USA JULY 2007
At the invitation of Phil Dunn from Santa Monica Bowls club I visit the USA to do some coaching in LA and play in a major pairs tournament called the Carey McDonald to be held at Long beach California.
My friend Ghani and I were keen to go but had nowhere to stay until Sam Benjamin also of Santa Monica bowls club kindly offered to have us stay for the 5 day visit.
Let me say that bowls in the USA is a very competitive and popular game. Certainly has a great future , not likely to overtake the Super Bowl but never the less it is a great game and really suited to the Californian climate. Most of the top USA players live in CA
I spent all day on the Friday assisting Santa Monica members in some individual lessons and then a small group lesson. They are a great bunch and very keen to learn from a visiting Aussie. After coaching all day in the sunshine! Sam, Ghani and I went to Soup Kitchen for dinner. It was very healthy!
On the Saturday Phil and I went on a mission to get into the finals on Sunday. We lost only game by a shot on the Saturday qualifying sectional play so made it through OK. On Sunday play was knockout so the pressure was on. Games were close but went our way. First playoff game we won on the last end when 1 down and drew 2 within a foot. One got driven out but another draw inside a foot won the game. The second play off game against Ed was another close game. We could not shake them and finished 13 -13. We won the extra end , so off to the final against last years winners. Phil played his best game and we were well in control, surviving some great driving for a few ends but then won by 9 shots not having to play the last end.
So what a trip, great bowls, great friendship in a relatively new bowling country.
Tansk again to Phil, Sam and the Santa Monica bowls club.
Rob Huddle
