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Oldest Club in America's 125th Birthday
Come Celebrate with us!
Sunday, October 25, 2026
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club
Bowling Green Drive, Golden Gate Park
West of Robin Williams Meadow and Sharon Art Studio
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Come celebrate with us on October 25 and discover the lifelong sport of lawn bowling. For 125 years, people have been rolling bowls across a little patch of green in Golden Gate Park. They’ve played through earthquakes, two world wars, changing fashions, changing neighborhoods, and generations of San Franciscans. And in 2026, the San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club isn’t slowing down—it’s thriving.
On Sunday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we’re throwing open our doors and inviting everyone to help us celebrate our 125th anniversary.
Come roll a bowl. Tour our historic clubhouse museum. Bring the kids (ages 12+). Play some games. Have a snack. Meet our members. And discover one of Golden Gate Park’s great hidden gems.
125 Years—and Growing
Founded in 1901, the San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club is the oldest lawn bowling club in the United States and today is one of the fastest-growing.
Our membership has tripled over the past decade to nearly 300 members, making SFLBC the second-largest lawn bowling club in the country. Our members range from teenagers to people in their 90s. That wide age range is one of the things that makes lawn bowling so unusual.
“We’re the place where your grandmother and your neighbor’s 22-year-old can enjoy a friendly game together, respect each other, and either one might win,” says club president Sherie Koshover. “That’s not common in sports—or in life.”
A Little San Francisco History
Our story begins with Golden Gate Park itself. The club was established in 1901 as the San Francisco Scottish Bowling Club by legendary Golden Gate Park superintendent John McLaren and James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, who later became Mayor of San Francisco and Governor of California. In 1912, women established their own lawn bowling club on an adjacent green—the first women’s lawn bowling club in the United States. The two clubs eventually merged in 1979. In 1986, our clubhouse and greens were designated a San Francisco Historic Landmark, and in 2019, we welcomed some of the country’s best bowlers when we hosted the USA Lawn Bowls National Championships.
But perhaps the most important part of our history is that people are still gathering here.
And now we’d like to invite you to be part of the next chapter.
A Visit From the SF
Rec & Park Commission!
On September 17, SFLBC hosted the San Francisco Rec and Parks commissioners for a Bagel’s ’n’ Bowls reception. Watch the video to hear about the day from SF Rec and Park commissioners. A big shoutout to Commission President Kat Anderson, VP Joe Hallisy, Commissioners Vanita Louie, Carey Wintroub, Sonya Clark-Herrera, and Commission Liaison Ashley Summers. And to SFLBC’s John Grimes, Al Minvielle, Calvin Darling, Linda Allen and others who made the day a big success!
