This year lawn bowls (flat green) in the Isle of Man celebrates its 40th anniversary.

From its home in Onchan Park it remarkably represents the island with distinction in the greatest bowling competitions in the world.

These include the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, World Championships and more with bowlers travelling at their own expense to countries such as Spain, Cyprus, Australia and New Zealand etc.

Most recently the first Commonwealth Dependencies Tournament between Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man saw eight of the 10 member team return home with gold medals.

Perhaps unsurprisingly it took over 20 years of haggling between various levels of government before a lawn bowls green opened in 1977.

The first step was in 1954 when the visiting Industry Commission recommended that a flat green should be provided for the Isle of Man, when this had still not been implemented by 1970 Tynwald was instructed to consider what was a ’serious oversight as a tourist facility for visitors from Scotland, Ireland, south of England and Wales’.

This led to some interesting reading in the letters columns of the local newspapers and Hansard, as supporters of the new green faced forceful opposition from local crown green bowlers.

For anyone wondering what this crown/lawn difference is, well crown is basically a North of England sport, a crown green having a raised centre and numerous dips and bumps, the jack is like a smaller bowl and has a bias i.e. bends like bowls.

It can be delivered anywhere on the green over a minimum distance. most games are singles with each player having two bowls, games lasting usually less than 45 minutes.

Lawn bowls is the global sport now played in over 50 countries and has applied to become an Olympic sport, and is played on a green as near perfectly flat as possible and the green is divided into rinks.

The jack is smaller and has no bias it is delivered in the centre of a rink within a minimum and maximum distance. Games can be singles, pairs, triples or fours and players can have between two to four bowls depending on format.

Games can last from 45 minutes to well over two hours with tactics and atmosphere.

In 1970 when the issue was debated in Tynwald, crown green supporters argued that Isle of Man bowlers do not play flat (hardly surprising with no flat green to play on), that they would not buy the different bowls needed (then at £8 to £12 a set), that the cost of fertiliser, worm killers and daily cutting meant it would lose money grow into wild grass and briefs via neglect and would not attract one visitor!

Douglas Corporation estimated it would cost £10,000 for a flat green but Onchan Commissioners estimated cost at £4,000.

When eventually Tynwald agreed to support a flat green with a grant of £1,500 it was Onchan that grabbed the opportunity. So it was after a season’s delay when a rogue spray killed off the grass that flat green opened in 1977 at 50p a session and season tickets £8 (OAPs £6).

There have been many visitors to the Onchan green including two of the greatest bowlers of all time David Bryant and Willie Woods who played an exhibition match in 1985, also the England Ladies’ team and the Reggie Rollers a London based team of Jamacian bowlers. Most recently we have been visited by the European Director of World Bowls and visitors from New Zealand and Scotland.

During the ensuing 40 years the club has welcomed visitors, new residents and new members from all parts of the UK and beyond.

The club has moved with the times by changing dress code from traditional whites to coloured club and international shirts, rebranding as Lawn Bowls and developing its profile on social media with a website and Facebook page.

Many local bowlers have joined especially since the opening of the Indoor green at the National Sports Centre, as all indoor bowling is on a flat carpet and follows the Lawn Bowls code.

Although a sport for all ages, the top internationals being in their 20s only bowls gives players in their 60s, 70s and 80s the opportunity to compete at a high level.

There is still only one lawn bowls club on the island and after a few years of problems with the green it is now, thanks to green keeper Michael Jackson in a condition to rival any club anywhere.

Lawn bowls will hope to succeed for another 40 years but who knows how 2057 will compare to 2017 and 1977 ??

Philip Smith

Club President

Lawn Bowls (Flat Green) Bowling Club