The Bow Valley Lawn Bowling club welcomes everyone to come play lawn bowling in a fun and relaxed environment. We provide both competitive and recreational play.
The Bow Valley Lawn Bowling Club has been a fixt
ure in the Calgary's Hillhurst neighbourhood for over 85 years, since 1932.
We have one professionally maintained green with six rinks.
Our bowling season runs May through to October, (weather permitting). Our clubhouse is available for events year round. Check the events calendar for availability.
Lawn bowling offers a great way to meet people, socialize, and get to know your neighbours. Lawn bowls caters to everyone regardless of age or skill level. Come try lawn bowling in a fun and relaxed environment.
What's Happening?
- Please note that the Bow Valley Lawn Bowling Clubs is currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- For more information related City of Calgary facilities and COVID-19, please visit https://www.calgary.ca/covid19
Club History Project - We are currently trying to updated the history of the club by digitizing all the old club photos and historic documents. Some of the old photos will appear under the Club History section in the near future. Currently we have many pictures from the late 1980's through the 1990's of former members we cannot identify. If you are a former club member or related to a former club member please feel free to contact us by email or phone to help us with this project.
2020 Events (No events have been scheduled due to COVID-19 restrictions)
Drop-in Bowling for Members & Guests - TBD
Club Opening - TBD
Mixed Doubles Round Robin Tournament - TBD
Open House - TBD
Black and White Bowls Event - TBD
Southern Alberta Novice Pairs Tournament - TBD
BBQ - TBD
Season Wind Up event - TBD
Selecting Your Bowls
Size affects your grip
• Bowls are commonly marked with sizes 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, i.e., from smaller to larger. Larger sizes can range up to 7.
• Select size to suit your hand so as to ensure a comfortable grip. Use the largest bowl you can comfortably handle.
• Wrap both hands around the widest running surface of the bowl. If your middle fingers touch at the bottom and your thumbs at the top, that’s usually your size.
• If the bowl tends to slip or drop on delivery, try a smaller size or lighter weight (see below).
Weight affects momentum
• Bowls are commonly marked M (medium) or H (heavy) to indicate total weight.
• Select weight for comfort with your grip and with delivery.
• A heavier weight gives more momentum and, theoretically, less effort on delivery.
• Weight does not affect trajectory, which is a function of bias (see below). (Bowls were, at one time, weighted on one side to determine trajectory, i.e. a “heavier”
bowl would have a wider trajectory than a lighter one. This is not true of modern bowls.)
Bias determines trajectory
• Bowls are shaped with a bias along the running surface so that the bowl tends to tilt and curve to one side as its speed decreases.
• A narrow bias takes less grass in a slight curve. A wider bias takes more grass in a more pronounced curve.
• Bias varies with the make and model of the bowl. In the current BVLBC inventory, for example, the most common bowls are Drakes Pride Professional Plus and Henselite
Classic, both of which have wide trajectories.
• Theoretically your choice of bias should be influenced by the green speed where you will be playing and by the position you normally play. But experience will determine your personal preference.
