Lawn Bowling, Bocce and Shuffleboard in the Sun Cities AZ

Lawn bowling, bocce and other club sports are active in all three Sun Cities. Sun City has four lawn bowls clubs, Sun City West plays lawn bowls and bocce at R.H. Johnson, and Sun City Grand has a green and bocce courts at its Adobe Complex. Most clubs teach beginners for free.

If you already bowl, or you have always wanted to learn, the Sun Cities are one of the easiest places in the Valley to start. The greens and courts belong to the recreation centers, the clubs are run by resident volunteers, and new players can usually borrow equipment while they learn. This guide covers where each sport is played and how joining works in general terms. For the wider list of clubs and hobbies, see the Sun City clubs and activities guide.

Sun City: four lawn bowls clubs

Sun City has four lawn bowls clubs. Their greens are at the Oakmont, Fairway/Mountain View, Lakeview and Bell recreation centers. According to a 2023 Sun City Independent feature on the clubs, experienced players coach beginners and equipment is provided while they learn. That feature also described free lessons and equipment for RCSC cardholders at Fairway/Mountain View. Lakeview offered no-charge classes with bowls provided for beginners. At Bell, the club welcomed all ages and abilities and ran a used-equipment program.

The Oakmont green has a lot of history behind it. A 2024 letter in the Independent recalled that Walt Disney encouraged Del Webb to build it, and that it is still in use. Oakmont's dress code is casual: flat-soled shoes, a hat and sunglasses.

Bocce in Sun City. The Del Webb Sun Cities Museum's history file traces the Bocce Club of Sun City back to 1980. It is open to RCSC cardholders and has long been based at Sundial Recreation Center, which has a clubhouse and multiple courts. The museum file also mentions free lessons. Schedules change, so confirm current open play and tournament days with RCSC before you plan around them.

Shuffleboard in Sun City. RCSC's online club listings include shuffleboard. We could not confirm current venues and play times from official pages, so ask RCSC Member Services which centers have active courts this season.

Sun City West: R.H. Johnson is the hub

In Sun City West, the RH Johnson Lawn Bowling Club meets at the R.H. Johnson Recreation Center. The club's site lists free lessons for new members: stop by, sign up, and the coaches will introduce you to the game. The club holds a daily draw Monday through Saturday, and draw times shift during the year, so check its draw-time page before you go. The club also hosts tournaments against other clubs and players from around the country, plus monthly social events.

The Sun City West Bocce Club also plays at R.H. Johnson. The RCSCW club directory says about 600 residents play every week. The club site describes competitive leagues of 16 players, meeting mornings, afternoons and evenings on weekdays and on Saturday mornings, during a season that runs from early October to early April. For social, non-competitive play, the club runs open bocce on Monday and Wednesday evenings, with a club member on hand to place newcomers in a game. The club also holds free beginner clinics. Watch its site for the next date.

If you prefer horseshoes, the Horseshoe and CornHole club pitches at the Beardsley Recreation Center. Men and women play together, and the focus is social. Questions about any Sun City West club can go to the RCSCW administrative offices at 623-544-6120.

Sun City Grand: green and courts at the Adobe Complex

Sun City Grand's community association lists outdoor sports courts behind the Adobe pools, with 8 bocce courts, basketball and lawn bowling. The Grand Lawn Bowling Club publishes its own rules. New members must be trained by a club instructor, and that training is free. Instructors and experienced players will also help with your delivery at no charge. The club requires flat, smooth-soled shoes with no heels on the green. Moderate casual clothing is fine for regular play, and inter-community matches call for whites or club colors.

Grand clubs are chartered through Sun City Grand, not through RCSC or RCSCW. A Sun City or Sun City West card does not make you a member at Grand, and a Grand card does not work at the other two.

How new residents join a club, in general terms

Each club has its own process, but the steps usually go like this:

1. Get the right recreation card. After closing, set up your card with that community's member services office (RCSC, RCSCW or Sun City Grand). Clubs are chartered for cardholders in their own community.
2. Contact the club. Club pages list a contact person or tell you to stop by during play. In Sun City West you can also start at the RCSCW administrative offices.
3. Take the beginner training. Lawn bowls clubs commonly require or strongly encourage lessons before you join the regular draw. Most offer them at no charge and lend bowls while you learn.
4. Fill out the membership form and pay dues. Some clubs follow a calendar year. The Grand club, for example, sets its dues deadline in January. Name tags and draw tags may be required. Check the current amounts with the club.
5. Pick your style of play. Ask about social draws compared with league or tournament play, seasonal schedules, and guest rules if family visits during the winter.

If you are new to an active sport, it is a good idea to check with your doctor before you start. The clubs' beginner sessions are made for easing in.

Choosing a home with a sport in mind

Location matters when you plan to play several times a week. In Sun City, lawn bowls is spread across four centers, so the club closest to one house may not be the closest to the next one. In Sun City West, lawn bowls and bocce are both at R.H. Johnson, while horseshoes is at Beardsley. In Sun City Grand, the green and bocce courts are together at the Adobe Complex. Each of these is an age-restricted community, and the rules are spelled out in its CC&Rs and recreation center documents.

Tell me the sport first. I can then focus the search on streets within an easy cart or short drive of that green or court. If you need room for bowls bags, bocce sets or outdoor chairs, I can also look for a garage with storage space or a golf-cart bay. Compare the communities in the Arizona 55+ living hub, read more about moving to Sun City West or moving to Sun City, or browse all 55+ homes for sale in the Valley.

Questions people ask

Where can I lawn bowl in the Sun Cities?
Sun City has four lawn bowls clubs, at the Oakmont, Fairway/Mountain View, Lakeview and Bell recreation centers. Sun City West has the RH Johnson Lawn Bowling Club at the R.H. Johnson Recreation Center. Sun City Grand has its own lawn bowling club, which plays at the outdoor sports courts behind the Adobe pools.

Is bocce available in all three communities?
Sun City West's Bocce Club plays at the R.H. Johnson Recreation Center. Sun City Grand lists 8 bocce courts at the Adobe Complex. In Sun City, the Bocce Club of Sun City has a long history at Sundial Recreation Center. Check with RCSC for current days and times.

Do I need lessons before I can bowl?
Usually, yes, and they are often free. The Sun City West lawn bowls club offers free lessons for new members. The Grand Lawn Bowling Club requires new members to train with a club instructor, at no charge. Several Sun City clubs provide coaching and loaner bowls.

Does a Sun City card work in Sun City West or Sun City Grand?
No. Each community has its own recreation organization and its own card. Clubs are chartered within their own community, so join the club that matches your card.

Can Terry help me buy near a specific green or court?
Yes. Tell Terry which sport and which club matter most, and he will focus the home search on streets near that recreation center. Call 602-483-4665.