"The event is so well run and the people so friendly," Harry said. "We wrote it down on our 'to do' list to come again."
They were so impressed by their reception at the St Clair Bowling Club four years ago that they wanted to have their photos taken in front of its sign.
The blue and white colours of the St Clair club are similar to the Defence Lawn Bowls Group colours worn by the Coulsons yesterday.
"We are retired members of the defence force and play occasionally together," Harry said. "But we are not a bowling club."
Harry worked in the Australian navy in communications and Grace was a legal secretary in Canberra. They are both aged 59. They joined the Wanniassa Bowling Club in 1997.
"We wanted a sport we could play together and also travel with," Harry said. "We like to turn our bowling trips into a holiday."
They travel to Alice Springs for bowls every two years and to other events in Australia. Grace has won two ACT bowls titles.
"I like travelling and meeting people and having a holiday around bowls," she said.
The spent three weeks travelling down the West Coast to Invercargill and played in a bowls tournament in Tuatapere before arriving in Dunedin.
The couple won a bronze medal in the mixed pairs this week.