Why These Fixtures Are Worth the Effort

A friendly match against a neighbouring club is one of the easiest ways to strengthen the bowls community around you. It fills your green with visiting players, introduces your members to new faces, and often brings in spectators from both sides who might never otherwise set foot in your clubhouse. Unlike league fixtures, there is no promotion at stake and no pressure to grind out a result. The aim is a good afternoon or evening of bowls, a decent cup of tea and a genuine welcome. Get those three things right and the fixture list tends to look after itself.

That said, "friendly" does not mean unplanned. The clubs that host well are the ones that think about the details a fortnight in advance rather than on the morning of the match.

Agree the Format and the Numbers Early

Most friendly fixtures settle into a familiar pattern: four rinks of triples or four rinks of fours, 18 or 21 ends, with a break for refreshments partway through or at the end. Whatever you choose, confirm it in writing at least a fortnight ahead so both match secretaries are working from the same script. A short email or a printed fixture card is fine; the point is that nothing is left to assumption.

• Players: agree whether you are fielding 16, 20 or 24, and ask for the visiting team list 48 hours before so you can prepare rink cards.
• Ends and timing: 18 ends usually suits a midweek evening; 21 ends is comfortable for a weekend afternoon with tea afterwards.
• Dress: state clearly whether it is whites and club shirts, greys, or relaxed. Visitors hate guessing.
• Costs: confirm green fees, raffle, and whether refreshments are included or charged separately.
• Wet weather: name a contact and a cut-off time, such as 9am on the day, and agree whether a shortened match or a rearrangement is preferred.

Prepare the Green and the Clubhouse

Your green is the first thing visitors judge you on, and rightly so. Cut and mark it the day before, check that rink numbers are visible, and make sure the mats, jacks and scoreboards are clean and ready in the correct rinks. If you have a greenkeeper, ask them to leave a note of any rink quirks — a visiting skip always appreciates knowing which side runs a touch faster.

In the clubhouse, set out the basics before anyone arrives:

• Fresh scorecards and pencils for every rink, with names already written in where you can.
• A clean changing area, working showers and clearly signed toilets, including accessible facilities.
• Enough seating for spectators, ideally with a bit of shade or cover depending on the forecast.
• A named person on the door — often the match secretary or a willing committee member — whose only job is greeting people.

Signage and the First Five Minutes

Visiting players arrive in unfamiliar cars, on unfamiliar roads, often with a kit bag and a slightly anxious expression. Clear signage does more for goodwill than almost anything else. Put a simple sign at the car park entrance, another at the clubhouse door, and a third pointing to the changing rooms. If your green is tucked behind a sports field or down a lane, mention that in the joining instructions.

The first five minutes set the tone for the whole match. Have someone meet the visiting captain, take them to their rink, and introduce each player to their opposite number by name. Name badges, even homemade ones, remove a great deal of awkwardness. If you have junior or new members playing, pair them with an experienced hand and mention it quietly to the opposing skip so nobody feels out of their depth.

Refreshments: Simple, Generous, Well Timed

You do not need a formal dinner. You need plenty of tea, coffee and cold drinks, and enough food to send people home satisfied. A sandwich platter, sausage rolls, a couple of cakes and a plate of biscuits will do very nicely, with a vegetarian option and a note of any allergies collected in advance.

• Have the urn boiled and milk in a jug before the last end finishes.
• Ask two or three members to serve so the players can sit down.
• Keep a jug of squash and glasses of water by the green for hot days.
• If you charge for refreshments, make the price obvious on a small card.

A raffle is traditional and raises a few pounds, but keep it brief and never let it delay the tea.

Keeping Score Friendly

The scoreboard is where friendliness can quietly disappear. Remind your players before the match that this is a social fixture: no one needs to chase a big number, and a captain may choose to move players around or rest a rink if the match is running away. Play the ends properly, shake hands at the close, and let the result be a footnote.

Announce the outcome over tea, thank the visitors by name, and mention the return fixture. Presenting a small token — a club pennant or a bottle for the raffle — is a nice touch, but the genuine warmth of the thanks matters far more. Afterwards, send a short note or email to the visiting secretary confirming the result and the date of the return match, and ask your own members for one thing that could be improved next time. Do that and neighbouring clubs will look forward to coming back.