Carpet Bowling Helps Beat The Long Cold Winter

Carpet bowling is tougher than it looks but easy to learn

Looking for something to do on Monday and Thursday evenings that is inside, nice and warm and only costs a couple of bucks?

Then carpet bowling is for you.

Held each Monday and Thursday evenings at 7 pm in the basement of the Timothy Eaton Gardens building (510 Main Street North) the sport offers a couple of hours of indoor recreation for only $2 per session.

“We started doing it this Winter to see how it goes. The equipment was here already so we thought we could put it to good use,” said Daniel Morin, president of the Moose Jaw Lawn Bowling Association.

Although the game is similar to lawn bowling - even making use of lawn bowling bowls - there are some much noticeable differences.

Animation of Daniel Morin delivering the bowl at a recent open house

In regular lawn bowling it is a bigger game with the lawn bowl green four meters wide and 120 feet in length. Indoor carpet bowling is played on a surface six feet wide and 40 - 45 feet long.

With the different playing surface there is major differences in the game.

“What I have noticed it really emphasizes the curve of the bowl. You really see your mistakes in carpet bowling but it is really great when you make the precise shots,” Morin said.

The great thing about carpet bowling is the sport really has no age limits.

“It is suitable for eight to 80 year olds,” he said.

“The best thing it gets us out of the house and the memory of our muscles working in the Winter. It makes it easier when we get back to lawn bowling.”

Like its lawn bowling cousin, carpet bowling is low impact and it is not grueling or overly competitive with play aimed towards an emphasis of fun.

Although there is no set time for play to end Morin said they will likely play until the snow is off the ground and the outdoor lawn bowling greens are ready.

For those who might remember it was played before in the basement of Timothy Eaton Gardens under the auspices of the Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association so there is a basis for the sport in the city.

As part of coming out those with no experience will have the opportunity to learn the skills and there is no problems with one of the experienced bowlers giving novices or others a hand to learn the game.