Ladywell Bowling Club will be hosting a free Open Day on Sunday 26th May from 11am to 4pm, as part of the national Bowls' Big Weekend.
It's a great opportunity for people of all ages to come and have a go at bowls, and find out why it's such a great social game.
"If you've never played before, bowls can seem quite complicated, but really there's nothing to it," says Club Captain, Phil Welch. "And it really is a game for everyone - I started playing when I was around 8 years old and have been hooked ever since. In fact, we tend to find that when most people get out on the green and have a go, they love it. So we'll have something for everyone at the Open Day, including a target game for children to have a go at."
Phil also points out that bowls doesn't have to be very costly for new bowlers. "A new set of bowls can be quite expensive, but we have a wide selection of spare sets that have been donated by past members, which people can borrow at no charge - or they can buy them from us at a discounted rate. And membership at Ladywell's only £30 for your first year, which is half-price. So, if you come and have a go and decide you'd like to join the club, you can pay £30 straight away, or you can come along to individual sessions and pay £5 a session - then after six sessions, you automatically become a member. And even if you just want to come along and meet new friends, but don't want to play, we have a social membership which costs £20 a year."
The Open Day will feature coaching from some of the club's experienced players. "We usually find that people pick up the rules pretty quickly," says Phil. "And our members genuinely enjoy sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for the game. It's really just a good excuse for us to get out on the green and play some more!"
Phil went on to explain why the Open Day is so important for the club. "Like a lot of bowls clubs, we're finding it harder to attract new members. And that's such a shame, because we really are part of the community. In fact, many of our members see coming down to the green as an essential part of their week. In fact, some of our longer-standing members have health issues which means they find it difficult to bowl nowadays, but they still come along to our roll-ups on Monday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons. Sometimes they play if they feel up to it, and other times, they just watch, while sitting and chatting over a cuppa. But, of course, we also compete in a number of local competitions each year and we'd like to attract more people who can hopefully help us win some of them!"
So, if you fancy giving bowls a try, come along and meet the Ladywell members and have a go on Sunday 26th May between 11am and 4pm. As Phil points out: "All you need is a pair of trainers or flat-soled shoes and we'll provide the rest!"
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