Keep on bowling

Suzie Harrison

It’s been in existence since the 13th century. It is America’s oldest

continuously played sport, yet it seems to remain one of the

best-kept secrets. Those who play it, however, love it and say it’s

addictive.

Those who try lawn bowling say it’s easy to see why players are so

passionate about it, and the friendly members at the Newport Harbor

Lawn Bowling Club are happy to show how it’s played.

Shep Sheppard, who is on the club’s board of directors, said that

he and his wife came to an open house to check it out.

“My wife and I have been avid tennis players, but because of knee

problems, we’ve been looking for a sport that we could do together

and is social,” Sheppard said. “That’s what attracted us -- we liked

the people and the sport.”

Sheppard said there are many people who have played it for years,

with some people at the club enjoying it for two or three decades

now.

Many of the players find it disconcerting that in this country, it

has a stigma for being a sport for “older” people.

“In New Zealand, it’s bigger than soccer and rugby,” Sheppard

said. “That’s what we’re trying to get across, that it’s for all ages

-- men and women, boys and girls.”

He said it can be very conceptual and very social. There are lawn

bowling tournaments for all different skill levels.

Jim Altobelli is hooked.

“I coached little league for 10 years across the street and walked

by every day -- and then I saw on the last page of the recreation

department’s directory and took lessons, Altobelli said. “Then I was

skipping to work to do it.”

Altobelli, now one of the instructors, said that it’s 25% athletic

and 75% mental strategy.

“We have 16 grandkids, and two who are 17 and 19 years old are going to be my partners in the September tournament,” Altobelli said.

“They are excellent.”

He said he tells people he can show them how to do the sport in 20

minutes and then it will take a lifetime to conquer it.

The club has some members who are on the U.S. National team and

one who recently won against five European champions on their own

turf.

“As long as I can bowl, I don’t care that my knees are in such bad

shape,” Altobelli said.

The game is popular with a lot of women because it doesn’t take a

lot of strength. It’s more a finesse game.

People can play on mixed teams.

“Of all the games I’ve ever played, this has a lot of layers,” Jan

Hargraves said. “It’s addictive -- I’ve been playing for four years,

and each time, it’s different. The tournaments have taken over my

life.”

The Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club is at 1550 Crown Drive North

in Corona del Mar. For information, call (949) 640-6049.