BOWLING.

Shannon News, 29 October 1929, Page 3

BOWLING.

The following summary of bowling" clubs in the Dominion is of interest: —

North Island: 10 centres, 186 clubs, 10,328 membership, an increase of 49 players on the previous season. South Island: 10 centres, 128 clubs, 5758 membership, a decrease of seven players on the previous season. Total for New Zealand: StUcentres, 314 clubs, 16,086 membership.

WOMEN AND BOWLS. More and more women are joining bowling clubs throughout the country. Soon, if present progress is anything to go by, the number of women playing bowls will be equal to those whose pastime is croquet) arid will approach those who make golf their recreation, states an English writer.

Bowls has for some unknown reason been looked upon in .the past as a game > entirely for men.' Yet there are few - ‘ games in which women are more likely to excel, as is shown by the number of trophies and prizes secured by women . in mixed tournaments to-day. - Skill of the eye and hand, and a well-balanced judgment, are the essen-tials-which go to the making of a good bowls player, and all of these many women possess in a very high degree. In addition there is latitude allowed in the bias of the bowls or “woods,” as they are termed by the practiced

player. With tennis, croquet, or golf, • a standard ball must be used, and 3 . while this is the case with bowls in one way, the bias may vary to suit the taste of the player to a-marked extent. The exercise is by no means violent. It is essentially a calm, quiet game ' played amidst the pleasantest surroundings. For those whose nerves are jagged after a day of managing household or business affairs, which do not always move in the right direction, there is nothing better calculated to soothe than a quiet game of bowls' in the calm of the evening. Those who do not care to join abowls club, and it is likely that in the near future many will be formed for women only, may wish to have their private green in their own garden. Here a single rink for bowds occupies considerably less space than is needed 1 for croquet or tennis, so that in many gardens where the space is not available for these a bowling rink may be put down.