The Gordon Head Lawn Bowling Club is always looking for new members, and this Sunday is your chance to try out the sport for yourself.
The GHLBC is hosting its annual open house, and while many of its members are getting on in age, the club assures the two-hour drop-in event is open to everyone.
“There’s a bit of a running joke, ‘Oh, lawn bowling, I’m not old enough for that yet,’” said club president Ann Bodley-Scott with a laugh. “But when they try it out, they actually enjoy it.”
Founded in 1976, the club currently has 146 full-time members, with 18 more casual members who drop in over the winter. The club offers competitive bowling as well as casual social bowls and indoor carpet bowling.
Bodley-Scott said people as young as 12 can join the club, and the sky’s the limit for how long they want to play the sport.
“We have some members who are over 90 and still playing,” she said. “People keep playing longer than they might expect.”
The GHLBC’s coaches will be on hand Sunday to introduce newcomers to lawn bowling. To protect the lawn, attendees are asked to wear flat-soled shoes or bring runners, which will have soles taped to them.
The open house is an opportunity to try lawn bowling before novice training starts later in April. The club has daytime novice training sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 11, 13, 15, 18, 20 and 22, and evening sessions from 7 to 9 p.m. on April 18, 19, 21, 25, 26 and 28.
Training for junior members (between 12 and 18) starts on April 13, and offers a great summer of social and competitive play.
The open house runs Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the club, located at 4105 Lambrick Way. Tea and goodies will also be on hand. For more information, visit ghlbc.ca.
jacob.zinn@saanichnews.com