When was the last time you went bowling? For me it was about 25 years ago. I even had my own bowling ball and played in a league. That is what many of us think about when we hear let’s go bowling. Grab a ball, hope it fits your fingers properly and doesn’t weigh too much. Approach the line, focus on the pins and your spot on the lane and hope to get a strike!
This is not the case with Lawn Bowling. As the words suggest, you are not in a bowling alley focusing on 10 pins on wood lanes. Instead, you are outside in the fresh air, with the object of getting as close to a jack ball as possible. What’s a jack ball, you ask?
The jack ball is the small white ball you see in this photo. What you would think of as a bowling ball in 10 pin bowling is actually called a bowl not a ball. I know what you’re thinking. How can a ball be called a bowl? That’s why I am having some experts on the sport on my Born To Talk Radio Show, Monday April 25th on www.latalklive.com from 1-2 PT.
Meet Scott Roberts. He is the President of the Southwest Lawn Bowling Association.
Notice that medal? Scott competes with other Lawn Bowlers, locally and internationally. Yes, Lawn Bowling is played throughout the world. Much like the US Open for tennis and golf, Lawn Bowling also has their championship events for singles, pairs, triples and fours. Most recently Scott represented the US as the only man from this country to compete in the US Open Singles in Warilla, Australia where he won the bronze medal. He was only the second American to do so!
Aaron Zangl will also be joining me. 
As a member of the Hermosa Beach Lawn Bowling Club, he has many titles to his credit. Most recently, he was selected to go to Tiger Bowls held in Hong Kong, last month. As the team captain, Aaron along with three other first-time international players won a gold medal. They are the only Americans to ever do that.
To better understand the game, I recommend you listen to the show. The choice is yours to listen live or listen later to the archived edition. I’m really interested to understand how the game is played and I hope you will be as well.
Maybe this diagram will help just a little.
Do you want to know more? Check out this YouTube video explained by Team USA member Charlie Herbert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_FRVw15Wk.
Also you may want to visit the bowlsusa.us to find a club near you.
Now let’s get outdoors, spring is here and summer is on the way. What a great way to combine some fresh air and exercise for women and men of all ages and abilities!
Let’s…
