Bowling Heaven – in Devon!

Bowling a bowl up a long luxurious grass rink, with the sun shining and a cool breeze blowing of the sea has got to be good under any circumstances but add to that a view of the sea to the left and a view of the moors to the right and it has to be bowling heaven.

Bowling heaven? That’s just what TLH can offer your outdoor bowling tour.  Here in the West Country we have a more tropical climate, something to do with us being nearer the equator that most folk in the British Isles. But heaven it surely is for bowls holidays.

Most of the Bowling Clubs in Devon open this weekend so we are busy packing away our indoor bowls and polishing up the outdoor ones, ready for the fray. I for one am looking forward to seeing my outdoor chums and our beautiful green at Newton Abbot BC once more.

Photo by Tony Atkins - a mixed match at Topsham, near Exeter

I also look forward to welcoming the touring sides at the Hotels. Just as a point of interest – TLH has broken all records this year with the amount of touring teams coming to the Torquay Hotels.

I started to play this wonderful game in Essex as a result watching my Mother play. This was about 1985. I was supposed to be ‘off hand’ having married and moved out of the family home. But I happened to visit a bowling green where my mother was playing a game, just to watch……

and that’s where it all started.

It was a pretty good day, sunny, and I was looking forward to seeing my Aunt Joan who watched my mother from her wheelchair at the end of the rink. The sight of my mother in a hat was the first thing that struck me as hilarious, but the long pleated white skirt, flat brown shoes, blouse and coloured cravat almost had me doubled over with laughter. She looked a proper nitwit, however she must have been winning at the time because there was a broad grin on her face.

After the game she sauntered over to me and it was at that time that I told her my thoughts on the matter. Of course her feathers were ruffled at my mirth on the subject so she gave me a bowl, set the jack up the green, and invited me to have a go. Well of course the bowl didn’t go anywhere where I expected it too, so I asked for instruction.

2 hours later I was still there, the bug had completely bitten me, and the following morning I went out and bought all my kit, including the brown flat shoes and the white pleated skirt. I also must have looked a sight, but somehow it didn’t matter.

That was 25 years ago and I am now, in rain or shine, a complete anorak. But the great thing is, we still bowl together on occasions. It’s one of the few sport that spans generations, keeping them together in a competitive and social scene.

Here’s Mum in action in the National Mother and Daughter Competition last season, aged 80!!!!!

Mum in action

So after a varied career in the Police and the Licensed Trade I applied for the job I have now, as Sales Exec for Bowling at TLH Leisure Resort. It is definitely a plus that I have experience in bowling  and being a veteran of many tours, I know just what a club requires to make that tour something special. TLH definitely has the ‘wow factor’ when to comes to bowling tours and holidays in the South West. Our 4 rink arena can be brought into use should, in the event of bad weather, your game outside be cancelled.   it’s  a facility that makes us unique within the bowling world in the South West. When you come on a bowling break, you want to bowl, and that’s what we offer you, come rain or shine.

So, if you are a bowler looking for a tour destination or are interested in bowls holidays, give me call on 01803 400108.

We cater for social bowling, Presidential tours, County tours and Anniversary tours.

We can arrange for drinks receptions – a bucks fizz always makes a great start to a tour. Weekends, midweek and 7 night tours – all you need to do is ask.

We can arrange your transport with Abbots Coaches – our local family run business  – will pick for return transport and knows just where all the local greens are.

So prepare to be wowed, just call me on 01803 400108

Terri Kennard