About 400 lawn bowlers from all over the world began competing in the Southwest Division Open tournament Saturday at the Santa Anita Bowling Green Club on the east side of the County’s Arcadia Park, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave.
Ryan Neptune from Laguna Liam Courtney of Monrovia won first place in the top flight competition.
Competition in multiple categories will continue through Thursday with bowlers vying for points that may put them in the national championship, which will be hosted here by the Santa Anita Bowling Green Club in 2013. The club is celebrating 75 years in Arcadia this year.
Monday and Tuesday the men play what is called “Rinks/Fours,” in which four players each use only two bowls (the irregularly-shaped balls). The women will play singles Monday and Tuesday. Thursday will feature men’s singles and women’s pairs.
Slamminsliders gourmet Food Truck is scheduled to be in the parking lot Monday – Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. <Story continues below following 90-second video highlights from Sunday Lawn Bowling.>
Get the Flash Player to see this content. If you think you may have an interest in this sport, you may observe some of the top men and women bowlers in the country and then attend the club’s annual Open House from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12.
Another big tournament — the Men’s U.S. Singles & Pairs Playdowns — will be hosted by the club Saturday and Sunday June 6 & 7 to determine who gets to go to the U.S. National Tournament. Those winners are often asked to be on an international team.
The Santa Anita Club is considered to have some of the premier greens in the country. As one of only two clubs in the country with four greens, it is a popular site for tournaments. Another unique feature of the Santa Anita lawn bowling are lights on two of the greens, allowing bowling in the evening. Beginning Tuesday, May 8, Santa Anita will have social bowling at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well 8:30 a.m. Saturday mornings. In July and August BBQ is offered before each Thursday evening bowling.
Lawn bowling is a low-impact, low-cost sport with no age or skill requirement. The American Heart Association has recommended lawn bowling as a positive aid to maintaining a healthy heart.
Learn more at Santa Anita Lawn Bowling’s Facebook page or send schedule a free lesson on the first and third Saturday mornings.by sending an e-mail to lawnbowling4U@yahoo.com.
— By Scott Hettrick