The retired beef farmer, who sold his property three years ago and moved to Koroit, spends six months a year in south-west Victoria, playing Western District Playing Area midweek and Saturday pennant.

The other six months are dedicated to fishing in the Northern Territory.

It's the ideal mix for 63-year-old Ellis.

"I spend six months of the year up in the territory, from the end of March," Ellis said.

"I like the fishing and the weather. You name it, it's there - all the good reef fish, coral trout and red emperor."

Ellis took up lawn bowls 20 years ago, having spent his summers playing cricket for Tyrendarra "as a very competitive slow spin bowler".

"I was too old for cricket so I had to give that away and we were living just around the corner from Heywood Bowls Club," he said.

"I went down there for a try, not thinking I'd enjoy it but it was really good."

Ellis played bowls for Heywood and Macarthur before joining Koroit three years ago.

Nowadays he skippers a Koroit rink on Tuesdays and plays third to Jack Murnane on Saturdays "then you get a tournament or two and it fills in your time quite easily".

Koroit Orange is enjoying a strong start to its midweek pennant season, with a 3-1 win-loss record after four rounds.

It suffered its first defeat of the season on Tuesday with City Memorial Diamonds breaking their winning streak under the dome on Tuesday.

City Diamonds won 68-43.

Ellis said it was pleasing to be in second spot on the eight-team ladder, particularly given its smaller geographic pool.

"We are only a small club and always struggling for numbers," Ellis said.

"We struggle for women (players too), which is why there's not many women playing on a Tuesday which is disappointing but we just haven't got them."

Ellis' wife Julie has joined the Victoria Park-based club's playing ranks, giving it a boost.

"She watches - she knows more about it than most of us," he said.

"She is playing Tuesdays now in division two."

In midweek pennant division one games, Port Fairy Gold celebrated its first win of the season after dropping its first three matches.

It defeated City Sapphires 63-52, giving it a confidence boost.

Terang Gold, which is now 3-1 and atop the ladder, was too strong for Warrnambool Gold, winning 71-45.

Timboon Maroon is establishing itself at the top end of the ladder too after downing City Rubies 64-63.