Port Alfred Bowls and Croquet Club presents the Sunshine Coast Open Pairs event at the Port Alfred Easter Festival. We decided to find out more about the fun sport of Lawn Bowls.
Lawn Bowls – What It’s All About
Lawn Bowls is a chill and fun game played on a flat, rectangular grassy area called the “rink.” The rules are easy to catch, making it a perfect game for players of all ages. Each player or team aims to roll their bowls (slightly flattened on one side) closer to a smaller target ball called the “jack” than their opponents.
The game starts with a coin toss to decide who goes first. Players take turns to roll their bowls down the green, trying to get them as close to the jack as possible. The player or team with the bowl nearest to the jack scores points. The bowls can curve as they roll, adding a bit of strategy to the game.
To make things interesting, players can knock opponents’ bowls away or use their own bowls to block the path. The jack can be moved around during the game, adding a layer of tactics.
Scoring is straightforward. A point is scored for each bowl closer to the jack than any of the opponents’ bowls. The game usually goes for a set number of “ends,” and the player or team with the most points at the end wins.
Players must stay on the mat when rolling their bowls and respect the “foot fault” rule. It’s a social game, so good sportsmanship and a friendly spirit are part of the fun.
Overall, Lawn Bowls is a simple yet strategic game combining precision, a bit of strategy, and a lot of fun on the green.
Sunshine Coast Open Pairs
Port Alfred Bowls and Croquet Club
Saturday 30th March
Prizes to the value of R10k
Format: 2 Bowl Pairs any gender (4,3,2,1 scoring)
Ten ends per game
Estimated time per game – 50 minutes.
Four sections of 6 teams playing a round-robin
Section winners and runners up to compete for the cup and plate.
Entry fee R150 pp / R300 per team
Contact Hein at 066 462 9761
heinsmail@gmail.com