The Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club expects to run a near normal season with upwards of 130 members in 2022. (NLBC Facebook)

By Dan Marshall

On the Green

Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club starts 2022 season with trio of open houses

Apr 22, 2022 | 4:43 PM

NANAIMO — The green at the Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club will be full this spring and summer with a full slate of activities for members.

“We’re going to be operating as if it’s business as usual,” club president Frances Tester said.

She added a requirement for all players to have at least two approved shots of a COVID-19 vaccine will remain in place.

“We had a pretty good turnout last year as we returned to a little bit of normalcy. We’re expecting some of the people who stayed away will come back”

The season runs April to September with open houses Saturday, April 16, 23 and 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. to encourage new members to join.

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Tester said their annual open houses were very popular in 2021 and anyone wanting to try lawn bowling only needs to bring a pair of flat soled shoes.

“We’ll have several coaches on hand and club members volunteering to help if anyone needs it.”

The expectation is for approximately 130 members for the club this season with the green in use every day except Monday’s when the grass is maintained.

“Our club is very busy and very user friendly. We make it so every member who joins gets a key to the gate and the bowls equipment shed.”

Leagues and tournament play will begin in May and Tester said several of their male and female bowlers are playing at a high enough level to win either Island or provincial tournaments.

“We’re going to be hosting five open tournaments. Qualicum and Port Alberni are hosting the senior mens and ladies triples provincial tournament and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if someone from our district won provincials.”

Tester said before the pandemic the youth lawn bowling program was starting to gain momentum in Nanaimo.

Jason Valchar won junior provincials in 2019 but has since aged out.

“Over the last two years we haven’t had an opportunity to develop our youth programs. That’s one of the things we’ll be encouraging. We’re viewed as a seniors sport but we don’t market ourselves that way. Lawn bowling is a sport for everyone.”

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