A Quick Bolo Primer

By Lorraine Caputo

Every where in Colombia, along country roads and in the hearts of cities, you’ll see signs announcing bolo, or bowling. There are two types of this very popular sport. Bolo criollo is what you will see most of the time at the outskirts of towns. At the end of an open-air, 18-meter (59-foot)-long court is a backboard, in front of which are three pins in a vertical line. A 300 to 500 gram (11- to 18-ounce) aluminum ball is tossed to a backboard, to knockdown the pins. This game has indigenous origins, and is strictly for men. Bolo americano, or boliche, is good, old ten-pin bowling as you find in the United States or Canada. Colombian woman are said to be quite good bolicheras, or bowlers.