Lawn bowling continues through summer – sans snowbirds
BY MICHAEL HAMSON
Special Correspondent
Published: April 20, 2016
TBO.com
SUN CITY CENTER — As many part-time residents return to the north this summer, about a dozen dedicated lawn bowlers in Kings Point will brave the heat.
Jim Ferguson, 77, the president of the Kings Point West Lawn Bowling Club, said they recently initiated games with the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club to keep the game going during the hot summer months.
“We play year round but in the summer we don’t get as many people because the snowbirds go back,” he said. “With our friendly rivalry, we eventually hope to have a trophy presented to the winner, like with hockey you have the Stanley Cup passed about.”
Originally from Philadelphia, Ferguson said it’s the technique that makes the game interesting.
“The bowls (balls) are flat on two sides,” he said. “One side is weighted so when you throw the weighted side it will curve to the right and if you switch it over it goes to the left.”
The object is to come closest to a white ball called the “kitty.”
Kings Point resident Pat Ryles said the club is busiest November though April with more than 75 players. The new matches with the SCC lawn bowlers will provide an added challenge because of the different playing greens.
“They decided we should have a friendly get-together with the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club,” Ryles said. “The conditions of the greens are different. Ours, because we only have one, gets no rest. They have three greens over there and they can rest one for a few days and let the grass repair.”
Ryles said players from Kings Point find they don’t need to throw as hard to make the bowl move faster on the SCC playing greens.
“Here in Kings Point you get more challenges,” she said. “When you hit a bald spot in the grass, it moves the ball differently. Here we have to throw a little harder.”
Ryles said winners of the club championship games in early March received trophies during the recent awards ceremony. Those recognized included pairs winners Larry Carter and Bill Moore who defeated Bob Frieberg and John Robak. For singles, Pam LeCren defeated Gary Hart. In the novice category, the winners were Lyndell Kidd for women’s individual championships and Alan Wilkinson for the men’s individual championships. They overcame other novice players Darlene Bolton and Ron Garwood.
Garwood, who moved to Kings Point from Niagra Falls, N.Y., about five months ago, said he loves the social aspect of the club. He helped keep score during a recent game at the Kings Point playing greens.
“It’s a neat sport,” Garwood said. “It balances off my pickleball. It’s not quite as strenuous; it’s a relaxing game. It takes a lot of skill, which I don’t have yet.”
Special Correspondent
Published: April 20, 2016
TBO.com
SUN CITY CENTER — As many part-time residents return to the north this summer, about a dozen dedicated lawn bowlers in Kings Point will brave the heat.
Jim Ferguson, 77, the president of the Kings Point West Lawn Bowling Club, said they recently initiated games with the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club to keep the game going during the hot summer months.
“We play year round but in the summer we don’t get as many people because the snowbirds go back,” he said. “With our friendly rivalry, we eventually hope to have a trophy presented to the winner, like with hockey you have the Stanley Cup passed about.”
Originally from Philadelphia, Ferguson said it’s the technique that makes the game interesting.
“The bowls (balls) are flat on two sides,” he said. “One side is weighted so when you throw the weighted side it will curve to the right and if you switch it over it goes to the left.”
The object is to come closest to a white ball called the “kitty.”
Kings Point resident Pat Ryles said the club is busiest November though April with more than 75 players. The new matches with the SCC lawn bowlers will provide an added challenge because of the different playing greens.
“They decided we should have a friendly get-together with the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club,” Ryles said. “The conditions of the greens are different. Ours, because we only have one, gets no rest. They have three greens over there and they can rest one for a few days and let the grass repair.”
Ryles said players from Kings Point find they don’t need to throw as hard to make the bowl move faster on the SCC playing greens.
“Here in Kings Point you get more challenges,” she said. “When you hit a bald spot in the grass, it moves the ball differently. Here we have to throw a little harder.”
Ryles said winners of the club championship games in early March received trophies during the recent awards ceremony. Those recognized included pairs winners Larry Carter and Bill Moore who defeated Bob Frieberg and John Robak. For singles, Pam LeCren defeated Gary Hart. In the novice category, the winners were Lyndell Kidd for women’s individual championships and Alan Wilkinson for the men’s individual championships. They overcame other novice players Darlene Bolton and Ron Garwood.
Garwood, who moved to Kings Point from Niagra Falls, N.Y., about five months ago, said he loves the social aspect of the club. He helped keep score during a recent game at the Kings Point playing greens.
“It’s a neat sport,” Garwood said. “It balances off my pickleball. It’s not quite as strenuous; it’s a relaxing game. It takes a lot of skill, which I don’t have yet.”
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