Early Days
Taking Shape
Harl S. Kittle Moves To Town
Harl S. Kittle Moves To Town
The setting for Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Clubwas no accident. The land for the park was set aside when the Laguna Cliffs subdivision was created by L.C. McKnight, Howrd G. Heisler and the Thumb brothers in 1906. There were no plans for lawn bowling at that time, but the group had the foresight to plan a perfect park overlooking the ocean.
Few people lived in Laguna Beach in the early part of the century. “Laguna was long on scenery, but short on drinking water,” as one old timer put it.
Howard Heisler made good with his promise of a public park when in 1924 he deeded his land to Orange County for such a purpose.
Putting lawn bowling in the new park was the brainchild of Harlan S. Kittle, an avid Beverly Hills bowler who moved to Laguna Beach shortly after it became a city in 1927.
Kittle immediately began a campaign to develop the point on the cliffs into a bowling green. He made inquiries to the county, at which point they deeded the property to the new city of Laguna Beach. Kittle even tried to purchase the lone house across from the site from the Jahraus family, but they were not willing to sell. The family head, Joseph R. Jahraus (my husband Jeff’s grandfather), did join the club later.
Harl S. Kittle Moves To Town
Harl S. Kittle Moves To Town
Harl S. Kittle Moves To Town
On May 31st 1930, Harl S. Kittle, vice president of the Beverly Hills Lawn Bowling Club, purchased a new 5-room stucco house at the corner of Catalina and Oak streets to be used as a summer home, though he and his wife planned on making it their permanent home.
In February of 1931, they made good on their plan and moved to Laguna Beach. He brought with him his hopes of building a bowling green in Laguna Beach not only for the enjoyment of the residents, but to induce Canadians to visit Laguna Beach for the winters.
Kittle got his wish in February 1931 and raised $1000.00 to put in the first green. An article in the March 6, 1931, South Coast News called lawn bowling “a new amusement…and a new attraction for this community.”
Noting that “Mr. Kittle is himself a member of a championship team which has for a number of years been undefeated,” the article said the game should attract many Canadians and northern U.S. residents “to come to Laguna for their winters.”Lawn bowlers provided the labor for the installation of that first eight-rink green, on which games began on Nov. 2, 1931. The club boasted a membership of 114, mostly local businessmen who took up the challenge of fund raising. The first clubhouse was a very small structure built on 1933 mainly to house bowls.
A New Club Is Born
1931
Harl's efforts bore fruit when on April 29, 1931 at the Laguna Hotel, the Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club was formally launched with Harl being named its first president. With seventy-four members registered on the charter list, it was at the time the largest club in Southern California. By May the membership had grown to ninety-five. By July of that year the new green, what is now the south green, was being mowed. In November the green was opened and first games played. On May 1, 1932 the club was officially dedicated along with Heisler Park with a 2-day tournament. From then on, Laguna was a very popular club hosting numerous tournaments through the years..
20th Anniversary
1951
Arial photo of he club before the north green was added
Arial photo of he club before the north green was added
- At its 20th Anniversary celebration in 1951, the club announced that a new north green was to open within months. The added rinks would not only double playing surfaces, but permit alternating and allowing the highly cultivated grass a "breather" from the heavy traffic. The "new facilities" received their final "dressing" under the direction of the Agricultural Experimental Stations, University of California at Los Angeles.
Arial photo of he club before the north green was added
Arial photo of he club before the north green was added
Arial photo of he club before the north green was added
Photo courtesy of the Laguna Beach Historical Society.
A Third Green???
1960
Believe it or not, almost 10 years later in August of 1960, the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce supported a drive for funds to build yet a 3rd green, most likely north of the current north green. At the time there were 115 regular members, but there were also 152 Canadians associated with the club. That effort, unfortunately, seems to have fallen through. Alas, there is no third green.
50th Anniversary
1981
Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club's golden anniversary was celebrated with a huge well-publicized tournament. Note the change in dress from all whites to a more "relaxed" ensemble.
Today
To Now
Many years later, the present-day Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club has a membership of approximately four hundred and is still going strong.
