The lesser known sport of lawn bowling, also known as flat green bowling or bowling on the green, dates to Egyptian times but the game played today was developed and formalized in Scotland in the 1800s. A “uniform code of laws” over the game was agreed to in 1848, and the Scottish Bowling Association was formed in 1892.
The game’s popularity made its way to England, and eventually to the United States and other parts of the world resulting in the formation of the American Lawn Bowls Association (now Bowls USA) in 1915.
English and Scottish immigrants brought lawn bowling to America, and there was even a bowling green in Williamsburg, VA enjoyed by the early colonists. Many states have a town named “Bowling Green” after the early popularity of the sport.
Much to my surprise, West Hartford, CT, where I currently live, has not one but two lawn bowling clubs. The first, established in 1913, Thistle Lawn Bowling Club, is on the grounds of Elizabeth Park. The second, featured here, is Fernleigh Lawn Bowling Club on Lancaster Road, tucked away behind the Butterfly Chinese Restaurant and unknown to most residents.
A local news site posted an article about the historic clubhouse, and I was intrigued. I drove a short ten minutes and quickly found the parking lot for club members. Unfortunately, since it is still early in the spring, the clubhouse is not yet open for the season. The season officially begins in May and members will be readying the clubhouse and the green in coming weeks.
The Fernleigh Lawn Bowling Club was formed by seven individuals who wanted to establish a private independent lawn bowling club (perhaps a breakaway group from Thistle?) Bylaws were created in November 1922, and the first official opening of the club was held at Elizabeth Park in June 1923. Members purchased land for a clubhouse and the current structure was completed in 1925 with over 50 teams from around the country taking part in the opening games.
The genteel sport is played on a large green which is subdivided into seven lanes, or rinks. With two players per team, a small white ball, or “jack” is rolled. Players then take their turns at rolling their bowls to see who can get closest to the jack. The trick is that lawn bowls are not round. They are shaped on one side so that the bowler may curve it around other bowls in its path.
Although bowls used to be black or brown, they now come in every imaginable color and in various weights. Only men were able to play at Fernleigh until 1955 when women were accepted as full members, and today’s membership includes individuals, couples, family members, as well as strictly social members.
Lawn bowling is a sport with established rules for etiquette, and players dress in all white with flat soled shoes or sneakers to play. Members of Fernleigh Lawn Bowling Club cherish the history and camaraderie of the sport and endeavor to follow the original bylaws as much as possible, updating for modern nuisances such as the cell phone.
I admit to being intrigued by membership in what appears to be a throwback to simpler times. The lawn bowling season runs from May to October, with lighting on the Green for evening play. My hand-eye coordination is severely lacking, but I’m quite sure cocktails would be enjoyed after tournaments, don’t you think? It would be nice to participate in something where “it is poor form to criticize your opponent, your own team members, or the green”.
Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
[x_author title=”About the Author”]
My name is Deb Cohen, and I am a lifelong resident of Connecticut, a lover of all things historic and New England, and a realtor who helps buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals and dreams. When I’m not working, I enjoy life with my husband, our two adult children, and our two rescue pups. Renovating and decorating our historic home, dating to 1800, is another favorite pastime.
