bowls to learn what you like, before purchasing. Bowls manufacturing is an extremely precise process. Manufacturers are primarily from the UK or Australia. The most popular brands are Henselite, Taylor, Drakes Pride & AeroBowls.
Q: What equipment is needed to play?
Local clubs provide everything needed to play: the green, jack, mat, scoreboard, rake, markers and scorecards. Accessories you’ll find convenient as you gain experience are a measure, chalk, cloth (wet or dry), or maybe even a product like Grippo (makes hands tacky to hold the bowl better). New players needn't be concerned with accessories, as generally the Skip or Third will have them.
Q: How are draws determined ?
It is important to arrive 15 minutes before the draw. Here teams are drawn with name tags pulled from a bag for each position. Game can be played as singles, pairs, triples or fours, depending on how many bowlers show up for a session.
Q: What are the positions in a game?
Lawn bowling has a Skip, Vice-skip (aka Third), Second and Lead. For triples remove the Second. For pairs remove the Third and Second. Singles speaks for itself.
History
Our sport has been an active part of Osoyoos for 75, and larger Canadian cities, for over well over 100 years. Its longevity is that it not only offers a personal challenge, but is an affordable, social, and an easy to learn activity. However in North America, it lacks televised exposure and large audiences.
Around the world; and for many centuries, the game bowls is an institution.
Historical amusing fact: as a lawn bowler, King Henry VIII was dissatisfied as his bowyers, fletchers, stringers, and arrowhead makers, spent more time playing the game than practicing their trade. So anyone wishing to keep a Green had to pay a £100 fee, and the King forbade any bowle play outside a designated area. Then in 1617, King James I issued a publication called The Book of Sports, and although condemning football (soccer) and golf, bowls. It took a few hundred years for the ban to eventually be lifted and allowed to play bowls and other games of skill.
Around the world; and for many centuries, the game bowls is an institution.
Historical amusing fact: as a lawn bowler, King Henry VIII was dissatisfied as his bowyers, fletchers, stringers, and arrowhead makers, spent more time playing the game than practicing their trade. So anyone wishing to keep a Green had to pay a £100 fee, and the King forbade any bowle play outside a designated area. Then in 1617, King James I issued a publication called The Book of Sports, and although condemning football (soccer) and golf, bowls. It took a few hundred years for the ban to eventually be lifted and allowed to play bowls and other games of skill.
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