Welcome to the
Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club
Established in 1924
A 501(c) Nonprofit Organization
We are open and bowling!
Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:30 until noon.
Tuesday bowling will be added soon.
Stop by and give bowling a try!
Helene's Impact on Clearwater Lawn Bowls Club
This year 2024 marks our Centennial—a milestone 100 years—and it will undoubtedly be a year to remember. Our members have poured countless hours and energy into the club, working hard to attract new members and sponsors, all while handling the upkeep ourselves. It’s been a challenging journey, especially in the wake of COVID, but our dedication remains unwavering.Now, Hurricane Helene has disrupted what was supposed to be a celebratory year for us. We had hoped to close out this incredible milestone in a special way, but this certainly wasn’t what we had envisioned.
On Sunday, September 15th, a group of our club members gathered to clean, paint, make small repairs, and landscape the Lawn Bowling Club in preparation for the upcoming tournament season. However, just two weeks later, on Sunday, September 29th, many of those same members, along with others, returned to help remove wet items and standing water from inside the building, which had sustained significant water damage. We’re now waiting on the city’s plans for repairs, as both the interior and exterior are not in very good condition.
The floodwaters scattered the ditchboards, the fence is damaged, and debris is everywhere. Our greens have lost a considerable amount of rubico due to the saltwater surge. There is still a lot of work ahead.Power has been restored, but as many of you know, our building—owned by Clearwater—doesn't have air conditioning. Unlike other city properties, we're one of the few, if not the only one, without AC, which would really help dry things out in Florida's humidity. Until the city completes cleaning and sanitizing, interior repairs to prevent mold, the building remains unsafe and unusable due to health concerns.
The restrooms and kitchen are not in very good shape, with cabinets soaked and both the fridge and stove sitting in 6 to 7 inches of water. It’s unclear if they’ll need to be replaced. The walls and trim will also require repairs from the water damage. It’s heartbreaking to see the destruction of our beloved club.
Despite the conditions, we were able to accomplish a great deal. The heat and humidity have been tough, as you can see my hair is soaked and I know it hasn’t been easy on everyone’s health, but the dedication from our members is remarkable. I was even wearing a mask. We continue to push forward, and with hope, we’ll get our club cleaned and sanitized soon. We are hoping we can be ready when tournaments start up but I am not so sure we will be ready. Its really upsetting for our members that work very hard for this club. I am proud to be a board member and surrounded by such amazing people.
Here is a short video showing what happened to our club.
If you would like to help our club recover from hurricanes Helene and Milton, please mail your donations to us at:Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club
1040 Calumet Street Clearwater, FL 33755
(Make check out to “Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club” or use this GoFundMe link).
Our members are very grateful for any assistance and we appreciate your support.
Clearwater Lawn Bowls Club was established in February 1924 and has been operating continuously ever since. Our club has had many successes including multiple regional and national champions. We have two greens which allow up to 22 games to played simultaneously. The spacious clubhouse has locker rooms, an accessible bathroom, a full kitchen and a large event area with tables and chairs.
Looking for a new challenge?
Do you enjoy outdoor activities?
Need some light exercise?
Want to make new friends?
Lawn bowling (or bowls) is a sport that all ages can enjoy. The aim of the game is to have your bowl (or bowls) closest to the target (the Jack). It is not as easy as it sounds because the Jack can be up to 130 feet away and the bowls don’t roll straight!
Bowls is enjoyed by men and women, all over the world and is unique, in that, men and women play bowls on an equal basis. The game relies on skill and strategy rather than physical strength.
Want to try lawn bowls? All you need is a pair of flat soled shoes, and you're on your way. We will provide everything else you need to get started.
We welcome all visitors. Drop by to see how the game is played and give it a try!
Open House Days
Try lawn bowling for free!
Learn how to lawn bowl at these Open Houses Days on
- Saturday January 25, 2025
- Saturday February 15, 2025
- Saturday March 15, 2025
Drop in between 10am to 2pm.
All ages are welcome, ample free parking is available, and you can watch a regional lawn bowling tournament too. All events are free.
If you can't make it to an Open House, you can also stop by during our regular bowling hours to give bowling a try.
Recent Media
Florida Historical Society interviews Club Vice President Richard Judycki
Clearwater Lawn Bowling Proclamation by Clearwater Mayor
Watch the Major Aungst of Clearwater City proclaim February 17th as
Clearwater Lawn Bowling Day.
Proclamation starts at 5:33.
Hours
| Tuesday | 9:30am-Noon | All hours are "weather permitting" | |
| Thursday | 9:30am-Noon | ||
| Saturday | 9:30am-Noon |
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the above starting times for check in and team selection.
- Shoes with flat soles (tennis shoes) are mandatory for all bowling.
