Lawn Bowling Courts

so the only thing i know about lawn bowling i absorbed in the 2 hour lesson and game that i played today. as near as i could tell, everything was in great shape, especially considering this place probably runs mostly on donations and volunteer labor.

There are three lawn bowling courts located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The first one installed is located adjacent to the San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club; it dates back to 1902 and is there thanks to John McLaren, the superintendent of Golden Gate Park at the time.
It was a favorable site in the park for individuals occupied by the sport of lawn bowling until Mother Nature destroyed much of the city. During the 1906 Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire the court served as a corral for U.S. Army troops camped out in Sharon Meadow located nearby. Following the aftermath of the disaster the sport gained in popularity and a second lawn bowling court was erected across the street in 1913. Still under the direction of John McLaren the third court was added in 1928 as this section of Golden Gate Park became a major hub for the sport of lawn bowling.
Lawn bowling isn’t as popular today as it once was, but the three courts are still intact and very well manicured thanks to the dedicated gardeners of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, dedicated volunteers and very detailed usage rules that are strictly enforced. I joined in with a volunteer group recently out of curiosity and helped dig up and replace a new drainage system in the original court while another group of volunteers tended to the plants surrounding the courts.
The courts are open in the months of April through October from 10 AM until 4 PM and in the months of November through March from 11 AM until 4 PM. The three courts which are gated are closed during inclement weather or when maintenance is necessary. Only individuals who partake in the sport of lawn bowling are allowed on the grass, and all individuals must wear flat soled shoes in order to prevent divots from forming on the playing surface.
For individuals interested in a free lesson of lawn bowling you can contact the general information and voice mail number at the San Francisco Lawn Bowlers Club at (415) 487‑8787. All white attire not required.