Lawn Bowls Coogee

Coogee is a beach suburb built for long, easy afternoons, and a game of barefoot bowls fits right in. Coogee Beach Club on Dolphin Street runs bowls for social groups and workplaces from Wednesday to Sunday, with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, a bistro serving modern classics with a Brazilian twist, and a sheltered patio that looks out over the greens. It suits birthday groups, staff Christmas parties and friends who want an outdoor catch-up a short walk from the beach, without anyone needing to know the rules beforehand.

What to expect at Coogee Beach Club:

• Getting there: buses run to Coogee from the city and Bondi Junction. Parking is tight on summer weekends, so public transport or a rideshare is usually the easier option.
• The experience: bowls are played barefoot, and a bowls coordinator demonstrates before you start, so nobody needs to have played before. Two hours gives a group time to learn, play a few ends and settle into a drink.
• Group size: a lane is priced for up to eight players, and you are welcome to share a lane among more people. Larger groups can combine bowls with hire of the restaurant or the patio.
• Booking lead time: the green is closed for repairs until 6 November, so book for after that date. Bookings of several tables are treated as a function with a minimum spend and prepayment, so allow time to settle those details.
• Food and drinks: the bistro and bar are on site, and function menus are available on enquiry. Outside food and drinks are not allowed.

A barefoot bowls booking costs from $145 per group, which covers a lane and two hours of play. Coogee Beach Club is a sister club to The Avenue in Randwick, and its functions team handles corporate bookings at the same lane rate, which keeps budgeting simple for a work group.