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An Introduction to Ipplepen Bowling Club
A warm welcome awaits you at Ipplepen Bowling Club. Our Club, which was formed in 1981, has four rinks on an outdoor carpeted green, which allows bowling all year round. Whether you are an experienced bowler or someone who would like to try your hand at bowling without any pressures, come along to our very friendly Club.
We meet on Tuesday and Friday mornings each week to have ‘roll-up’ sessions. Any member wishing to play, signs in at the Clubhouse between 9.00 and 9.30am so that they may be assigned to teams, ready to start play at 10:00am. We play a game of 16 ‘ends’ (playing from one end and then playing from the other end.) We stop after 8 ends for a coffee or tea with biscuits and then play the remaining 8 ends.
The green is available to play on all other days of the week and so new members can buy (for a minimal fee) their own key, allowing access to practise by yourself or with other members. In the summer we play league matches, so the green is not available when the teams are playing at home. The only day in an entire year that we do not use the green is Christmas Day – so there are plenty of opportunities for you to play right throughout the year.
In the summer, we hold our own internal Club competitions i.e. men’s singles, ladies’ singles, ladies & gents’ pairs, and mixed pairs, together with the Ken Day and Dennis Squires Memorial matches and the Wakelyn Shield. During the summer, we play the Ladies v. Gents (L v. G) match as well as the Dorella Cup match, which is also a ladies v. gents’ game: this produces two very enjoyable “battle” matches! Throughout the summer season (April to September), we hold friendly matches against other local teams.
The league matches, as referred to above, are:
The South Devon ‘Over 55s’ League played every Wednesday morning,
The Ladies’ Triples Challenge played every Wednesday afternoon and
The Riviera Mixed Triples League played every Thursday morning.
During the winter months we enter a mixed team in the Dawlish Indoor Winter league, which is played at Dawlish Marina Bowling Club.
MEMBERSHIP DETAILS
As well as Full Members, we have Junior Members (under 18s) and Winter Members, which enables those bowlers, who belong to a Bowling Club with a grass green – and are, therefore, unable to play all year round - to play throughout the winter, i.e. October to March. We also have a social membership for those who like to support our Club, and who can come along and watch any of the matches being played and can attend our social events such as the Christmas mulled wine afternoon.
Annual subscription rates for the April 2026 to March 2027 are:
Full Member £70
Junior Member £10
Plus, rink fees:
£2 for every roll-up
£2 for each internal competition entered.
£1 for League matches (Home games only)
£1 for any other use of the rink, such as informal practices or games.
Social Member £5
The rate for the Winter Membership for October 2026 to March 2027 has not yet been set.
The preferred method of payment is by BACS (please ask the Secretary or Treasurer for details), although we are happy to accept cash or cheques.
We have a qualified coach, Mary Oliphant, who is always on hand to give help and advice to inexperienced players. We have coaching bowls of all sizes, which may be used by new members, in order for them to decide which size suits them best, before buying a set.
Mary is also the Chair of our Management Committee, so if you would like any more information about our club, please contact her on 01803 872683.
WHERE ARE WE?
To access Ipplepen Bowling Club: if arriving by car, park in the road as close as possible to Ipplepen Village Hall. Then, walk down the driveway to the right of the village hall and enter the playing field by the gate on your left. The bowling club is at the bottom of the playing field.
WHIST DRIVE
We hold a Whist Drive on the second Thursday of every month all through the year. It is a fun afternoon, open to everyone to come along and have a game of cards, and to enjoy the company of others. There is the added bonus of winning some lovely prizes, as well booby prizes! The cost of entrance is £3.00, which includes tea, coffee and biscuits and there is also a raffle.
DRESS CODE
Roll-ups: White tops with grey skirts/trousers.
League Matches: Club Shirts with grey skirts/trousers.
Club Days & Friendly Matches: Usually, Club Shirts with grey skirts/trousers, but sometimes, Club Shirts with white skirts/trousers.
Shoes must be white or brown, with a flat sole (no instep) and no tread. Shoes must not be worn anywhere else, other than on the green, in order to avoid grit from damaging the carpet.
Please have a good look around our website. Membership application forms are available and why not pop up to the club, on a Tuesday or Friday morning, to see us? We’d be delighted to see you and to show you around the facilities.