Do You Want To Try Bowls?
Do You Want To Try Bowls? Want To Know More?
We welcome New Members to Bilton Bowling Club and are happy to chat to you and answer all your questions. But sometimes people want to know a little more first.
We hope to answer as many of your questions if you are thinking about bowls or as you start to play ... but please let us know of any others we can add to this!
Joining
New members normally join as a Probationer at a reduced rate for the first year – but even that is after a few weeks of joining us to practice so you can see how much you enjoy it before you spend anything.
Juniors are welcome to join (and to come and try first) as well so this can be a family activity if you want.
The Green
The green is open from mid April until Finals Day in mid September. Each day the green is open from 11am until dusk. There are 6 rinks on the green at Bilton and these can be booked ahead on the noticeboard in the club house.
We also have an all weather rink at the back of the greens. This is great for real beginners so you don’t have to worry about the immaculate grass and can have a practice even when its busy.
Bowls
Games are played with 2, 3 or 4 bowls so everyone has a set of 4 bowls. The club has a few sets of bowls that beginners can borrow which are kept in the club house so anyone can use. There are a few different sizes and weights so you can try options. Once you need to buy your own set of bowls, club members will give you advice on where to go for new or used. Bowls are also called Woods.
Playing
When you talk to one of the committee members, they will help you get going. We have two evenings a week where you can just turn up and play. Monday evening is Ladies roll up – this is relatively informal with an occasional organised game. Friday evening is the general club roll up and the bar is open. Otherwise people arrange to play during the day or other evenings. There are also internal club matches and matches between clubs that are arranged on certain days.
What to wear?
For normal playing or roll ups the dress is casual, no ‘uniform’, just comfortable clothing.
The IMPORTANT thing is the shoes. These need to be flat and smooth soled with no big grip which could damage the grass. But these can vary from ordinary plimsolls to proper bowls shoes – it doesn’t matter as long as the sole is flat and smooth.
For matches there are two options – ‘Greys’ or ‘whites’. Both are a white top or club shirt (depending on your club) and then grey or white trousers. Men have a blazer also. In general whites are for matches starting before 6pm and greys after 6pm but these decisions are also taken by the captain.
Coaching
The club has a coach who can help you learn. He is a volunteer, the same as all members and officers of the club.
Games
Games are played as different numbers of people and bowls:
- Singles – one against one, normally with 4 bowls each
- Pairs – two people per team playing with 2or 4 bowls each
- Triples – three people per team with 3 bowls each
- Fours – four people per team playing with 2 bowls each
- Aussie Pairs – two per team but the order of playing is slightly different to normal pairs
... and more but these are the most common.
Club house
The club house (and bar) is open some evenings of the week and for weekend matches.
Social
We are a friendly club and have social events through the winter and also an indoor short (or carpet) bowls league on Friday evenings in the winter.
We hope we have answered many of your questions but please do come and chat to us. Contact 01788 813140