Winslow Bowls Club

Winslow Bowls Club is a friendly and social club, full of people looking to have fun and enjoy sporting activity together. We are based right in the centre of Winslow surrounded by the beautiful Tomkins Park and Arboretum. Our green has been refurbished to a high level and the summer season will be in full swing from the middle of April right through until late September. We also play a Short Mat form of bowls in our clubhouse during the winter.

We believe everybody should realize the joy and benefit of playing sport, and there are so many reasons why bowls is ideally placed to unlock these fantastic advantages. Bowls is a sport for everyone and it will help improve your fitness levels and mental well-being. It is a low impact yet competitive sport played in a very social atmosphere, giving plenty of opportunity for gentle exercise throughout the summer months.

Winslow Bowls Club provides an historic sporting activity in the centre of the town for all ages and skill levels.

The Clubhouse and Bowling Green are maintained on a day to day basis by the Members of the Club.

The Clubhouse is available for hire and is currently used regularly by NHS, WADAS, Breath Easy, Big Society and other local organisations.

Learn how to play bowls or how to improve your game

• WBC has qualified coaches who are ready give help and advice and other Club members will be happy to guide and advise you.
• The best way to learn lawn bowls is by playing it. Once you understand the basic rules of lawn bowls you can get out into the green and learn the rest as you go!
• Winslow Bowls Club holds Tuesday evening and Thursday afternoon social bowling sessions. These 2 hour sessions offer members the opportunity to practise their bowling technique or play friendly matches to improve their play in different positions in a team. No advance booking is required.

Play competitive bowls

• Club members take part in National and County Competitions and the Club plays regular friendly, week-end and mid-week league matches against other Clubs in the North Bucks area. The Club will play seventy competitive matches during the season. 
• The Club also runs a full range of Competitions for Club Members every season. Finals of these competitions are scheduled in the Fixture List. Winners will be presented with a trophy at the annual 'Presentation Lunch'.
• During the winter season the Club has a thriving Short Mat Section which is affiliated to the Buckinghamshire Short Mat Bowls Association (BSMBA), and plays in the Aylesbury Vale Friendly League.

Take part in the special bowling events and social activities  

• Green Opening Day. At the beginning of each season Members are invited to play for the first time in the new season. This often takes the form of a competition between the 'Presidents team and the 'Captains team'.
• Winslow Bowls Club Open day. Winslow Bowls Club invites members of the general public to see, enjoy and participate in the sport of bowls. Qualified bowling coaches and other club members will be on hand to advise and encourage visitors to participate in the sport.
• Presidents Day. This is a special club competition for members of the Club. Usually in the form of a 'Spoon Drive', an interactive competition organised so that members play with and against other members of the club.

At various times of the year the Club will host Quiz events and various other social gatherings.

Approaching on the A413 from Aylesbury to Winslow, turn right from the High Street into Elmfields Gate. Winslow Bowls Club is 40 metres on the right. Please park in the Winslow Public Hall Car Park which is adjacent to Winslow Bowls Club entrance.

Approaching on the A421 from Milton Keynes to Buckingham, turn left through Great Horwood to Winslow. Turn left from the High Street into Elmfields Gate. Winslow Bowls Club is 40 meters on the right. Please park in the Winslow Public Hall Car Park which is adjacent to Winslow Bowls Club entrance.

Approaching on the A413 from Buckingham turn left from the High Street into Elmfields Gate. Winslow Bowls Club is 40 metres on the right. Please park in the Winslow Public Hall Car Park which is adjacent to Winslow Bowls Club entrance.

An alternative car park, which it is a short walk to the Club, is Greyhound Lane Car Park. Entry is from Greyhound Lane, off the High Street.

Please note: What3words location extensive.handbag.webcams - our closest postcode is MK18 3JG

Playing the game - What are the basics?

• The jack is a small ball - usually white, but sometimes yellow, used as the target in the game. One is required for a game of bowls.
• Two mats are required, one at either end of the green.
• A coin is tossed to decide which team bowl first.
• The first bowler places the mat centrally and squarely in line with the rink markers, with the front edge of the mat being at least 2 metres (6ft 6in) away from the ditch. A 2 metre white stick is available to ensure compliance.
• The first bowler rolls the jack to whatever distance they like. However It must be in the centre of the rink, at least 23 metres from the mat, and a minimum of 2 metres from the ditch, again the white stick can be used to ensure this placement.  The jack now becomes the target.
• Teams alternate taking shots. Each member of the team will take all of their shots before the next team member takes over.  When playing any shot the player bowling must always have one foot on or over the mat.
• Any bowls that are in play can be moved by another shot, and they stay active where they finish.  This includes the jack.  Any bowl that finishes in the ditch, except a bowl which touched the jack when it is first played, is considered out of play. 
• Once all players have played all their shots the game is scored. The winning side gets one shot for each bowl that is closer to the jack than the opposing team's nearest bowl. 
• The winning team starts first on the next “end”, places the mat and rolls the jack.
• WBC has identified a series of helpful articles at https://www.jackhighbowls.com/category/guide/

Do you want to learn how to play bowls or how to improve your game?

• WBC has 5 qualified coaches who are ready give help and advice. WBC intends to train and appoint an additional 2 or 3 club members.
• Buckingham Bowls Association promotes training videos from Bowls New Zealand where Lawn Bowls and indoor bowls are very popular.

 Are you interested to know how bowls are made?

• There are a number of well known manufacturers of bowls. Popular brands are Drakes Pride, Thomas Taylor, Henselite, and Aero.
• See our links to Taylor Bowls and Aero Bowls videos.

Taylorbowls Tutorial on Bias and Size: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNyKOjmQ3VU 

Taylor Bowls - Made in Britain: https://youtu.be/AgsXeoJUeos 

Aero Bowls: How it's Made Lawn Bowls: https://youtu.be/LVNmHD6aqcg