Another Reason for Lawn Bowling’s Decline
A couple of generations ago very few women worked outside the home. As
homemakers they could arrange their affairs to free-up three or four hours
during the working week to bowl. Men in contrast by and large were only available
on the weekends. It was in this era that the customary practices at lawn bowling
clubs were established. Women played during the week. The weekends were
reserved for the men. In many bowling
clubs in Australia this practice seems to have continued. That is how things
operated both at Burleigh Heads and North Turramurra, two of the clubs I played
at during this past Canadian winter.
If I had discovered lawn bowls while my wife and I were still both working, I
would never have taken up the sport because, first, my wife would not have been
able to bowl during women’s hours that coincide with her work and, second, I
would choose a weekend sport that we could both play at the same time.
Fortunately, the situation is better in Canada than in Australia. Social
bowling is more often than not mixed and there are many more mixed competitive
events as well.
If bowlers who have played for 25 years or more want to preserve their beloved
game they will have to give up playing arrangements from another era! I know
you love those old boys’ club arrangements but don’t you love this great game
even more?
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