Roselawn Bowling Club Open for 2026 Season
Roselawn Bowling Club opens its 104th season May 18 with open nights, free trial visits, golf croquet, and June 6-7 open houses at 1555 5th Ave W.
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The Owen Sound Roselawn Bowling Club opened on Monday May 18th. This will be the 104th season for the club located at 1555 5th Ave West in Owen Sound and members are inviting all lawn-bowling curious neighbours to come by for a visit.
Between May 18th and early fall, the club hosts open jitneys on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, meaning that teams are made up of whoever arrives to play. Beginning on July 7th, Wednesday nights are league night. Plans are also being made for morning sessions.
The game of lawn bowls in its current form dates back to the 13th century. It’s like a cross between bocci and curling where players take turns rolling their bowls down the green, trying to get their team’s bowls as close as possible to the small white ball known as the jack. Lawn bowls are not balls because they are not spheres. Instead they have two flattened sides, which gives them a ‘bias’ that makes them curve as they roll.
“It’s a great game,” says Roselawn president Jim Ansell. “People might think of lawn bowlers as formal and all dressed in white but the club is very casual and social. I love that you can make the game as easy going or competitive as you like. And it’s a beautiful place to spend a summer evening as the sun sets and the birds fly over”.
Visitors are welcome to drop in to any regular bowling night to try it out. The club offers two free visits per year, all equipment is provided, and instructors are available to introduce people to the game.
According to Ansell, lawn bowls is an accessible game with players ranging from their 80s down to their teens. One club member started playing when he was 8 years old and the club annually hosts gym classes from local schools.
In 2025, Roselawn introduced golf croquet as a new activity at the club. It’s a variation of croquet where teams race to be the first through wickets to score points. In 2026, golf croquet will run on Sunday afternoons at 3pm and on one or two mornings a week. All equipment and instruction is provided.
Roselawn is also hosting two open houses on Saturday June 6th from 10am-4pm and Sunday June 7th from noon until 4pm.
“We want people to come and give it a try because we think they’ll love it,” says Ansell. “The club is a sort of hidden gem in Owen Sound and it’s affordable. Members get unlimited play all season”.
An annual adult membership is $200 and a junior membership for those 18 and younger is $55. Roselawn can also be booked for private events. For more information, visit www.roselawnbowls.ca
Submitted by Roselawn Bowling Club
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