A PRIMER: Lawn bowling, say veteran Orange...

A PRIMER: Lawn bowling, say veteran Orange County players, is more than a game of bowls and jacks. The object of the game is to roll the bowl as close as you can to the jack, a small white ball. The player or team with bowls closest to the jack scores points. . . . What makes the game so hard? “It’s trying to be exact,” says Don Lowrey, who lives and plays at The Groves in Irvine. One problem is the bowls, which are heavier on one side so they naturally curve. Any tips? Says Lowrey: “Practice.”

LOCAL HOSTS: Several Orange County lawn bowling clubs will play host to bowlers from across the country in October for the annual American Lawn Bowlers Assn. National Open. Clubs in Costa del Sol, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Harbor, Santa Ana, The Groves and The Meadows (both in Irvine) will be among the sites for the singles and team competitions Oct. 14-20. . . . Local clubs are part of the Southern Division, the largest geographical group of lawn bowlers in the United States, with about 2,400 active bowlers.

CLOSED FOR REPAIRS: San Clemente’s lawn bowling facility will get a new look--at last. The greens at San Luis Rey Park will be closed for about five months to install a new synthetic surface, says Bruce Wegner, director of beaches, parks and recreation for the city. The facility was built as a clay surface in the 1960s, with a synthetic surface put in during the 1970s. The renovations have been planned since 1987. . . . “The surface is not repairable,” Wegner says. “It got old. The lawn bowlers have been waiting patiently.”

RECRUITING: So what’s the attraction for veteran lawn bowlers? C.E. (Tag) Taggart of Costa Mesa, who plays at the Newport Harbor club, says the game offers “good recreation, mild exercise, good fellowship . . . it’s just a pleasure.” Taggart, 83, is a former high school coach who started playing 10 years ago. “I was like a lot of people, playing golf and tennis,” he said. “I wish I had started earlier.” The Newport Harbor club, which is looking for new members, gives free lessons to anyone interested (as do most clubs). No age limit. Membership is $75 a year. For information, call (714) 546-0784.