Try Bowls

Fancy giving bowls a go? It’s a cracking game, and we’re chuffed to bits to tell you all about it. Here at The Dandenong Club, we reckon bowls is for everyone – whether you’re up for a laugh with your mates or keen to join a team.

So, how’s it work? Dead simple, really. You roll a little ball (that’s the jack), then take turns trying to get your bowls as close to it as you can. Points go to whoever’s nearest. Easy to learn, but trust me, you’ll be honing your skills for years!

You can play one-on-one, in pairs, threes, or fours – whatever floats your boat. Feeling a bit competitive? Why not join our Pennant teams and show other clubs what you’re made of?

Don’t fret if you’re a total newbie – our coach Britt Jago and his team will have you bowling like a pro in no time. We even offer free taster lessons to get you started. Just drop our bowls operations team a line at [email protected], or call on 03 9793 7339 and they’ll sort you out.

Bowls is brilliant for getting active, making new friends, and having a right laugh. Whether you’re after a friendly game or want to take your skills up a notch, we’ve got your back at The Dandenong Club.

Got any other questions? We are always up for a natter about this fantastic sport!

BOWLS AT A GLANCE

Bowls is the game that takes minutes to learn – but a lifetime to master

AIM OF THE GAME

Bowls is a precision sport whereby players roll bowls, which are specifically designed to possess a bias, with expressed intent of finishing close to a smaller ball known as the “jack” or “kitty”.

THE BATTLEFIELD OF CHOICE

Bowls is played on both indoor and outdoor surfaces. Universally these are known as greens and each green is divided into parallel playing strips known as rinks

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE

In a singles competition, the first end (segment of play) commences by laying the mat and rolling the jack to the other end of the green to serve as a target. Once it has come to rest, the jack is aligned to the centre of the rink, and players take turns to roll their bowls from the mat towards the jack and thereby build up the head. (cluster of bowls around the jack)

HOW TO HIT THE SCOREBOARD?

Once each competitor or team has delivered all their bowls, the distance from the jack to the closest bowl/s is determined. And one point (called shots) is awarded for each bowl that is closer than their opponent’s closest bowl to the jack.

HOW MANY PLAYERS PER TEAM?

Bowls has a range of formats, but the most common feature 1-4 players per team, known as singles, pairs, triples, and fours. The number of bowls each player puts down is usually determined by the number of players per team but may vary from 2 to 4.

DEAD OR ALIVE?

Bowls may curve outside the boundary of the rink but must come to rest within the boundary to remain in play. Bowls falling into the ditch (at the end of the green) are dead and removed from play – except for when one has made a connection with the jack (known as a “toucher”)

TALK ME THROUGH A TOUCHER

“Touchers” are marked with chalk and remain alive in play even if they fall into the ditch. Similarly, if the jack falls into the ditch, it remains alive (unless it is beyond the side boundary), resulting in a “dead” end, which is either replayed or replaced.