A to Z of lawn bowls - Travel - Hotels and Lodging

Bowls is a relaxing yet competitive sport that is fast increasing in popularity over the globe. It is played by both young and old, though it is particularly favoured by older folk as it doesn't require physical fitness. It is well known for its competitiveness and skill, and the fact that it is a non contact sport means that anyone can play it. These days however, bowls is fast becoming a competitive game, with many younger people playing. The World Bowls Championships are held in UK every year and the sport is also played at the Commonwealth Games. Bowls has crossed many continents - what started off as a pastime in England has now transformed to a popular game in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, United States and even Japan!

Lawn bowls is usually played on levelled rectangular shaped grass or synthetic surface also known as a bowling green. The bowling green is divided into parallel playing strips, which are called rinks. In a singles competition, two opponents will flip a coin to decide who plays first, by placing the mat and rolling the jack to the other end of the green, which serves as a target. The jack is a smaller white ball without a bias. Players then take turns to roll their bowls towards the jack. The player's bowls are less rounded on one side, which results in them being biased in one direction due to the extra weight. This ensures that the bowl follows a slightly curved path as it rolls along. In a 'singles' competition, each player will have four bowls, which are rolled alternately at the jack. Other games such as 'pairs' consist of four players in two teams, each player having four bowls. 'Triples' consist of three players with three bowls each and 'rinks/fours' has four player s with two bowls each.

Although the bowl may curve outside the rink boundary, it must eventually come to rest within the rink boundary to remain valid. Those that fall out of the rink and into the 'ditch' are removed from play, unless the bowl has touched the jack on the way. Those bowls that have touched the jack are marked with chalk and remain in play. After all bowls have been delivered, the distance of the closest bowls to the jack is determined and points are awarded for each bowl which a competitor has closer to the jack than their opponents. This process is then repeated, typically 20 more times to make up a game of bowls.

Bowls holidays are a fun way to spend time with family and friends. There are several hotels and resorts in England that offer excellent package deals for bowls holidays with flights, transfers, accommodation and bowling facilities.

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