MOUNT DORA, Fla. — All sports are rooted in tradition, but some take both strategy and finesse.

A game played in Lake County offers outdoor exercise, through a budget-friendly sport. 

Many of Randy Woods’ days start at the Mount Dora Lawn Bowling Club, and the setting can’t be beat.

“We’re right here on Lake Dora in downtown Mount Dora, and the view is just fantastic,” said Woods, a past president of the Mount Dora Lawn Bowling Club.  

The club is full of history and tradition. Last weekend, members rolled in sporting all white, in honor of Founders’ Day.

“The club was founded in 1928, and every year we host a celebration for our club members so that they know the history of our club,” Woods said.

Each lawn bowler has his or her own set of bowls. Yes they’re called bowls, not balls.

“It’s not quite round all the way,” Woods explained. “It’s flat on one side, and that puts in a bias. So when the bowl is rolled down the green, it will turn left or right.”

Woods knows everything about the game and this group.

“At one point, we were one of the largest lawn bowling clubs in the United States. We had close to 300 members,” he said.

As the region tries to move on from COVID-19 pandemic, membership is down to about 150 bowlers, and the club is in the process of rebuilding.

“You’re outdoors and enjoying the weather and socializing with your friends,” Woods said.

Guys and gals of all ages can play, and the bowls themselves only weigh about 2 pounds.

“It doesn’t take that much to roll a bowl. So anybody can do it,” Woods said. “It’s just like anything else, it’s an easy game to learn but if you want to get really good at it, you have to work at it a bit.”

A day to learn and a lifetime to master. That helps Woods and others get a good workout on the green.

“You probably walk close to a mile during a game,” Woods said. “But it’s at 120 feet at a time, so you’re not going to stress yourself out with trying to power walk through a mile.”

Club member Randy Lofrumento, who moved to Mount Dora with his wife from upstate New York, said he gave up golf because of how much enjoyment he found in bowling.

“So I saw them bowling, and I was like, ‘Well, I was a bocce ball player. This should be easy.’ Well guess what? It’s very challenging,” Lofrumento said. “But the best part about it is we’ve met so many different people from all walks of life.”

Whether you’re playing competitively or for recreation, Woods said lawn bowling is about much more than just winning or losing.

“Our club’s been around for almost 100 years, and we hope to have it around for another hundred years,” he said.