Ormskirk Bowling Club

The greens will reopen on 29/03/2021 but the grass green will not be open until next weekend due to renovation works.

Booking of the greens is available via the Covid-19 tab on the club’s website note that this is a new version and not the previous system.. Please follow the guidance on the BCGBA website bcgba.org.uk . Please also note the general guidance and risk assessment on the Covid-19 tab of our website.

Please ensure that you have renewed your membership before you book a green and be aware of our offers including reduced membership for next year if you introduce new members.

We hope that this will be the start of a new chapter of our club and that we will continue to grow and enjoy the game we love.

Happy bowling.

The committee.

Not long until lockdown is eased and Ormskirk Bowling Club will be taking part in the national Bowls’ Big Weekend, that will be held on the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend (Friday 28th – Mon 31st May). We will be holding several free sessions for anyone who just wants to try out our superb facilities. Bowling is for all ages, is good gentle exercise and is a brilliant social activity to meet new people. It can be played in a COVID secure manner outside in the fresh air. We will be holding taster sessions for families with children, couples and anyone who just wants to try out our superb facilities. If you want to come along and have a go, either on the spring bank holiday, or even before, leave your details on our website at https://ormskirkbowlingclub.wordpress.com/interested-in-bowling/ and we will be back in touch. We really look forward to hearing from you.

First of all Happy New Year to all our members. We hope you are safe and well and looking forward to bowling again in the not too distant future.

Whilst we are aware that the recent guidelines outline that outdoor sport can recommence on 29 March we still await the BCGBA guidelines so until we receive that the greens will remain closed. Rest assured we will update you as soon as we are able.

We are hopeful that the leagues will recommence although when this will be is not known at this time.

The grass green is in the process of being verti-drained which we are hoping will improve the waterlogging issue on part of the green.

We have been unable to conduct an AGM given the unprecedented restrictions and in line with some other clubs we will now hold this in September onwards to avoid disrupting the current season.In view of the restricted availablility for bowling last year and the wish to rebuild the membership/attract new members, it is proposed that this years annual subscriptions will be at a reduced amount of £17.50 with no payment required for juniors/students or Winter Members who paid a fee last year and intend to play next winter. As an additional incentive anyone introducing a new member this year who then remains next year will benefit from a reduced annual subscription in 2022. Also the member who provides the most new members will pay no subscription next year.

We hope as many of you as possible will rejoin this year and we intend to advertise our reopening with publicity, Open Days and taster sessions. Please renew/apply for membership on the join tab of the website with payment online the preferred option. If you are receiving this email and do not intend to rejoin, please can you email us back so we can update our records.

Stay safe and we hope to see you all on the greens in the not too distant future.

Due to the national lockdown the club will unfortunately have to be closed to all members until further notice. Please keep safe everybody and let’s hope we can get back to bowling as soon as possible.

It was announced today that Lancashire will be moved into Tier 4 from midnight. Whilst we will receive further guidance in due course, the decision has been taken to restrict the use of the artificial green to one singles game at a time. We have reopened the booking app and this can be found under the COVID tab on the website (Green Booking Page). Please use this if you wish to use the green. Contact Ian Gill or Martin Roberts if you have any queries.

No pairs games will be allowed under the new guidance unless it is one family group. Also, unfortunately, we will still have to restrict use to Lancashire Members only due to travel restrictions. The Committee will keep the situation under review and any changes will be dependant upon the latest guidance, and Members will be notified.

As mentioned in our previous post, the Club is now open for our Lancashire Members. We are really sorry that we cannot extend this further at the moment but the Government guidance is very clear that people are advised not to travel into or out of Tier 3 areas, including for sport. We have to think about the safety of our members and ensure that we are not breaking any rules. Hopefully we will be able to open to all members soon.

For those that will be able to bowl (when the weather is fit) please can you remember to sign in on the sheet on the clubhouse or use the QR code if you have the app on your phone. All the basic safety procedures must be observed such as sanitising hands regularly and keeping appropriate distances from others.

If anyone has any queries please contact Ian Gill (Safeguarding/Welfare Officer) and he will do his best to assist.

In line with guidance from the BCGBA we are pleased to be able to announce the reopening of the artificial green with effect from 2 December 2020.

However the green is only accessible to members who live in tier 3 areas (ie Lancashire) as you are not permitted to travel from a tier 2 area to a tier 3 area. Similarly you are unable to play club matches in tier 2 areas unless you live there. Members in the tier 3 area can still arrange Winter Ladder matches but please do not send any results to Ian Gill as these will have to be “friendlies”until all members who are on the ladder are able to participate.

Please ensure groups are no larger than 6 and make sure you complete the track and trace forms located by the pavillion whenever you play.

We will keep you informed of any amendments to this policy as soon as we become aware of them.

Stay safe.

We must close the club with regret after today in line with the government guidelines. We will update you further once updates are received in due course.

The Winter Ladder has now commenced and details can be found on our Winter Ladder 2020/21 page. All those who joined should have now received an email. If anyone else would like to join please contact Ian at iangilly66@gmail.com.

Please let me know within the next week or so if you would be interested in playing in a winter ladder 2020/2021. For those not familiar with the term it consists of arranging your own singles matches with other members with a view to moving up the table (ladder) if you win. The top players then play off at the end of the winter to ascertain the winner. This will of course be subject to ongoing Covid regulations and restrictions.