For the first news item on the upcoming season I thought it would be good to have a guest correspondent and invited Bob Bates to let us have his personal views on what lies ahead in 2018. Although I demand complete editorial control what follows has not been edited by me!! So over to Bob............
My thoughts on the upcoming Lawn Bowling season
Recently Bill Arthur asked if I would mind doing a write up on my thoughts on the upcoming bowling season. (Although a labour of love I think Bill is getting weary of doing all the write ups for the website & newsletter himself!)
Well . . here goes with my thoughts on the upcoming Lawn Bowling season.
It is the end of April and the weather is finally breaking a little. For most of us the change in seasons means a few changes in our daily routines. More outdoor activity, less bulky clothing and an air of expectancy for a warm summer to come. There is a lot to look forward to with the end of the cold weather.
In my family there was always one major overriding feeling at this time of year . . . . and that was the anticipation of a fun and exciting Lawn Bowling season just around the corner. Of course, it helped that we all bowled . . Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, my brother . . and oh . .not to forget my wife Pat. This year is no different as I am looking forward to being out in the fresh air with friends all summer.
Most members at the club can pack up their equipment in September & then forget about bowls until the following May. However there are a few at the club that don’t have that luxury. The executive and other volunteers have been busy all winter planning & organizing for the upcoming season. As always they will have something for everyone in the schedule. Jitneys during the day & evenings, Junior bowling, Fun Club Tournaments, & Competitive Open Tournaments. (You can certainly get good value for your money when you join a lawn bowling club).
Personally, I only stop thinking about Bowls for about 3 months when the season ends. My main interest in bowls has always been in open tournaments and Provincial Playdowns. I know that if I want to get in to some of the tournaments I like I have to start looking at the upcoming schedule and phoning in entries in January. Even at that early date I end up on some waiting lists. I have cut back a little since coming to Cobourg from Toronto 2 years ago and only have 41 events on my schedule so far for 2018. (Don’t be surprised if you get a call from me to play as its not always easy finding team mates for that many tournaments!)
There are a few changes in the format of Provincial play this year and I am anxious to see how that goes. Here are some of the changes (and I understand the average member doesn’t give a hooey about this . . . but hey . . its my write up!)
Provincial Fours: For the first time ever the OLBA (Ontario Lawn Bowls Assoc) is holding an Open Provincial Playdown.
Provincial Seniors Triples: This year this event is 2-bowl triples.
Provincial Novice Singles: This is a new event altogether
I won’t elaborate here why these changes are all being made this year (Partly because I don’t know!) I would be happy to discuss it with anyone at the club who is interested. Some questions though just always go unanswered. Like . . . Why can Superman stop bullets painlessly with his chest but ducks if you throw a revolver at him?
Apart from my tournament bowling I am really looking forward to getting involved more and helping out around the club in other capacities. At a club such as ours where everything from A to Z is done by volunteer members its important that we all pitch in where we can. At my old club in Toronto (Cosburn Park) we had 160 to 170 members. Even with that larger number we always lacked volunteers to do all the work that needed doing and some things just went undone.
Well, all we need now is to get the temperatures up into the high teens and get the go ahead from the greens crews and the summer fun can begin
Oops . . I just noticed in my calendar I have a 2 week period in August with no tournaments. I better check the Annual to see if I can rectify that! Or just maybe . . . Bill, Ben Carl & I will be in Regina for the Canadian Fours Championships that week ! Now that’s really a thought I like for the upcoming season. [editor's comment - we need to be beware of the Foxhall team in the Fours - just saying]
See you on the greens!
Bob Bates
My thoughts on the upcoming Lawn Bowling season
Recently Bill Arthur asked if I would mind doing a write up on my thoughts on the upcoming bowling season. (Although a labour of love I think Bill is getting weary of doing all the write ups for the website & newsletter himself!)
Well . . here goes with my thoughts on the upcoming Lawn Bowling season.
It is the end of April and the weather is finally breaking a little. For most of us the change in seasons means a few changes in our daily routines. More outdoor activity, less bulky clothing and an air of expectancy for a warm summer to come. There is a lot to look forward to with the end of the cold weather.
In my family there was always one major overriding feeling at this time of year . . . . and that was the anticipation of a fun and exciting Lawn Bowling season just around the corner. Of course, it helped that we all bowled . . Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, my brother . . and oh . .not to forget my wife Pat. This year is no different as I am looking forward to being out in the fresh air with friends all summer.
Most members at the club can pack up their equipment in September & then forget about bowls until the following May. However there are a few at the club that don’t have that luxury. The executive and other volunteers have been busy all winter planning & organizing for the upcoming season. As always they will have something for everyone in the schedule. Jitneys during the day & evenings, Junior bowling, Fun Club Tournaments, & Competitive Open Tournaments. (You can certainly get good value for your money when you join a lawn bowling club).
Personally, I only stop thinking about Bowls for about 3 months when the season ends. My main interest in bowls has always been in open tournaments and Provincial Playdowns. I know that if I want to get in to some of the tournaments I like I have to start looking at the upcoming schedule and phoning in entries in January. Even at that early date I end up on some waiting lists. I have cut back a little since coming to Cobourg from Toronto 2 years ago and only have 41 events on my schedule so far for 2018. (Don’t be surprised if you get a call from me to play as its not always easy finding team mates for that many tournaments!)
There are a few changes in the format of Provincial play this year and I am anxious to see how that goes. Here are some of the changes (and I understand the average member doesn’t give a hooey about this . . . but hey . . its my write up!)
Provincial Fours: For the first time ever the OLBA (Ontario Lawn Bowls Assoc) is holding an Open Provincial Playdown.
- This means anyone can enter and play with anyone else from Ontario. All you have to do is pay the entry fee (only $500 per team) and show up. In the past, and in all other events this year, teams have to be made up of members from the same district and have to win a District Championship to go on to the Provincial final.
Provincial Seniors Triples: This year this event is 2-bowl triples.
Provincial Novice Singles: This is a new event altogether
I won’t elaborate here why these changes are all being made this year (Partly because I don’t know!) I would be happy to discuss it with anyone at the club who is interested. Some questions though just always go unanswered. Like . . . Why can Superman stop bullets painlessly with his chest but ducks if you throw a revolver at him?
Apart from my tournament bowling I am really looking forward to getting involved more and helping out around the club in other capacities. At a club such as ours where everything from A to Z is done by volunteer members its important that we all pitch in where we can. At my old club in Toronto (Cosburn Park) we had 160 to 170 members. Even with that larger number we always lacked volunteers to do all the work that needed doing and some things just went undone.
Well, all we need now is to get the temperatures up into the high teens and get the go ahead from the greens crews and the summer fun can begin
Oops . . I just noticed in my calendar I have a 2 week period in August with no tournaments. I better check the Annual to see if I can rectify that! Or just maybe . . . Bill, Ben Carl & I will be in Regina for the Canadian Fours Championships that week ! Now that’s really a thought I like for the upcoming season. [editor's comment - we need to be beware of the Foxhall team in the Fours - just saying]
See you on the greens!
Bob Bates
