Australia: Bowling on the Green

After making it's way cross Europe with Julius Caesar's Centurions, the game made it's way to Australia, probably early on in Australia's history. Probably coming here from the British Isles,where the oldest known bowling club still in existence today, the Southampton Bowling Green Club  was organized in 1299.

Today's rules, the flat lawn, and even a dress code, seem to derive from the Scottish. Over time, the waves of Scottish emigrants took their game with them and established clubs in many countries, the colonies of the Western Hemisphere among them.

One famous story, and it has some credence, is that Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh were in the middle of a game when word reached them of the impending assault of the Spanish Armada. The story goes that Sir Francis insisted on finishing the game before setting sail to engage the Spanish; noble dedication, indeed. In fact, he had to wait for the incoming tide to peak before he could get his ship out of the harbor anyway.

Judging by the popularity of the sport, it will be quite a while before it dies out.

Gary is a travel writer and photographer living in Sarasota,Florida. He has a website featuring  more photos and articles and also markets products featuring some of his travel photos.