Lawn bowling club now offering pickleball

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Would-be pickleball players have an opportunity to try out the newest sport this weekend at the Uxbridge Lawn Bowling Club.

Yvonne Wolfesberger, president of the club, said pickleball at the club is "casual and relaxed" and available for all ages.

For pickleball, which is normally played on a hard surface, the club has marked out two courts on the lawn bowling green. Since the wiffle balls used don't bounce on grass, the club had to come up with an alternative. Instead, it uses inflated balls the same size as wiffle balls.

The club meets three times a week (Monday to Wednesday) but Wolfesberger said members have access to the facility all day long and on weekends. Pickleball will be held on Mondays for those who "just drop in."

Wolfesberger said the club is hoping to interest more young people in becoming involved and, to that end, is considering holding birthday parties, as well as activities and camps for the younger set. She said camps will be held on July 9, July 16 and Aug. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to noon to introduce youth to lawn bowling.

The next pickleball and bowling open house is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For those interested in joining the club, new members will pay $150 a year and the charge for youth will be $75. Returning members pay $185.