Although the winter Olympics has brought the wonderful world of Curling to the forefront of international focus of late, it continues to surface as a frequent topic of inquiring conversation here in the more common non-curling circles. Nine times out of ten, no one seems to know much about it at all.
After a quick search online, I was rather surprised to discover that there is in fact, such a thing as a Curling Club right here on our doorstep in Northern California wine country. Now, really, who would have thought?
Curling, it would appear, upon slightly closer scrutiny, has come a considerable distance from the 16th century when tough Scots slid loafies (rocks) on frozen lochs
and highland marshes. Nowadays the game has conveniently moved inside on
specially prepared ice with spiffy, polished 42-pound granite rocks.
The sport surfaced as an Olympic medal competition in 1998 at the Japanese Nagano games, though Curling in the U.S. can be traced all the way back to the 1830s. Scottish soldiers and settlers were said to have brought the peculiarities of the game to Michigan. Spreading north into Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and beyond, it remains, by all accounts, quite the thing to do within the Curling Heartland of America.
It has been estimated that there are more than 15,000 curlers and 140-plus clubs in the United States alone, predominantly in the north central part of the country, though it has extended in recent years to 20 or more enthusiastic states.
Clubs are continuing to form due to the sports' slick Olympic popularity - around the globe more than a million people consider themselves curlers. Mind you, over 90% of the one million are of Canadian background.
Scots made the most of record freezing temperatures this winter with a once-in-a-generation curling tournament on Lake Menteith:
Watching the Olympics the other night, one person described curling as "Like Bocce Ball." Michael and just looked at each other? I don't think so...
Posted by: Lesley | Wednesday, February 24, 2026 at 11:03 AM