Lawn Bowlers Host Open House

The Hermosa Beach Lawn Bowling Club opened its doors this weekend for anyone who wanted to get bowled over by lawn bowling.

The club's annual open house Saturday at its clubhouse on Valley Drive, next to Clark Stadium, was in conjunction with other Southern Californian United States Lawn Bowls Association clubs. Hermosa started hosting open houses to combat declining membership and get more people interested in the sport.

"It's been good," said Julian Katz, Hermosa Beach club president. "We have over 100 people stop by each year, and about 15 or 20 join the club."

Lawn bowling is similar to throwing horseshoes in that the object is to be as close as possible to the goal. However, in lawn bowling, the goal isn't a stake in the ground. It's a small white ball (called the jack) that can be strategically knocked by the balls--called bowls--into positions more favorable to a certain player.

"It's good exercise; you walk about a mile during a game," said Katz. "It's also mentally challenging. There is a lot of strategy to the game."

During the open house, people of all ages and skill levels were rolling bowls down the field. Members, many wearing their white polo shirts, were teaching newcomers how to roll the bowls.

One of the members introducing the sport was four-time national women's singles champion, Rosa Baer. She encourages everyone, regardless of age, to give the sport a try.

"It's not only for retired people," said Baer. "All ages play a lot of people in their mid-30s who are very competitive."

Even on the national level, the sport is still about more about camaraderie than rivalry. Rosa Baer's husband, Tony Baer, is also ranked nationally but said he still enjoys the game's social aspects.

"It's a world community," said Tony Baer. "Anywhere you go you can find a club and tell them you play in Southern California. They'll welcome you in."

For many of the club's members, the friendly attitude is what attracted them to the sport in the first place, such as with member Aaron Zangl.

"It's really a gentleman's game," said Zangl. "It's not like professional sports now where – besides hockey, I think – they don't even shake hands after a match."

Even though Hermosa Beach's club isn't the most competitive in its division, it does have its share of competitive achievements. Recently, the men's team took first place in the Winter Coast League.

"To win the trophy we bowled five days a week going to different club each day of the week," said Don David, club vice president and Winter League member.