Geoff Behrent writes:
Let’s put some myths to bed right here, right now.
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Bowls is not a game played exclusively by the senior sector of society. Surprise, surprise! It is actually a young person’s game. Oh yes indeed, contrary to many other sports out there, it’s a young person’s game that can be played well into old age.
To back up this statement let me give an example. I spoke recently to a bowler who told me that he started playing bowls when he was only 20 years old. He is now 85! Here on the West Rand, I know that there are very active bowling youngsters who started playing when they were under 10 years old. There are a substantial number of young players in this country who are under 20 years of age! So many in fact that Bowls South Africa is able to organise an annual national tournament for them!
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The game is and always has been enjoyed by players of both sexes, and has been played in a mixed format for as long as can be remembered. Of course, there are designated men’s and ladies’ tournaments but mixed games are truly the order of the day.
Non-bowlers referring to the game as “old man’s marbles” is therefore clearly based purely on an incorrect perception and is also utterly and entirely incorrect. And, need I add, even somewhat nasty and even vaguely insulting. Especially to bowlers. First of all, the word “old” doesn’t apply, and neither does “man’s”. As far as I know, marbles are comparatively small (tiny in fact), spherical – usually made of glass – balls, while bowls are anything but.
But, to be fair, the game of bowls is indeed predominantly top-heavy with older people. There are very valid reasons for this. First of all, many of the older set has simply been playing for very many years and did indeed start playing when younger. Now, with time, they have just aged over the years. The 85-year-old guy I mentioned earlier is a prime example of this. Then some simply are not able to play the more active social games any longer (for various reasons, like failing health, physical difficulties, etc.). Also, bowls is not very expensive to play, and to be honest some people cannot afford to play the more expensive social games on their limited pensions.
Also, people of pensionable age have more time on their hands so can play the game when working folk cannot. And yes indeed, bowls is a game that perfectly suits people “of a certain age”. But that said, on any given weekend there are thousands of bowlers (of different ages and sexes) competing against each other in friendly competition on bowling greens spread across the width and depth of South Africa. Because, at the end of the day, bowls is a really fun game to play.
Bowls is all-inclusive. And by this I mean it caters to just about everyone. This means that in addition to the average Joe’s or Joey’s fitness level, physically handicapped people (wheelchair bound, amputees, sight impaired, etc.) are well catered for, and it’s open to both sexes and all races of all ages.
Finally, to top it all, bowlers can represent South Africa in international competitions and many players proudly boast their Protea credentials.
See you on the bowling green soon!
