It’s a warm and muggy summer evening in Seattle, and we’re standing atop a perfectly-manicured green lawn stretching in all directions. Gaze to the northwest and one finds a picturesque view of the Seattle skyline, though on this occasion the buildings are partially obscured by the smoke that’s rolled in from regional forest fires.
Chatting amiably next to me is Tina Thomas. She’s holding a softball-sized orb in her left hand, and all the while she’s espousing the merits of an obscure sport that’s a hidden gem in the Pacific Northwest.
This is the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club, and Thomas is the lone member who hails from Snohomish County. The 50-year-old lives in Lynnwood and works in Sammamish, yet she journeys far out of her way every Wednesday night during the summer months to participate in the club’s women’s league, which is fondly known as the Bowl Busters.
Indeed, lawn bowling may be a sport known by few. But for those like Thomas, one taste was all that was required before the sport’s draw became irresistible.
“I discovered it because a college friend of mine is a member here and she knew I enjoyed watching curling and was into sports that are off the beaten path,” said Thomas, who’s been a member for three years. “So she invited me to the final night of the league that year to see what was all about, and I joined immediately. It’s just so much fun.”
Thomas’s enthusiasm for the sport is contagious, and I experienced that first-hand as she was generous enough to set up an off-night informal gathering at the club. She recruited fellow club members Marya Granger-O’Neil and Llysa Holland to create a foursome so we could give lawn bowling a spin.
But what exactly is lawn bowling?
Lawn bowling is a target sport in which competitors roll their balls, or “bowls” as they’re known, as close as possible to a small white ball called the “jack.”
But what makes lawn bowling “easy to learn, but hard to master,” is that the ball is not round. Instead it’s oblong, with the weight concentrated on one side of the ball. That means that when the ball is rolled it has a bias that causes it to curve toward the direction of the weight.
It’s like curling, but played on grass instead of ice. It’s like bocce ball, but more sophisticated.
“What I would say about it is that it’s a fun pastime that can also be a really great competitive sport,” club president Gina Tolentino said. “We send people to the national championships and have members who represent the club at the international level. But it’s also a great low-impact sport for people who might have injuries or just need something a little less strenuous.
“The other thing I love about it is you can be 11 years old or 98 years old and you can still play, your age doesn’t matter.”
Lawn bowling can be difficult to find. The Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club is one of just three clubs in the Puget Sound Region, along with the Woodland Park Lawn Bowling Club, which is also in Seattle, and the Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club. The Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club is part of Seattle Parks and Recreation, and it’s been in existence since 1942.
Thomas describes herself as an intermediate-level player who plays once a week during the club’s main season, which begins in May and runs through the summer, and she recently took part in her first tournament. The diehard club members, however, play three or four times a week year-round, rain or shine.
But just as important as the competitive aspect of the sport is the social aspect.
“For me I think it’s about half competitive and half social,” Thomas said. “I’m competitive in the sense that I’m competitive with myself and I want to grow my skills. But the social aspect of it is a lot of fun. I’ve met some really amazing and wonderful people, and it’s such a diverse group of people who come from totally different walks of life and different backgrounds. To me that’s absolutely fascinating, and I think that’s how we grow as people.”
Once one knows where to look, lawn bowling is very accessible to the public. The Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club holds public drop-in hours on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer, as well as Friday night BBQ & Bowls events that are open to non-members, should one want to give it a try. The membership fee is just $115 a year, and joining now would include all of next year.
Now, getting to Jefferson Park can be a hassle for someone living in Snohomish County. But is it worth the drive? According to Thomas, absolutely.
“I definitely would recommend it,” Thomas said. “I wish we had a club in Snohomish County, if we did I’d be a dual member. It’s so much fun that to me it’s worth making a drive. I’d love to see more members come down from Snohomish County and see what it’s all about.”
And if nothing else, it’s worth checking it out for the view.
Follow Nick Patterson on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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