Parklands Bowling Club on Chadbury Street in Parklands, beside Arthur Adcock Reserve, holds a 4.7 rating from 41 Google reviews and opens its greens for lawn bowls from September to April, with exact dates depending on the weather. It welcomes newcomers as well as experienced bowlers from suburbs including Queenspark and New Brighton.
Lawn bowls is an easy sport to take up as an adult: the basics take an afternoon, clubs lend bowls to beginners, and flat-soled shoes are all you need to protect the green. Coaching for newcomers is commonly free, so ask before buying any gear. Green condition shapes how a game plays, which is why clubs put so much effort into their surfaces. Many also double as community venues, hiring out their halls between seasons.
At Parklands, free coaching runs through the season and the hall can be hired with or without the licensed bar, a handy setup for north-east Christchurch.