Warm up in winter with indoor bowls
Bowls clubs across Gippsland are encouraging people to have a go at indoor bowling this winter.
There is no uniform or dress codes and new members are always welcome.
"The bar's always open," says Ron Brodie of the Mid Gippsland Indoor Bias Bowls Association.
"Five-year-olds can play and a 100-year-old can play," he says.
Indoor and outdoor bowling are almost identical, although the length of the playing surface differs. The relatively small length of the carpet makes indoor bowls a much more precise and intricate game.
Each team has eight balls to use and each ball is weighted on one side. Indoor bowls are smaller than outdoor bowls.
The object of the game is to roll a bowling ball as close to the kitty -- a small white ball placed at the opposite end of the playing surface --- as possible.
Carpet bowls, unlike football, soccer or cricket, is an all-weather sport. It is played indoors where there is no wind or rain. The heater or the air conditioner is always on, depending on the state of the weather outside.
"Not everyone likes to play physical sport," says Ann Sadowski. She has been at the Drouin Bowls Club for the past five years.
Members say it is the perfect activity for older primary school or high-school aged children and their parents.
"We see a lot of people from high schools," says Sadowski.
A group of high school students regularly attend the Drouin Bowls Club. Several other community groups use the sport as a backdrop for social activities. Many clubhouses have a bar and light refreshments are provided at some events. At the Drouin Bowls Club there is a light supper on Thursdays.
Social bowls comes with no financial obligation. For participants keen to take the sport further and play competitively, there is the option of membership.
Lawn bowls is one of 25 core sports that must be included at every Commonwealth Games. It is rare to spot an Olympic or Commonwealth Games bowler over the age of 30, which makes lack of enthusiasm for the game by younger people puzzling.
"In years gone by your parents played bowls and you'd go and watch them," says Helen Fielden, President of the Mid Gippsland Indoor Bias Bowls Association. "And that's just not happening." The current indoor social bowls program will continue until August. The pennant competition begins in September, although there are social games played year-round on synthetic surfaces at clubs like Drouin.
"Keeping people connected is what we are all about," says Ann Sadowski.
"It's a very welcoming type of environment."
Drouin and Trafalgar bowls clubs host social bowls on Thursday nights. Warragul and Trafalgar Park have social bowls on Saturday nights.
For more information contact the Drouin Bowls Club -- 5625 1692; Warragul Bowls Club -5623 4219; Yarragon Bowls Club -- 5634 2580; Trafalgar Bowls Club -- 5633 1274; Trafalgar Park Bowls Club -- 5633 1066.