The Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club normally opens in April but COVID-19 delayed the startup to early July. Club members hope to be playing games by August. (Dan Marshall)

By Dan Marshall

On the Green

Greens open again at Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club

Jul 16, 2020 | 7:06 PM

NANAIMO — Recreation opportunities for the region’s older athletes continue to expand.

The Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club got the green light from provincial and national organizations as well as the City of Nanaimo to resume activities on July 7.

NLBC president Frances Tester said new guidelines include no spectators, frequent sanitizing and members needing to pre-register to get out on the greens.

“We used to hold open draws but now we’re having four rinks (out of eight) open. There’s only 16 people and normally we could have as many as 48 for tournament play.”

In a typical year the NLBC would have about 150 members and open the greens on Apr. 1.

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While lawn bowling is not a senior-exclusive sport, most of the NLBC members trend older.

Tester was encouraged that nearly two-thirds of the 36 slots available in the first week were filled.

“Bowlers just want to get out there and it’s great to see the enthusiasm when you see people back on the green telling us how good it is to be out here finally.”

The official guidelines are still being worked out but starting on Aug. 1 each session will bump up to two hours a day with once again three green times.

That should also pave the way for actual games instead of practice sessions, something Tester believes will increase numbers.

The thrill of competition is something which drives the recreational player and has led to success for NLBC members on a grander stage.

In recent years club members like junior Jason Valchar and visually impaired bowler Gus Thorne have competed in major national or international competitions.

Those events or any other travelling tournaments won’t be back on the calendar until at least 2021.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77