We had bad luck today. We've been trying to ring Ararat Bowling Club for days but they never answer. We've left messages but nobody contacted us. We decided we'd drive out and find out when the four Ararat clubs play social.
Jean woke up at three AM and trawled the internet. She found a notice that said Ararat had triples on at 12:30 so we drove out and arrived at 10:15. There were some blokes having a meeting. Jean asked about the game. They looked at her quizzically and said "It's already done". It was Lara all over again. No offer to accommodate us. They just went back to their business. We won't go back there.
Then we went to VRI. It was all closed up with No Tresspassers signs and no info about social bowls.
Then we went to Chalambar Golf Club. At least there a bar staff member told us they play on Thursday - after we leave.
We finished up at Aradale. Waze took us to the street behind the club. From the back we saw a bloke leaving so we quickly drove round the block and flagged him down. He said they don't have social and most of their members will be at Ararat this arvo. He welcomed us to rollup and told us where to find mats and jacks. We were so grateful to finally get some help, we jumped at the chance.
To change the subject, Mal and Jean discussed yesterday how Jean bowled so well at Stawell Golf but Mal couldn't get the grass. He said "The third asked me to go round a bowl and my Aeros can't do it".
Jean (who studied Physics in high school) said "Well, if you can stand your bowls up to go straight, surely the opposite would work. How about next time we roll up I put some bowls out wide for you to test it out." Mal thought about it overnight. At Aradale Jean put her bowls out for him to go around.
We were impressed with the work the club had done.
The green was synthetic.
The sign said 16 seconds. We thought it much faster.
Mal tried delivering his bowls with a slant. It worked!
He showed Jean the slant and explained that as you put it down you remove the bias momentarily. As the bowl slows the bias kicks in and it turns more sharply and his bowls can go around.
He was very pleased with his discovery. He kindly suggested Jean have a go at taking out his shot bowl. Instead she put the kitty in the ditch. Mal thanked Jean for her idea and said "That was a good hit-out!"
We checked out the big bell. Jean (accidentally) rang it. Mal said "That woke the neighbours!".
It was made in Glasgow in 1868.
The plaque said the green was created in 2009 to replace the grass laid in 1970.
Ararat - Thanks Aradale - not so much the other clubs.
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