The playing season is usually late March to the end of September, with League matches commencing in April.

You are welcome to come along to one of our introductory taster sessions, run by experienced members, every Wednesday during April, barring inclement weather, from 12.00pm to 1.00pm, when a good selection of Club bowls can be used. To protect the green, flat-soled footwear, i.e. without raised heels, should be worn.

Once a member, during the playing season, social bowling sessions take place, when new members can interact with more experienced members in order to improve their game and on selected days we run ‘Challenge Bowling’ sessions where Team Captains and more experienced players play less confident/competent players in order to help them improve their skills and confidence.

Unless otherwise advised, Members are welcome to practice on the green at any time during the playing season, except when matches are being played or during greenskeeper maintenance. Details of green availability are provided to Members on a weekly basis.

Usually, a new member will discuss the possibility of playing for one of the League teams during the taster sessions and if interested in playing competitively, will be required to complete a Player Availability Form and a British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA) Registration Form along with our Membership Application Form.

If you wish to apply for membership please go to HOW TO JOIN

The Basics

The Harrogate Amateur Bowling Association (HABA) website www.harrogateaba.co.uk contains very useful information such as: ‘Why Play Bowls’ and ‘The Game of Crown Green Bowls’. Details of the basics of the game, necessary clothing and bowls equipment can also be found.

Competitive Bowling

For those wishing to play bowls competitively, which is undoubtedly the best way to learn and improve, our Club currently supports twelve teams which participate in five different leagues in Yorkshire. Each league has its own time slot for when matches are played thereby providing a choice of playing weekday morning, evenings or Saturdays. Further details of our teams, their respective leagues and how matches are played can be found here.

Player Etiquette & Hints On Playing

Below you will find a few notes on the niceties of the game, which will, hopefully, make your experience of bowling pleasurable and fun. These are not an exhaustive list of laws, but rather the politeness which we would hope would be reciprocated around the greens of Harrogate.

Etiquette

1. When playing home game your opponent has the first jack and when meeting them at the side of the green, it is nice to hand them the jack, shake hands and say ‘good game’.
2. 2 scorers (markers) are used for each game, one per player. It is your responsibility to signal to your marker the result of each end. The 2 markers then agree scores with each other after every 3 or 4 ends (agreed by them before the game).
3. After the game, congratulate (or commiserate with) your opponent and ask if they would like a drink and then provide it for them. (You should have already paid for this prior to the Match commencing!)
4. You must indicate to your opponent which bias you are sending the jack. Although you do not have to do this verbally, most players do.
5. After you have delivered your wood you may occupy the ‘footer’ (round mat) until your wood has stopped running. You may not impede your opponent’s view of the line, nor can you walk up the line after your wood.
6. Game players 1 – 4 should, after completing their game, return the jack and footer to the ‘start’, which will be clearly marked on one edge of the green, for use by the next set of players. Also, thank your marker, collect your scorecard from them and return it to the captain/referee’s table in the clubhouse.
7. Because the game can be won at the next end, the markers should tell you when either you or your opponent have reached 19 or 20 points. A player who is at 20 is ‘All-but’. Both players on 20 points is called ‘All-but Across’.
8. If you have called for ‘measure please’ because you and your opponent are unable to decide which bowl is nearer the jack, allow the 2 measurers, normally representative from each team, space to get on with the job, watching them too closely suggests that you do not trust their impartiality. Do not be flustered out of points – e.g. your opponent may say ‘I think that is 2 to me’ – if you are not convinced, say that you would prefer to have it measured.
9. If you play your woods first, you may walk towards the end before your opponent finishes their delivery, but you must not interfere with their line of sight nor kick-in any bowls until they have seen and agreed the score. You will forfeit the end if you do.
10. Try and walk around other games on the green, not right across their ‘land’. It is not necessary and it is considered bad manners.
11. If you need to leave the green during the game (to put a sweater on, for instance) you must ask your opponent first – don’t just disappear (and do visit the loo before starting a game!).

Hints

1. It is nice to exchange pleasantries during the game, but do not be drawn into general chatter. Time enough after the game – you must concentrate on the game in hand!
2. If you find you are well up in a game, do not be tempted to ease up on your opponent. Once you lose the jack your opponent can gain great momentum by winning 2 or 3 ends and before you are aware, you are playing catch-up or worse, you’ve lost.
3. Regardless of whether you are winning or losing, remember that each point you (or your opponent) score is a point toward’s the team’s total aggregate score and at the end of the game every point counts. Keep trying until the game is won or lost!
4. Try to play as a team by supporting your teammates around the green (NOT if you are playing a game yourself)!
5. If you think your opponent has bowled a short measure i.e. jack is sent less than 19 meters, wait until their first bowl has stopped before deciding whether to object or not. If they send a poor first wood, you may prefer to leave it and elect to play the end – that way your opponent has only one wood left to correct the first shot, whereas, if you restart the end (albeit you would send the jack) they would have 2 woods to play with