View Finder: 80 Years of Lawn Bowling in Laguna Beach

With a breeze from the Pacific at their backs and the sun shining off their white clothing, members of the Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club explained the game of "bowls" to prospective members on Saturday. Visitors were welcome at the LBLBC Open House on May 7th in celebration of the club's 80th Anniversary in Laguna Beach.

"I came to an open house three years ago," said club member and recruiter Eileen Hoffman, "and I thought, 'This is the coolest thing in the whole world.'"

Hoffman was on hand to let interested visitors know about the pluses of belonging to the LBLBC.

"It's such a nice group of people to play with," said Hoffman. "We've signed up people of all ages today, lots of them in their 20s. They're excited about wearing their 'whites.' You can come and bowl or you can just hang out with your friends at the club. Once you join here, you are allowed to play anywhere in the world."

Secretary of the LBLBC Scott Roberts explained that for the next two weeks, the cost to join the club is $100. This covers membership through December. The cost to join in January is $150 for the full calendar year.

In October, the club will host the 2011 National Open. There is a large tournament here about once every three months. Club events are held about once a month. Social events occur twice a month. 

"We have many social events," said Roberts. "For example, we had a St. Patrick's Day party in March and we're having a luau in June."

"Lawn bowling is just fun," said Roberts. "The scenery here is beautiful and all of the people are really nice. You can play at any level you want. You can play and have some drinks with friends or you can play at international competitions."

Roberts returned recently from lawn bowling in China and Hong Kong at the Tiger Bowls World Invitation 2011, where his team placed second.

"This game is about finesse and touch," said Roberts. "It's about control and adjustment."

A lawn bowling ball has a bias, so the path of the ball curves as it rolls. Players attempt to approach the smaller white or "jack" ball with the larger dark balls.

LBLBC Membership Chair Heather Stewart has been inducted into the United States Lawn Bowls Association. She was inducted based on her ability and what she has done for the game of lawn bowling. She has been playing for two decades.

"My husband and I were walking by here 20 years ago and we saw people playing. My husband saw everyone in their white clothes and he said, 'We are going to play this.' This game is a passion for me."