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BAREFOOT BOWLS

by The Probus Club of Fremantle WA Inc. | 20 May 2015

Our club had a most enjoyable night made possible by the East Fremantle Bowling Club (Inc.). Special smooth soled shoes are required to be worn on a bowling rink to protect the grass and when the participants do not have them, they play bare footed, many in socks. The bowling club provided boxes of balls for us to use as well as a bowling club member to guide and give us elementary coaching. One of our Probus club members is a member of the bowling club also and he organized the competition on the evening. 

Only two of the participants had played the sport before, but lawn bowls is a wonderful competition for beginners to play. Everyone can bowl a ball, unlike in other sports such as golf or tennis where prior experience is necessary just to hit the ball. The ball bowled may not go to your desired destination, but it will go. It may not go far enough, or in the proper curve, or go too far and finish in the ditch, but it will go. Except for when your ball is in the ditch, you are still in the competition helping your team to earn points. However in our seven ends, a number of novices started to show both promise in the sport and a friendly competitive spirit.

The players were drawn into teams of four with each team competing against the same four competitors all evening. Scores were kept and three sets of prizes were awarded. They were to the team with the highest score, a team drawn from a hat and the team that came last. With many laughs, the last team were given golf balls as encouragement to try another sport. 

On the evening we had three prospective members (a couple and a male) participate, who are in the process of qualifying to join the club. The prospective male member brought his wife along to join in and meet the members. It was a marvellous opportunity for these newcomers to get to know the members and vice versa in a smaller group than a club meeting. 

Pizzas were pre-ordered for the evening meal and the bowling club had made all the necessary arrangements for us to purchase drinks from the bar. The organizer for the competition had donated two bottles of wine as a door prize. The draw was made and the winner was the competition organizer, who promptly donated the prize back and then he auctioned them off. The social outing was easy to organize by Social Officers with no financial risk to the club. The participants are looking forward to the 2016 Grand Championship. Perhaps next year, we may give the pizza delivery boy a map to find his way the 500 metres from the store to the bowling club to avoid him getting lost.

Many bowling clubs are offering to host Barefoot Bowls, so keep them in mind for an enjoyable outing. There may be a very small charge per player for the loan of the bowls and the use of the facilities.