A few years back Grey Goose (the internationally recognized 7x distilled vodka brand) hosted a mini putt experience in Vancouver. This was pre-pandemic and a great time, so when I saw they would be coming back with a lawn bowling experience ,I had to sign up for it.
This is a sold out, pop up experience running from August 1st to the 7th, 2023. Tickets were only $35, with the minimum requirement being you had to purchase tickets in sets of 2. Those interested signed up for what day they wanted, the lane their choose, and desired time slot. Ideally you would come with a group of 6 to be able to have a lane to yourself.
Seeing as the week corresponded with my birthday, this is how I chose to celebrate it.
The event is sectioned off with a white picket fence. Behind it Astroturf, white lamp posts, realistic looking plastic greens, and Grey Goose’s trademark blue across patio umbrellas and to colour the actual lawn bowling lanes. The whole scene picturesque of an outdoor garden party with Grey Goose’s signature logo making a featured appearance in shrubbery and its water features.
I choose correctly in lane number 3, which also coincides with the date of my birthday. We were smack dab in the middle of the event space, capturing the branded back drop. And our play time of 7pm gave us the glow of golden hour, as we watched the sun go behind BC place in the distance.
I couldn’t ask for a better scene and better teammates, as the couple who signed up on for the same lane and time our group of four was on, were great company. We would split them up and have boys versus girls, red balls versus silver.
This was a match that would go until a team reached 13 points. Sadly this would end with the men winning all but one round, and the women only scoring 1 point after 6-7.
None of us knew how to play the sport, but thankfully had our own Grey Goose attendant dedicated to the lane to teach, assist, and guide us.
The game begins with a rock, paper, scissors round between the captains of each team. The winner gets to throw the ring. This is a giant plastic circle that dictates where each player will stand and start. The opposing team would then throw a small wooden ball anywhere towards the end of the lane. A move that is very strategic, as the girls team struggled to aim and pitch when this was at the centre, and faired better when the wooden ball was towards the end of the lane, and we could be heavier handed with our tossing.
With wooden ball landed and stopped, that same player throws a weighted ball from their team towards it. The goal to have it land as close to the wooden ball as possible.
The team that has its ball the furthest from that target will keep pitching until their’s is the closest, with up to 6 tries. You want to have your ball the closest and have the other team run out of turns, so that you have as many tries as possible to get multiple balls closest to the wooden mark. Each ball within a specific radius earns a point at the end of that round.
For decisions that were too close to call by eye, there was specific measuring tool that allowed the referee to measure the distance between each team’s ball and the wooden goal post using two pegs attached by a string.
When the Grey Goose metal point marker reached 13 for the men, the game was over and we retired to the lounge area behind the lanes. We all agreed a fun time was had by all.
The lounge area had its own bar and a collection of high top tables and lounge style seating to choose from.
You have the ability to drink during the match. Each entry ticket includes a welcome cocktail, and you are given a choice from the following. Additional drinks come at an additional cost $12-16, with the ability to buy an 1oz more for any, for $8 more.
We would try one of each, and found them all pretty similar with citrus being the focal point. Each option was light and breezy, appropriate for the sport and the setting. There were also premium cocktail options available for purchase, including one with melon and an extra dry martini with vermouth.
Le Citron Vodka Soda
GREY GOOSE® Le Citron flavoured vodka & Perrier® Original sparkling water, garnished with a lemon wedge.
La Poire Vodka Soda
GREY GOOSE® La Poire flavoured vodka & Perrier® Original sparkling water, garnished with a lime wedge.
Le Grand Fizz
GREY GOOSE® Vodka, ST-GERMAIN® Elderflower Liquor, Perrier® Original sparkling water, freshly squeezed lime juice, garnished with a lime wedge.
Fresh Cut Spritz
GREY GOOSE® Vodka, Perrier® Original sparkling water, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, garnished with a gropefruit wedge & thyme sprig.
For those hungry there was also a crepe station on site with two chefs behind two heating plates making savoury and sweet crepes to order. Sadly this was not also included with the initial ticket price. And I wish it was because I would have gladly paid more for the ticket to have it included, whereas getting it as an add on now for $12.50 didn’t seem worth it. Though it was tempting given how they smelled and with toppings like French ham, French brie, Herbs de Provence, and GREY GOOSE® Vodka macerated strawberries.
In short this was a great experience that I would recommend, and will definitely sign up for next year when they host their next summer outdoor activity and cocktail experience.
For more details and what could have been, visit the link below. But for now, tickets are all sold out.
https://greygooselawnclub.ca/product/vancouver-ticket/
