"It was the best turnout we have had to date" - Bowls Big Weekend

“It was the best turnout we have had to date”

Ventnor Bowls Club is one of the hundreds of clubs that saw great success after taking part in Bowls’ Big Weekend in 2023.

Bowls’ Big Weekend is Bowls England’s national event, from Friday 24th – Monday 27th May, to open doors to the sport for free, right across the country, with thousands of players trying the game for the very first time, or returning to clubs after time away.

The event showcases all that is great about the game, and Loretta Dyer of Ventnor Bowls Club (Isle of Wight) explains why it was a success for them;

“2023 was our third year of holding a Bowls’ Big Weekend Open Day. I organised it with a small group of members, and it was the best turnout we have had to date.

The Mayor of Ventnor came along to open the day. We gave away free refreshments with home made cake.

We put up 50 posters in and around Ventnor and I also did social media and invited the local press to put an advert in their paper. Afterwards we de-briefed and felt that social media brought in most of the visitors.

We had a good attendance and about 19 joined on the day both as associate and full members.

Four of those nineteen have stayed and joined as full members.

Our club has a great green and club house, the down sides are we do not have parking and neighbours do take up what parking there is, which is a challenge, but was great to see that it did not deter people from coming along.”

If you would like to sign up your club to the 2024 Bowls’ Big Weekend, follow the link below: