It’s been over 15 years since the movie Crackerjack taught us that lawn bowls is a game of skill, touch and patience, as well as a true revealer of character and of butt crack.
The movie breathed new life into lawn bowls clubs across the country and these days the greens are also home to beers and barbecues as we embrace the glory of barefoot bowls. Don your whites, unlace your shoes and head to one of Brisbane's best bowls clubs and let it be on for young and old.
Banyo Bowls Club
Banyo
Looking for a bowlo that’s a little different? Well, with their weekend food truck visitors, live music and craft beer line up, Banyo Bowls Club definitely fits the bill. Even better, this northside club is family-friendly, with one of their two greens dedicated to bowls and the other for recreation, so the kids can run wild while you engage in a little friendly competition. Plus, if the attending food trucks don’t grab your attention, the club is also home to HIro Meshi Japanese Fusion Kitchen, which is open for lunch Wednesday to Saturday and dinner Wednesday to Friday. Bowls and katsu curry, what a combo.
Merthyr Bowls
New Farm
Perched on the side of the Brisbane River, Merthyr Bowls is the perfect place to kick off your shoes and kick back over a game of barefoot bowls. Renowed for it's laid back vibe, river breezes and ice cold beer, barefoot bowls is on offer Wednesday through Sunday and costs $10 per person, but you'll have to book in advance.
Coorparoo Bowls Club
Cooparoo
We have it on good authority that Coorparoo Bowls Club is the only club in Australia to setup a full rink of UV lights so you can play neon glow bowls. Wear your whites to glow bright in the night, or paint yourself neon for a glowing good time. As well as mainstream barefoot bowls, Coorparoo also boasts Sunday sessions, social darts games and live music.
Booroodabin Bowling Club
Newstead
When it comes to bowling history, they don’t get much better than ‘The Boo’ which, after opening on 30 March 1889, proudly holds the title of Queensland’s oldest bowls club. Back at the turn of last century, the club’s membership boasted politicians and businessmen who were known to use their time on the greens to forge more than just friendly rivalry. These days, it’s Brisbane’s only 100 per cent “social” bowls club.
Gallopers Sports Club
Ascot
Formerly Hamilton Bowls Club, Gallopers can host more than 100 players at any one time. Groups of 10 or more are only $10 per person for two hours of bowling. In addition to hosting various forms of bowls, the club has a bistro with weekly food specials six days a week. You can also package your bowls with the club's BBQ or food platter options.
New Farm Bowls Club
New Farm
Located opposite New Farm Park, New Farm Bowls Club is a hive of activity with barefoot bowls and social bowling available most days as well as trivia nights and live music on Tuesday nights as part of Brisbane Unplugged Gigs. Barefoot bowls costs costs $8 per person for a two hour session during the day or $10 at night.
Norman Park Bowls Club
Norman Park
Just across the river from New Farm Park, Norman Park Bowls Club boasts two greens, BBQ tables, a bistro and is under lights for evening play during summer. They also have Harry’s Trivia on Thursday nights, and are very kid-friendly if you've got little people in tow.
The Bowl
Boonah
The Scenic Rim isn’t named that for fun. The soaring mountain ranges there provide an unbelieva-bowl backdrop, perfect for some barefoot bowls and beveraginos. The Bowl’s the name, lawn bowls is the game and it’s found in Boonah. It might be an hour's drive from Brisbane, but this bowls club is worth the drive. An award winning chef mans the restaurant, so you don’t have to worry about getting hungry out on the green and there’s always their disco nights for when you can’t line up your rolls anymore—whether it’s dark or you’ve had one too many, either way the dancefloor awaits.
Why not kick this summer of sports into high gear? Here are Brisbane's best mini golf hangouts.
Image credit: Banyo Bowls Club