Johannesburg Bowls Association brings lawn bowls to the youth

JOBURG – Lawn bowls is finding a new dynamic identity in Joburg.

The Johannesburg Bowls Association's Dave Pringle, Allan Gordon, Terry Turner and Rodney Wayne check things out at Bryanston Sports Club. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Lawn bowls is certainly not a sport you only take up when you reach a certain age.

Unfortunately, this has been the prevailing perception in South Africa for some time, and the Johannesburg Bowls Association is trying to correct this mindset.

More and more youngsters are taking up the sport of lawn bowls.

Through new playing formats, fun bowls days, and reaching areas previously excluded from the game, lawn bowls is acquiring a new identity.

Caxton Local Media met some officials in the association to discuss the changing landscape of bowls in Joburg and how bowls is coming back to the youth.

Players play an indoor bowls game in Soweto.

Dave Pringle, head of the association’s managing and marketing team, said at the 37 clubs the association oversees, the dress codes which were required in recent years were abolished.

It is only at certain events that members are required to wear their club kits.Otherwise, all you need are flat shoes.

Regular charity and fun bowls days are also held, drawing new players and there are new formats such as T20 bowls and last man standing, which brings new aspects and joys to the game.

The Johannesburg Bowls Association’s Soweto Project sees many youngsters trying out the game.

The association has been hosting competitive leagues for years and is now considering hosting corporate leagues, thanks to successful corporate bowls days.

Even more exciting is the possibility of a schools bowls league, once enough schools get on board.

“Our Soweto Project is growing and we currently have 60 children playing,” said the head of the project, Terry Turner.

The Johannesburg Bowls Association’s Dave Pringle, Terry Turner, Rodney Wayne and Allan Gordon are working on changing the game’s public perception. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

The project has already produced 11 brilliant players who have competed at Nationals, earning their national colours, as well as two level A coaches.

All in all, the association is doing everything it can to improve the game’s identity, and it is starting to tell.

“I would encourage anyone to play the game of bowls,” said the association’s vice chairperson and former Springbok bowler, Allan Gordon.

“It is a non-contact sport that develops mental and technical skill. Anyone can play, we even have blind as well as disabled bowls so there is no excuse.”

He added that most people who took up bowls at a late age said they wished they had started earlier.

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