L'Ami (36), a trades salesman, did not play any bowls when he spent five years living in London with wife Tania.
He won five Australasian titles when he played for New Zealand from 1999 to 2003.
During that time, he lived in Dunedin and was a key member of the Otago team that became the top province in New Zealand when it won the Welch Trophy in 1999, 2001 and 2003.
He spent five years in England before returning to his home province of Taranaki and now lives in New Plymouth.
"I played some bowls when I returned home at the end of 2009 and this helped me last year," l'Ami said.
He won the New Zealand mixed fours title last year and this led to his selection back into the New Zealand team.
"I'm still not back to where I was when I left," l'Ami said.
"It was not too bad getting back to the transtasman but my draw let me down a few times."
Australian captain Chris Dudman was his singles opponent at Balclutha.
"Grant is New Zealand's best player," Dudman said.
"We were just lucky that he was away for five or six years."
His parents, Colin and Nelly, were keen indoor bowlers and he started the game at the age of 9 in Opunake.
He quickly moved through the ranks and won his first national title in the fours in 1994.
Four years later in 2002 he became only the second bowler to win five New Zealand titles and his gold star.
"I like bowls. It's good fun," he said.
"I enjoy the competition and it helps that I'm good at it."
L'Ami played for the Hillhead club when he lived in Dunedin for five years. He tried the outdoor game for two years in 1993-94 but felt it was too time-consuming to play summer and winter.
