WHEN Kevin Lee started playing pennant at 28, copping a bit of flak from his cricket and tennis mates was the least of his troubles.
The fresh-faced Terang bowler had a bigger dilemma.
"Those days the youngest blokes I was playing with were 55 or 60," he said.
"We were always taught that we had to call our elders mister but when I played, I was told to call them by their christian names.
"I found it very hard to get used to."
His fellow bowlers shouldn't have been fazed about what he called them as in their midst was the club's future stalwart.
Today he will line up in his 600th pennant match for Terang.
While it is a clear club record, Lee trails Western District Bowls Association (WDBA) record-holder John Leishman.
The Warrnambool veteran was unsure how many pennant matches he had racked up but said he started in 1955-56. He has had two seasons off during that time.
Lee's first year of pennant was in 1964-65, when he was a lead for the late Gordon Vanselow.
His progress was lightning fast, rising to skipper just six years later.
"It was very unusual," Lee admitted.
Also unusual was taking out his first club championship in 1968-69, after taking a season off to play cricket again.
Amazingly, 22 more club championships followed.
One of those was in 1972-73 when he played his father Phil.
"It was the first and only time we played against each other," he said.
"He died in 1974. (The club championship) was a fairly calm day," he recalled.
"My mother was there and she didn't know whether to barrack for her husband or her son.
"We shook hands and then he said 'go for it'."
The younger Lee did just that, recording a 31-14 victory over his father who won Terang's club championship eight times.
"Everyone was in good spirits after the game," he remembered.
The WDBA life member hasn't experienced as much team success as he has individual success.
"In all that time I've played, I've only won one division one premiership, in 1974-75," he said.
"I've won three division two premierships.
"I'm not surprised (we haven't won more division one grand finals) because City Memorial and Warrnambool are far too strong and have got so much depth.
"This year we've been competitive though and hopefully we can stay in the four," he said. The 74-year-old was optimistic he could reach 700 games. "As long as I'm fit and able, I'll keep going," he said.
"I don't care where I play."
Lee ? who has represented Victoria and also been involved with two group championships after representing group two on 21 occasions ? believed bowls had changed since he took it up.
"Bringing in synthetic greens was fine but bringing in all these new types of bowls, I don't think everyone is on a level playing field anymore," he said.
One achievement that has eluded Lee is winning the association's champion of champions.
"I've been runner-up eight times," he said.
"The last one was 2007-08.
"If I can win another club championship, I'd like to try and win one.
"And if I'm alive, in December 2011 Terang Bowls Club is 100 years old.
"They've asked me to be president in that year."
Lee was the club's president in 1980-81 and 1981-82. He was association president for two years.
Terang should celebrate Lee's milestone with a victory today when it tackles Mortlake Blue.
In other matches, Port Fairy Red will start underdog against Warrnambool Gold, City Memorial Gold and Dennington Red duel while Warrnambool Blue hosts Timboon Gold.
City Memorial Green will be aiming to knock off the club's premier side, City Red.
"My wife and a couple of our kids went and had dinner with my parents afterwards."
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