ughaibu: Is that lawn bowls????
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The sport of kings

Seniors revive serious art of lawn bowling

By Sandy Mazza , Staff Writer

ARCADIA -- Lawn bowling.

Despite the name, it is not simply bowling outside even though it does look that way and involves a "bowl' and an outside green.

Any self-respecting lawn bowler will tell you: It's a sport of skill, concentration and mental calm.

Plus, it's a lot cheaper than golf.

"When I first started, I thought it was easy,' said Jena Ball, vice president of the Santa Anita Bowling Green Club. "Then 90-year-olds were beating me.'

Every morning, the Santa Anita Bowling Green Club gathers on the lawn at Arcadia County Park to throw "bowls' misshapen balls about half the size of a bowling ball, as heavy as raw pizza dough from one end of the green to the other, at a "jack' (a small white ball).

The object is not to hit the jack, but to get your bowl as close to it as possible.

The bowls are misshapen, creating a "bias' so that they veer to one direction when rolled. To compensate, bowlers place their feet at an angle.

The story goes: In 1522, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, broke his bowl while playing. He ran inside and sawed off the round head of an ornamental banister, which happened to be lopsided, to replace the bowl. This, supposedly, was the beginning of a "bias' in lawn bowling.

The sport can be traced back to 1299 when the Southampton Old Bowling Green Club was organized.

In 1319, England and France prohibited lawn bowling to all but noblemen. This was because archers were spending more time bowling than practicing their archery, and the kings worried it might affect their security.

That decree is remembered by lawn bowlers today, who brag that their sport is the true sport of kings.

Last week, as the Santa Anita Bowling Green Club played on a flat, open green, the only sounds to be heard were the chirping of birds and the mild taunting of players.

"You turkey!' Ball teased club president Gene Plunkett when his bowl knocked hers away from the jack. Though known for their good manners, lawn bowlers occasionally talk trash.

At a recent tournament, Ball was taunted by a man who made sheep sounds "baa, baa' while she played, mocking her bowl, which is decorated with a drawing of a ram.

Ball ignored all the jokes and prepared to roll her bowl.

"I take a deep breath and forget about everything else,' she said.

"Play like there are no other bowls out there,' Plunkett chimed in. "Look at your bowl, grip it, line it up, make sure you're in the right place ... Take a step down low, balance yourself and follow through.'

Though popular among an older crowd, Ball hopes to get younger players out on the green to play the under-appreciated sport that she loves so. She organized classes for kids age 8 to 14. Classes will be held once a week from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. beginning April 13, for six weeks. Cost is $24.

Ball also organized a competition for Temple City, Monrovia and Arcadia middle- and high- school students to draw a lawn- bowling inspired cartoon mascot for the club's T-shirts, caps and mugs, or a postcard.

The contest deadline is April 22. First prize is $50, second prize is $25 and third prize, $10. All contestants will have their work displayed at Arcadia Historical Museum, 355 Campus Drive, Arcadia, in May, along with lawn-bowling memorabilia.

On June 4, the club will hold the City of Hope Tournament, donating all proceeds from entry fees, and business and personal donations to City of Hope for cancer research.

Call Jena Ball for more information on the museum display, tournament, classes or the contest at (626) 462-9392.