Page 16 - Kwasind July 2020 issue

JULY 2020
Lawn Bowling is Alive and Well! Bill Brennan
SPORTS • 16
Or at least I hope it is.
As I write this I am just back from the Island, which is as peaceful and beautiful as ever. The rink was being lovingly cared for by the gardener while I was there and is looking better every day. As with all Kwasind articles this must
be written and summited well before you read it. The Pandemic has put a wrinkle into an author’s ability to talk about things which have not happened as if they have. Thus, I will write this piece based on what I wish to have happen and not necessarily what actually took place.
As soon as Kwasind and Hiawatha were running the Lawn Bowlers where on the Island bowling with a couple of “minor” changes. I would like to take this opportunity to explain how we are bowling during a pandemic.
Perhaps the easiest game to modify for COVID-19-19 is Lawn Bowling. We play on a relatively large piece of land, there is no contact and we already use hand signals.
We have to avoid touching the same piece of game equipment and stay 2 metres away, standing at an end which is 12 feet wide.
The game starts with the lead placing the mat, which by the way is very difficult to disinfect. In lieu of a mat each player will bring a towel to place and stand on during
the delivery. Only the two lead’s towels will be used. The white or yellow ball which starts the game is the jack and is touched by both leads depending on which team won the last end. This problem is fixed by having two jacks one for each team which are touched by the team’s lead and
no one else. At the completion of an end a rake is used to gather the bowls. We simply do not use a rake and gather the bowls with our feet. Score boards which are adjusted buy several bowlers during the game will not be used.
Our bowls will only be touched by their owner. We must stop the practice of politely handing our opponent their bowl before their delivery. Each bowler is responsible for disinfection of their bowls before and after the game. The cart remains in the storeroom because we will only be using the jacks; No mats or score boards.
We wear masks and stay 2 metres apart. If there is a measure required, only one bowler will measure. The other will stand aside.
Lawn Bowling, I believe you will find, is safer then walking down a sidewalk or waiting in a grocery store line up. It is a lot safer than actually shopping in a grocery store. We will not have exactly the same sociable experience as in both the past and the future, but finally we can safely get out and enjoy ourselves with our fellow Members.
Don’t let a virus stop you from coming bowling with us this year. It is the best excuse for coming to our little bit of paradise this year.
Stay tuned to Hiawatha for when the Green will be open for Lawn Bowling.
Update: As of Friday, June 19th the Lawn Bowling Green opened for play.