Ringwood Bowls Club

A couple of years back, Lawn Bowls became the new 'chic' thing to do. Hordes of 'whippersnappers' began flocking to greens all over Melbourne for an arvo bowl and a pot, and at the rate that greens a re still being booked out, it's not a passing trend.

Ringwood Bowls Club has 3 greens, 2 turf and 1 synthetic, meaning bowls is on 12 months of the year. The staff are fantastic and welcoming, and are always keen to offer advice to newies who are trying the game out for the first time.

We'd head down on a Wednesday night, which was run as a "newcomers" night. We spend a couple of hours bowling and taking advantage of the very cheap beer at the bar ($2 a pot!), and really enjoyed it each week. In fact, we went so often that it became an in-house joke that when we'd arrive, they'd rush over to open the bar.

Unlike inner city bowls clubs, this is run by the traditional owners, who haven't jacked up the beer prices for the new market. These guys just love to bowl, and love it when you get involved.

Bowls is the perfect sunny afternoon sport. You kick your shoes off, you can drink, and you don't have to run. Perfect!