- New bowlers are welcome at all daily bowling sessions!
- Free instruction is provided and free use of club bowls on all visits.
Directions
We are located 1.5 miles north of downtown Clearwater, just east of N. Fort Harrison Ave and just south of Sunset Point Road.
Our address is
1040 Calumet Street,
Clearwater FL 33755
There is ample free parking at the club.
For those on public transport, there are Jolley Trolley and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus stops on Fort Harrison Street, only 300 yards from the club.
Night Lawn Bowling
We are looking for players for a fun night of Lawn Bowling, music and laughs at our Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club, on the border of Dunedin and Clearwater.
So if your looking for something to do for a DATE NIGHT, BIRTHDAY, TEAM BUILDING, SOME FUN WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, GROUP EVENT, or JUST TRY SOMETHING NEW then this is for you! This is a great low impact challenge for ages 8 and up.
We provide all the equipment and instruction to get you started. However, we do request you wear flat soled or light tread shoes (to protect the greens).
Can you move the jack on your first roll?
| LOCATION: | 1040 Calumet St, CLEARWATER, FL 33755 |
| PRICE: | $10 Per Player - Snacks, water and soda available for purchase. |
| AGE: | 8 and Up |
| TIME: | 7:00PM-9:00PM (Arrive by 6:45PM). |
Dates Available to Reserve
Night bowls is temporarily suspended due to Hurricane Helene!
If you have any questions please email us at: NightLawnBowls@yahoo.com. For larger groups or special occasions please email us at NightLawnBowls@yahoo.com so we can discuss how we can accommodate your party.
The Game
How to Play - An Overview
Lawn bowls is an outdoor game in which a ball (known as a bowl) is rolled toward a smaller stationary ball, called a jack. The object is to roll your bowls so that they come to rest nearer to the jack than those of an opponent; this is sometimes achieved by knocking aside an opponent's bowl or the jack. The bowls are not exactly symmetrical- one side is more rounded than the other, causing the bowl to curve to one side as it slows down. This is referred to as the "bias" of the bowl.
The game takes place on a large rectangle called a green. Our green has an artificial surface instead of grass, and it is divided into rinks which are each 14 feet wide. Four types of games can be played:
- Singles: one player against another, each using four bowls.
- Pairs: a team of two against two, each playing using four bowls.
- Triples: a team of three against three, each player using three bowls.
- Fours: a team of four against four, each player using two bowls.
Play
To begin play, a jack is rolled to the opposite end of the rink.
Then players take turns rolling their bowls, trying to get close to the jack or to knock an opponent's bowl away from the jack. Each player's bowls are distinguished by color and by a unique design on the side. When all bowls have been played by both teams, an "end" has been played. Before play begins, the number of ends to be played is decided, with 10, 12 or 14 being the most common.
Scoring
The bowl closest to the target jack bowl is called "the shot" and it scores one point. If the second closest bowl is from the same team, another point is scored. If the third closest bowl is from the other team, scoring is over since an opponent's bowl is now the next closest to the jack. In this example, the team that had the shot gets two points for this end.
Only one team earns points on each end. The team with the highest number of points at the completion of the specified number of ends is the winner.
Personal Equipment
- Shoes: All you need is a pair of flat (no heel) smooth soled shoes so that you do not mark the green. Tennis shoes are ideal, as are many walking shoes. As a new bowler, this is the only must-have equipment item.
- Clothing: Any comfortable clothing will suffice. For many tournaments, matching club shirts are usually required and shorts are fine, which the old Scots never would have worn. Sometimes white clothing is worn to help preserve the old traditions of the game. Because of the heat and glare, a hat or visor is definitely a necessity for most bowlers in Florida.
- Bowls: For beginners and visitors, our club maintains a stock of bowls you may borrow at no charge. But as you play more regularly, you might want your own personal set that you can enjoy, maintain, and roll predictably. Each set of four bowls has a unique logo or pattern on them so you can identify your bowls during the game. One set of bowls will last you ten or more years with just the basics of maintenance and proper storage in their carrying case.
- Measure/Chalk: Special tape measures exist resolve those close calls, as well as spray chalk to mark bowls that touched the jack.
Club Equipment
- Jack: That little white ball we roll first and spend all our efforts chasing thereafter.
- Mat: The starting point for every roll of a bowl.
- Markers: These vary from club to club, but they are generally white or yellow to mark the boundaries and center of rinks in use that day.
- Scoreboard: Traditional as it is, we all enjoy putting the scores up on old-fashioned chalk blackboards.
- The Green: The playing surface itself is carefully maintained in all cases. Please always treat the green surface with the utmost care.
Instruction
Instruction and bowls are available to new bowlers, free of charge.
