Youngster changes the perception of bowls
She started playing when she was 14 and her love for bowls has since grown stronger and stronger.
20-year-old Tracy Lee Botha has proven that you don’t have to be old to play bowls.
She started playing when she was 14 and her love for bowls has since grown stronger and stronger.
“My first try when playing the sport was 13 years ago at a club in the South of Johannesburg, the Turffontein Bowling Club,” said Tracy.
She currently plays at the Bedfordview Country Club.
Tracy has always been an active person as she played hockey, action cricket, netball and athletics.
She said it all changed when she tried her hand at bowls. She now feel she has found her love.
“After the first day of trying bowls, I felt it was challenging. Less physical but more mentally challenging, where skill comes in.
“I knew I could challenge myself enough to achieve that, and I have been able to reach some milestones. The nice thing about bowls is that it doesn’t just stop there. Every game you learn something new about bowls and about yourself as a person. There are endless possibilities,” said Tracy.
She said bowls has its own challenges when you are young and have a family because it requires commitment and time, but for her she has not faced any.
“The only challenges I can see for a young woman in bowls would be a period where a family is starting to develop, having children and committing that time to your family. Bowls takes up a lot of time, dedication and commitment, so that would be a challenge throughout a young woman’s sporting career,” said Tracy.
She has committed herself in the sport and it has yielded results for her as a player.
She said the sport requirements are simple and anyone can play.
“Everyone requires the basics and correct attire, the correct bowling equipment suited for that individual and someone to guide you in the right direction from a technical side,” said Tracy.
She said the rest is up to an individual, with regards to how they plan to achieve their goals.
