Clevedon Bowling Club Chapel Hill, Clevedon, BS21 7LL (01275) 872828
A bit about bowls
Lawn Bowls
Bowls has been a popular game since the early 1600s in the USA, where is it documented that George Washington played the game on his estate. Being particularly suited to the less able, it spread across the globe and escalated in popularity. The English Bowling Association was founded in 1903 and the sport is now highly regarded as a very well organised sport. Competition ranges from club level to international status and is seen as a sport for all ages, abilities and genders.
With both an inside and outside season bowls can be played all year rounds The summer or lawn bowls season is played on an outside green. Each player has a number of bowls (or woods) that they bowl towards a target known as the jack. The number of bowls depends on the number of people in the team- the more players, the less number of bowls required. In a singles match (one on one) each player has four bowls which they take in turns to bowls towards the jack. Bowls are designed to be weighted on one side so have a bias - which gives the game an undeniable level of skill to achieve the perfect line and weight.
During the winter, where the grass is unplayable, many bowlers play on an indoor green. The adjustment from playing outside to in makes the indoor game a very different skill but enjoyed keenly worldwide.