A kilted bagpiper ushered players onto the green Tuesday as a lawn bowling exhibition rolled into Irvine with the U.S. national team facing off in a test match against Scotland.
It was the first of three test matches between the professional men’s and women’s teams before the U.S. Open of Lawn Bowls 2013, which begins Sunday at greens across Orange County and Long Beach.
Team Scotland and Team USA, with six men and six women each, bowled three games total. The games were separated by gender and played in singles, pairs and triples.
Residents were pleased to see the international event take place on their home court at The Groves senior community. Irvine Mayor Steven Choi presided over the opening ceremony.
Lawn bowling is played with a set of four bowls, which are balls weighted to make them heavier on one side, called a “bias.” That weight affects their draw when rolled.
“It curves anywhere from three to 10 feet, depending on the amount of weight in the different bowls,” said Andrew Kerr, president of Groves Lawn Bowling Club.
The bowls must be certified by an official before they are used in play, he said.
Bowling greens are flat 120 square areas of low-cut, carefully maintained grass or artificial turf. They are usually divided into eight rinks so several games can be played at once.
The game begins by rolling the Jack (a small white ball) down the field while keeping it in-bounds. Players then take turns rolling their bowls.
The single or team whose bowl stops closest to the Jack receives a point. If a team stops two bowls closer than an opponents bowl, that team receives two points, and so on. Officials use measuring tape to rule when it’s too close to call.
Occasionally, players strategically use their bowl to knock opposing bowls further away from the Jack, or to hit the Jack itself.
A game’s length is based on the number ends, or turns up and down the pitch, the players decide to play up to. The team with the most points by then wins.
The American and Scottish players strategized during Tuesday’s competition, asking their teammates to roll precise shots that either put them closer to the Jack or knocked their opponents further away. Whether the turns brought them closer to victory or set them back, the bowlers encouraged their teammates.
Irvine resident Rita Molletta, a casual bowler, came out to watch the professionals play.
“To me, this is one of the best spectator sports there are because each roll of that bowl can change the game,” she said. “You can have five points and somebody can come in and take them all away.”
The Irvine organization, The Groves Lawn Bowling Club, is popular among the community’s seniors – games are organized several times a week. However, only The Groves residents can join, said member Chet Mueller, of Irvine.
“That’s one thing which is a little detrimental to our club in size,” he said.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7815 or iwheeler@ocregister.com
