Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is lawn bowling?
Lawn bowling is a game where players try to roll balls (called bowls) so they stop as close as possible to a smaller target ball (called a jack). Each bowl closer to the jack than your opponent's bowls earns your team a point. The team with the greatest number of points at the end of the game wins.
The game is usually played on closely cropped and carefully leveled natural grass greens. Laguna Woods Village's greens are a special carpet designed for the sport. We have one of the finest artificial lawn bowling greens in the country.
Team play leads to interesting strategies and excitement. Knocking an opponent’s bowl away from the jack, or tapping a teammate’s bowl closer to the jack, or even deliberately knocking the jack out of bounds are all fair play.
Lawn bowling is a fun game that’s easy to learn and enjoy right away. But there’s also lots of skill involved in the sport, which bowlers develop over time.
Lawn bowls have two flattened sides one of which is shaped slightly smaller than the other. This bias causes a rolling bowl to curve as it slows down. Lawn bowlers must account for the curved path their bowl will follow and also adjust the speed of their delivery to get close to the jack.
What are the benefits of lawn bowling?
Lawn bowling is a low-impact activity that gets you outdoors and socially connected to others. Many find lawn bowling as stimulating, challenging, and fulfilling as avid golfers find their sport - they’ll always strive to improve. Others take a lighter approach and are happy to just come down and have fun on the bowling greens. A short list of the benefits of lawn bowling includes:
improved fitness
improved coordination and skill development
increased confidence and self-esteem
enhanced mental well-being
make friends and build meaningful social connections
Where are the lawn bowling greens?
The bowling greens are located at Gate 12 at the far end of the 19 Restaurant parking lot near swimming pool 2. Residents must show their Village ID card for entry to Gate 12.
Laguna Woods Village has one of the finest artificial lawn bowling greens in the country, with a fabulous view of the Saddleback mountains.
Laguna Woods Village is a private gated community. Access is restricted to residents and their invited guests.
What is the Lawn Bowling Club?
Established in 1966, Laguna Woods Lawn Bowling Club's mission is to support the game of bowls at Laguna Woods Village (LWV) in a spirit of recreation and fellowship. The club must comply with the rules, policies, and procedures of LWV's Golden Rain Foundation, which limits the number of non-resident members to 20% of the total club membership. The club belongs to the Southwest Division of Bowls USA, which coordinates tournaments for more than 20 clubs in southern California.
Can I come down and watch a game?
Absolutely! Village residents and their invited guests are always welcome. There’s plenty of shaded seating along the sides of the bowling green. Bowlers are friendly sorts who love to answer questions and explain the game to visitors.
How long does a game last?
Games usually last between one-and-a-half and two hours. Games are played by two teams with from one to three players per team. A club game usually has 10 or 12 ends which are like innings in baseball. The length of a game depends on how many players there are per team and how many ends are being played.
I’d like to give it a try. How do I get started?
The club offers free lessons to any Laguna Woods Village resident at these times:
Saturdays 8:45am Year-round
Tuesdays
3:30pm Sep thru Mar
5:30pm Apr thru Aug
Just come down to the bowling greens, no appointment is necessary. Be sure to:
wear shoes with flat soles - no heels please!
dress appropriately to be outside for an hour or so
bring water, especially during the warmer months
New bowlers are expected to complete three one-hour training sessions before joining the club. During your first session, you’ll learn about basic safety, begin learning the rules of the game, and practice rolling the bowl. By the end of your last session, you’ll be ready to join the club and participate in casual "social" Bowls.
The club’s free training sessions are a great way to try lawn bowling to see whether it’s “your thing”. Come on down and give it a try!
Questions about lessons? Email training@lwlbc.org
I have problems with my back (or shoulders, arms, legs etc.) Will I be able to bowl?
Lawn bowling is a low-impact activity that is enjoyed by many older people with mobility problems. A few practice rolls on the green is the best way to learn if this is a sport suitable for you.
Many club bowlers use a bowling arm that allows them to deliver the bowl from a standing position. The arm has a grip on one end to pick up the bowl without bending. The bowler grasps the bowl with the arm, gently swings the arm towards the aiming point, and relaxes a lever on the handle to send the bowl on its way. It takes practice, but the movement soon becomes natural.
The club has bowling arms for members to use and many members have adopted the use of a bowling arm with great results. You can check an arm out for practice or a game from the shack manager on duty.
Your trainer will help you decide whether you should use a bowling arm, and you can decide for yourself whether lawn bowling is right for you.
Is there anything to buy?
Club members may use the club-owned training bowls to play in club games. These sets of training bowls are first-come, first-served, and may only be used by club members to play in a club game or for practice. These bowls may not be removed from the premises.
While you can use the training bowls indefinitely, you will likely want to buy your own set if you get hooked on the sport. A used set of four lawn bowls can be found starting from $250. New lawn bowl prices start at around $450. We recommend new bowlers do not buy bowls until they have played for awhile. Bowls come in different sizes, but models also differ in how they curve as they roll down the green. Learn to bowl with the club's bowls, and talk to more experienced players before you buy your first set of bowls.
How often are games played?
There are scheduled games seven days a week throughout the year, with the exception of a few major holidays and days when major tournaments are hosted by the club. The schedule is posted here.
To play, call (949) 951-3027 no later than 30 minutes before the game's start time and leave your name and club "tag number" on the answering machine. (You'll be assigned a tag number when you join the club.) Arrive no later than 15 minutes before the game's start time. The "shack manager" (a club member volunteer) will set up games for those who called in. You never need to come down to the greens with a partner to play.
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