How I started in Lawn Bowls
When I was 20 years old and had been in Australia just a year or so after immigrating on the Banana boat from the UK, I was invited to stay over Christmas with Friends of mine who lived in Wagga Wagga. Arthur Baker was the man who inspired me to take up Lawn Bowls. He played for the Wagga Leagues Club (Division 1) and from the time I saw him bowl, I always had in the back of my mind that it was a sport I would like to take up. That was Christmas 1973.
Being young and Involved with Soccer and making my way in a new country, it stayed on the back burner. Marriage, Children and work have to come first as I am not a person who could ever take up something and do just a few hours a week. With me in it FULL ON. I was lucky enough to do what I had to do and at age 50 (2003) came to the Gold Coast like so many other people in search of decent weather and a better lifestyle.
I contacted Broadbeach Bowls Club. My first contact with them was with Roy Williams at the front desk. He filled me in on what happens when a new bowler comes in. He showed me around and even told me that the bowlers played for money. He gave me the phone number of Bob Barry, The club Coach.
I phoned Bob and he arranged to meet me at 9.00am on Saturday for my first Coaching lesson. He made it clear to wear a shirt with a collar and flat shoes. I showed up for coaching for 3 or 4 Saturdays and used a set of Size 6 bowls that swung out really wide. I was hooked and joined the club and purchased my first set of bowls. Size 5 Taylor Vectors. I was told to get the set most comfortable and fit well in my hand without dropping the ball at the point of delivery. Having a fairly large hand, Size 5 felt fine.
Bob suggested that I had a competitive game and booked me and him up for a Monday night game. We played triples but it was a good start. From then on I spent as much time as I could rolling up and playing pairs with the kind people who put their names next to mine on the games sheet.
Bob kindly asked Billy George if he would play a game with me on the Saturday. Me being a new bowler and a pain in the butt to anyone I played with, Billy Kindly played with me and suggested that we play regularly. It was a great help to me and he had to put up with my short, long, wide and narrow bowls and we lost almost every game for about a year.
Anyway, I spent a lot of time practicing every aspect of the game, Drawing, Driving, Long and Short ends, Practicing in wind and rain, I read all the books in the clubs library and tried to learn at least 1 item from each that would help me.
I Updated my Bowls to a set of Taylor Redline and dropped a size to 4 Heavy. This improved my game even further with a much tighter line. Time passed and I was playing pairs 5 mornings a week. 3 at Broadbeach and 2 other clubs for the other 2 games. I played with all the seasoned bowlers and took some heavy defeats, all the time learning and trying hard to control Line and Weight. It eventually started to come right but it took me 2 years or so.
I had been bowing just over 3 years and updated my bowls to ALMARK Size 4 Heavy. An even tighter line than the Redline. I can still bowl with my other 2 sets but seeing as I wanted to be a specialist lead, There was no need to go away from the Almarks. I felt now that I could play Any Green, Any Condition, Any Length and any Quality of Player. I had the Confidence and Ability and believed in myself.
After 5 years since I started bowling, I Joined Paradise Point Bowls Club (June 07). I had improved to be a very competent bowler over the last 2 years. I was bowling with Orange Greenmaster Premier Bowls and they are a nice tight set, Legal as they were tested after I brought them. WB17. I have taken to playing Skip now and enjoying it very much. Learnt so much and was still enjoying my bowls very much and bowling 7 days a week. Clubs include, Broadbeach, Southport, Helensvale, Paradise Point, Musgrave Hill and Mermaid Beach. All other clubs in Pennant and Premier League and Beenleigh and Springwood are among my favouries away from the coast.
I have been Bowling for just over 8 years now and I have strived to become a bowler competitive in every aspect of the game. Over the last 3 years I have played at a higher level, entering alot of the top events, winning a few too and I plan to do Everything in 2011 and beyond I have some good partners and they always give me a great start and I enjoy skipping and can hold my own against anyone. I do not get nervous anymore and can play any shot with confidence. I am still using my Greenmaster Premier WB16 and wont change for anyone. They are a tight line with a little draw at the end and are really fine for all conditions except really slow greens I enjoyed Super Challange 2010 with Paradise Point. I played Pennant in 2009 for Mermaid Beach as Skip and 3rd in the Division 1 which improved my game even further. Biggest kick in 2009 Pennant year was Skipping against Kelvin Kerkows Div 1 South Tweed side where I played brilliantly, My whole team played very well and we went down by just 4 shots and we were unlucky not to win.