"We sign up between 20 to 30 new bowlers per event" - Bowls Big Weekend

“We sign up between 20 to 30 new bowlers per event”

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

The event showcases all that is great about the game, and Alan Small of Royal Wootton Bowls Club (Wiltshire) explains why it was a success for them;

“As a club, Royal Wootton Bassett Bowls Club choose one day over the Bowls’ Big Weekend and experience good numbers of people who come to the green to try out bowling.

We ensure that there are Club members available to greet the visitors and channel them towards a member who will be recording their details for future reference. We have two members per rink to accept up to 6 visitors a rink.

We provide all the equipment, and we try to get people bowling on the green as early as possible. This lets people enjoy the facility we have. We open the bar and have snacks available for people to enjoy after their bowling experience, as well as driving additional revenue for the club on the day of the event.

We advertise the event around the town with banners and advertising boards, working with the Town Council to drive awareness. We also secured an announcement of the event on Radio Wiltshire, who presented a programme from our green.

We sign up between 20 to 30 new bowlers per event. After the event we continue with free coaching and hold a new bowlers evening every Friday.”

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.

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