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 by 9.30am so that they may be assigned to teams, ready to start play at 10:00am. We play a game of 16 ‘ends’ (i.e.playing from one end and then playing from the other end.)  We stop at half-time for a coffee or tea 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 e.g. men’s singles, ladies’ singles, ladies' pairs, gents’ pairs, and mixed pairs. 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 matches!   Throughout the summer season (April to September), we hold friendly matches against other local clubs.

The league matches, as referred to above, usually comprise 18 ends and are:

The South Devon ‘Over 55s’ League, played every Wednesday morning,

The Ladies’ Triples Challenge, played every Wednesday.

The Riviera Mixed Triples League, played every Thursday.

​​During the winter months we also run Roll-ups on Wednesday mornings and a mixed team in the Dawlish Indoor Winter league, which is played on Thursday evenings at Dawlish Marina Bowling Club.

COACHING

We have a qualified coach, Mary Oliphant, who is always on hand to provide coaching, by appointment, to existing and potential members. 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.

SALES TABLE

We maintain a Sales Table in the club-house, which enables members to purchase pre-loved bowls & clothing, as well as other accessories and unassociated items, such as books, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles etc. 

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.

WHERE ARE WE?

To access Ipplepen Bowling Club: if arriving by car, park in the road as close as possible to Ipplepen Village Hall (for some matches, we are able to park in the Village Hall car park: if so, we'll let you know). 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.

Please have a good look around our website. Membership application forms are available for printing or online completion 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.