Pasadena Lawn Bowling & Croquet Club

The Pasadena Lawn Bowling & Croquet Club is older than the Rose Bowl.  It was established as the Pasadena Lawn Bowling Club in 1921.  Both the greens and the clubhouse were paid for by club members, and then donated to the people of Pasadena.  Walter Raymond, owner of the Raymond Hotel and the person for whom Raymond Avenue is named, was a charter member of the club and instrumental in getting the greens and clubhouse built.  The clubhouse itself was designed by renowned architect Wallace Neff and constructed in the 1920s, and is an historic structure.

Bowlers have been using the greens without interruption for nearly 100 years.  Croquet, a complementary sport, was added in 2006, and has proved so popular that croquet-playing members currently outnumber the lawn bowlers.  There are regular lawn bowling matches on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Croquet is played regularly on Saturdays.  Club members have keys to the courts, pay dues too cover grounds and clubhouse maintenance, and play whenever the mood strikes them.  Both sports offer free lessons to anyone on Saturday mornings starting at 8:30am. Lessons are open to anyone who shows up with a desire to give it a try, and membership is open to everyone.  Always wear flat shoes.