The club is now closed for Christmas
The club is closed for the festive period and re-opens on Monday 6th January 2025 13.45-16.15
From the Committee, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Don't forget there is plenty of short mat bowling coming up in 2025!
Where we are
We are situated in Blackfield, not far from the village of Hythe along the Southampton waters.
Two minutes away from the New Forest and in the other direction we have the beaches of Calshot and Lepe.
We use the Facilities of the QEII Pavilion, Thornbury Avenue, Blackfield, managed by Fawley Parish Council
The club plays all year round
If you fancy playing then come
along on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday
This sport is played by people of all ages, not too strenuous and is a good form of exercise.
If you are an experienced player and have played before, then all the better,
you would be welcome.
You will need a pair of Flat Soled shoes (no heels) that have not been worn out side.
Alternatively have a go in your socks. More about this when you get here. We do have some club woods you can try to see how you get on, then you can look at getting some of your own.
First it would be best to buy some secondhand woods as new ones can come up expensive. But that is the same with most sports. After a couple of sessions you will be on your way, if you are happy with playing the sport then you will need to join our happy club.
Playing Times
The club plays three times a week most weeks of the year and through out the summer. We can put out three mats as needed, it is a bit cosy but there is the room!
New times. To allow time to setup and clear away our equipment
Mondays 13.45pm until 16.15pm roll up
Wednesdays 09.45am until 12.45pm roll up
Friday (summer time) 18.45pm until 21.15pm roll up
Friday (winter time) 17.45pm until 20.45pm Friday League
During the year, on a Sunday we arrange an in-house Fours or Triples Competitions and run singles competitions on a Monday before the roll up session. Also we invite Victoria Park Short Mat Bowls Club over from the Isle of Wight.
How To Play Short Mat Bowls
Halfway down the bowls mat, right in the middle of the mat is a lump of blooming wood to get in your way.
This is called the Center Block. Grrr
So now you have to direct your wood passed the center block, then let the bias of the wood take over and as it slows down the wood coasts up to the Jack and get your wood to sit next to the Jack and that's it!
After all woods have been bowled the by you and your players and the players from the opposite team. Then team with the most woods closest to the Jack gets the points.
Then you carry on playing the next end in the same fashion until the end of the game. "Such fun"... There is lots more to the game. You will learn these skills with practise.
The great Guru says, "Line, Length and Luck"
Come and give it a try.
The Janet and John Version
Short Mat bowls is played as it says on a mat. The mat is 45ft long and 6ft wide. The idea is to bowl your wood along the mat to the other end and get as close to a little yellow ball called the Jack.
Sounds easy!!
The woods are made a little uneven, one side of the wood is a little bigger on one side. This is called the bias, so the wood then starts to curve inwards as the wood starts to slow down along the mat.
Of course, the naughty people in the opposition team will be trying to do the same.
They may knock your wood out of the way to get even closer to the Jack.
So you may have to go one better, you then bowl your next wood to try and beat their wood. Etc.
