FRANK Peniguel is bowling his way around Australia. And, at nearly 72, Peniguel is hoping to be the mastermind behind the Guinness Book of World Records’ second lawn bowls entrance — under the title of most lawn bowls clubs played at by an individual in 12 months.
Peniguel has so far had a roll at clubs across Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT and even Lord Howe Island.
On Monday he was at Cohuna, with games scheduled at Kerang Golf Bowling Club this morning, before heading to Swan Hill Bowling Club this afternoon and out to Murray Downs tomorrow.
The trek has clocked up 21,000km in its nine months to date, with plans to head to Tasmania and South Australia after seeing Victoria.
Peniguel is a one-man show, responsible for all his own bookings and travel commitments.
He said the Swan Hill region has so far proven “wonderful” in welcoming him, as have all the bowls clubs he has visited so far.
“Generally there are days when people are going out of their way to let me bowl. On a Monday, for example, which is normally sacred for greenkeepers,” he told The Guardian.
“Sometimes I’m even able to get a game on a Saturday morning because I’m passing through and can’t come back.”
Peniguel, a lawn bowler from Daylesford, plays 10 ends at each club he can get to.
He said the idea was to promote bowls and encourage a younger demographic to take up the sport.
“I just had this idea come to me in the shower and when I looked into it there was nothing in the Guinness Book of World Records for bowls except for the oldest person playing pennant,” he said.
“It took some time to formulate the idea and there was some argy-bargy between me and Guinness but then it was done.”
