Dialing Down the Pretentiousness

If your perception of lawn bowling is that it is a pretentious sport where an all-white dress code is required, read on.

Not long ago, if you were on the green, you were wearing whites. It all looked very formal and frankly, very stiff. 

But times they are a-changing. Most clubs now have relaxed the rules around dress and in most cases have done away with it all together. 

It's the right decision. But more needs to happen.

Lawn bowling participation in Canada has been declining for some time, certainly not helped by the dress codes of past, however it's safe to say that the sport still has some some road to travel.

Young people are making up more and more of the numbers in places like Australia and the U.K. spurred on no doubt by crazy-ass ideas like the Bowls Premier League replete with powerplays, fast games and - hold your breath - music. Their Jackaroo program is tailor made to introduce young people to the sport. Dare I say it, they've made lawn bowling cool. And shockingly, the money and sponsorships followed. 

Lawn bowling in Canada is light years behind, but by embracing new ideas like twighlight bowling, after school programs, innovative membership programs and dare I say it - music on the green - we can bring the cool too...bruh.