Lawn Bowls in Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs

Lawn Bowls: What to Look For

Four community clubs spread across the east give groups a real choice of green, clubhouse and price. Bennettswood Bowling Club sits in the Gardiners Creek Reserve in Burwood, Blackburn Bowls Club is on Pakenham Street, Greythorn Bowling Club tucks into a court in Doncaster, and Ringwood Bowls Club fills about four acres on Loughnan Road. Matching the club to the group:

Grass underfoot: Bennettswood plays on two real grass greens, and Ringwood has two turf greens beside a synthetic one
All-season play: Greythorn's two synthetic greens can be used in any season
Night games: Blackburn's synthetic green is lit until 10pm, and two of Ringwood's greens are floodlit
Big crowds: Ringwood's clubroom seats more than 200, Bennettswood's clubhouse up to 150 and Blackburn's hall around 120
Set price: Bennettswood charges from $10 per person, while the other three quote on enquiry

Each club lends bowls and has members or an instructor to show first-timers how to roll, so a group of beginners can be playing within minutes.

Ringwood runs barefoot bowls from 6pm on Fridays while daylight saving is on, with happy hour from 5:30pm
Greythorn's Friday evening sessions start around 5:30pm in the warmer months, with a BBQ menu or snacks
Blackburn opens Wednesday Night Owls and Friday barefoot bowls to everyone from January to March
Bennettswood members help organise a day whether you bring six friends or a hundred colleagues

Food, drink and the function room

Bennettswood can put on a club BBQ of sausages, burgers and salads, or you hire the kitchen and self-cater
Blackburn and Greythorn both give kitchen access for your own food or an outside caterer
Ringwood can arrange catering or let you use its full kitchen and two outdoor barbecues
BYO is out at Bennettswood and Blackburn, where the club bar handles drinks

Lawn Bowls FAQs

Which eastern suburbs bowls club suits a big work function?

Ringwood Bowls Club's clubroom seats more than 200 with a dance floor, PA and AV, and Bennettswood Bowling Club in Burwood seats up to 150. Blackburn Bowls Club's hall takes around 120.

Can we bowl at night in the east?

Yes. Blackburn Bowls Club's synthetic green is lit for play until 10pm, and Ringwood Bowls Club can add a floodlit green to day or night hires, depending on which greens are free.

Is there a bowls club that suits a mixed-age family birthday?

Greythorn Bowling Club in Doncaster offers junior bowls, a ramp onto the greens and bowling arms for players with limited mobility. Bennettswood's barefoot bowls start from $10 per person, with a lower rate for children.

Do eastern suburbs clubs teach beginners?

All four do – Bennettswood's volunteer members show newcomers the basics, Blackburn has an instructor on hand, Ringwood gives basic coaching on Friday nights and Greythorn welcomes people who have never held a bowl.

Lawn Bowls in Eastern Suburbs

Weigh Up Your Lawn Bowls Options in Eastern Suburbs