Costs
(All prices include 7% sales tax)
|
Daily bowling rate for non-members is $10 and $5 for juniors.
* Membership is prorated for new members If new first time members don't want to pay your dues all at once...
All payment programs are only valid within the same membership year. Note: All participants in Southeast Division Tournaments must be a member of Bowls USA and the Southeast Division (if a resident in the Southeast Division for more than 30 days). Residents of less than 30 days must be a member of Bowls USA or World Bowls. |
Our Sponsors
We thank our sponsors for their generous support of our club.
Platinum
|
You or your business can be listed as our platinum sponsor. Please contact us for more information on becoming a sponsor 727 641 9144 or email us at clearwaterlawnbowlingclub@yahoo.com |
Diamond
 Justin Ketcham Financial Advisor (727) 241-4414 2625 McCormick Drive Suite 101 Clearwater FL 33759 www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/justin-ketcham |
Gold
 Hensilite John Woermer (203) 725-1706 henseliteusa.com/ |
Silver
 Pearce's Plumbing Services (727) 307 0502 facebook.com/people/Pearces-Plumbing-Services |
 Michelle Johnston Realtor (727) 717 4174 www.realestate-palmharbor.com/agents/1614/michelle-johnston/ |
Bronze
 Jerome's Cafe & Bakery 727 474 6313 2475 N. McMullen Booth Road, Suite D, (SW corner of McMullen Booth and Enterprise) Clearwater Fl www.jeromescafebakery.com |
 PureVu Window Cleaning (855) 478 7388 purevuwindowcleaning.com ` |
 Clearwater Jolley Trolley (727) 445 1200 www.clearwaterjolleytrolley.com ` |
 Charlie's Car Care (727) 559 0110 1519 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater www.autorepairinclearwater.net ` |
 The Belleview Inn (727) 441 1774 25 Belleview Blvd, Belleair www.thebelleviewinn.com ` |
 PDQ Clearwater (727) 362 1006 2181 Gulf to Bay Blvd Clearwater (SW corner of Belcher and Gulf to Bay) www.eatpdq.com/locations/clearwater ` |
 Dr John Savidakis, Jr (727) 796 1490 2701 PArk Drive and S.R. 580 (Just west of Countryside Mall) www.drjohnpodiatry.com ` |
 St Petersburg Lawn Bowling Club 536 4th Avenue North Petersburg FL 33701 stpetersburglawnbowling.org ` |
 World Parkway Lawn Bowling Club otowlawnbowlingclub.com ` |
 Walkers Shortbread us.walkersshortbread.com ` |
Upcoming Tournaments
2024/2025 Season Tournaments
All participants in Southeast Division Tournaments must be a member of Bowls USA and the Southeast Division (if resident in the Southeast Division for more than 30 days).Residents of less than 30 days must be a member of Bowls USA or World Bowls.
Stay tuned for Tournament Details in November 2025
Bowls USA Southeast Division Event/Tornament Calendar
Resources
Coach's Corner
- Tips, hints, advice and other information from our Club on how to improve your game and also provide information for all lawn bowlers on the rules and etiquette of the sport.
Guide to Etiquette for the sport of Lawn Bowling (PDF)
Markers' Duties
Championship Development - Drills
Hand Signals
Basic Lawn Bowling Tactics (Rob Judson's guidance)
Rob Judson's basic guidance about the mechanics of delivering bowls
Bowl Delivery Basics, Rob Judson describes the fundamentals
Bowling Practice, Rob Judson on the importance of practice
Lawn Bowl Dynamics, Rob Judson describes technical information about bowls
Taking Aim - Line and Length, Rob Judson on aiming
Some resources on this site are in PDF (Portable Document Format). You can read PDF files using the free Adobe Reader® software.
Club Officers
| President: | Ellen O'Donnell |
| Vice President: | Dick Judycki |
| Secretary: | Dave Cooper |
| Co-Treasurers: | Dick Judycki Ellen O'Donnell |
| Directors: | Alice Dunkley June Paciga Michelle Johnston Andrew Johnston |
Committee Chairpersons | |
|---|---|
| Greens: | Dick Judycki |
| Tournaments: | June Paciga |
| Trophies Keys: | Bruce Miller |
| City Liaison: | Ellen O'Donnell |
| SED Delegate: | Bob Rehn |
Contact
Clearwater Lawn Bowls Club
1040 Calumet Street (map)
Clearwater, Florida 33755
Call or text 727-641-9144
Social Events
Host an Event at the Club
Our facility includes a spacious, fully equipped clubhouse with plenty of parking. It's an excellent place for friends and family to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, and other occasions.
Corporate and other group events are welcome too. Lawn bowling is a great team building activity and a unique experience for your team and business associates.
Call, text 727-641-9144 or email (