Thinking of joining or just want to give it a try?
It’s normal to feel slightly apprehensive about starting something new but the rules of the game and
basic technique are relatively simple and you don’t need lots of new kit!
If you would like to come along and give it a go, want to watch or ask questions then please let us know.
We will be happy to meet and greet you and show you the ropes. Why not join us afterwards for a refreshing drink in the Clubhouse. If you prefer just to watch Social Membership is also available.
In the meantime, you may find some basic guidance from Bowls England useful:
Our green will reopen for the 2024 season in April - watch this space for further details!
Rules of the game - the basics!
Bowls is played on a square of grass called a green, which is divided into lanes called rinks.
Players take turns to deliver their bowls from a mat at one end of the rink towards a small white target ball, often referred to as the ’jack’, situated near the other end. The bowls are shaped so that they take a curved path towards the jack, known as the bias.
The aim of the game is to get your bowls closest to the jack. One point is given for each bowl nearer the jack than the nearest bowl of your opponent. For example, if you or your team has three bowls closer to the jack than your opponent’s nearest bowl then you will score three for that end.
Each game is split into individual ends. After playing all the bowls in one direction and agreeing the score, the next end is played back down the rink in the opposite direction. The winner of the previous end will cast the jack.
There are different formats of the game. You can play singles or as part of a team, and a match can vary in lengths. The winner can either be the one who has scored the most shots after a specified number of ends or the first to reach a designated score.