Preston Lawn Bowling Club
The club is located on the traditional territories of the Neutral (Attawandaron), Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.
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WELCOME!
The wonderful world of lawn bowls awaits you.
While the sterotype in Canada is that lawn bowls is a game for the elderly, we would like to dispel this idea. Lawn bowls throughout the world is played by all ages. We have junior programs in Ontario that promote a lifelong commitment to the game.
The Preston Lawn Bowling Club has existed in this community for 110 years. The building and grounds are owned by the City of Cambridge. Members of the club have the use of the beautiful old building and the grounds from May through to October. The property and Green are maintained by the efforts of the members of the club. The Club is licensed to sell and serve wine and beer.
Please feel free to explore this site. When you are ready we are waiting to answer your questions and start you on your way to a sport that is easy to learn and takes a lifetime to try and master.
A History of the Preston Lawn Bowling Club
We are rather short of information about the early clubs which led to the organization of our local club on Queen Street, but as far as can be learned, the G. Pattinson Company organized the first lawn bowling club in town for the benefit of their employees about 1908. It was located at Laurel and Eagle Streets.
Members then as recalled were: William Sobish, Robert McIntosh, Rev. R. Herbert, Harry Sullivan, Jock Ballentyne, Mike McTearnen, Donald Campbell, Thos. Ballentyne, Wm. Reids, Joe Bauer, Cyrus Dolph, Thos. Hepburn, George Roos, Alf Lee, Mike Mullin, W. Hudson, John Sorht, About 25 members; others no known
This green was abandoned later on.
About 1912 or 1913 a group of young workers from the Parker Steele Shoe Company made a green on the company property between the factory and the building that stood on the King And Guelph Street corner (now a convenience store).
Known members at that time were: S.H. Parker, H. Steele, Sr., H. Steele, Jr., Thomas Cocklin, Russel Lumby, Pat McGrath, Charles McGrath, Walter Wirshing, Jim Crawford, Edgar Drage, Wally Dix.
A few years later, around 1915, The Preston Community Lawn Bowling Club went into operation at present site on Queen Street.
It is believed that many of the above bowlers were the charter members of our present club. No records can be found, but we know that the game of lawn bowls attracted men from every walk of life and later the ladies decided to organize a club too, which has led to many mixed bowling events.
