County Bowling Club
Southampton, Hampshire

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120 years ago a group of businessmen headed by one Edwin Jones, whose store will be recalled by many people, bought a piece of land in Northlands Road adjacent to the Hampshire County Cricket Ground (now a housing development) and they created this club. Edwin Jones being the first President of the club, which remains a private club, owned and run by the members themselves.

It is widely renowned for its friendliness, and new members in particular receive a warm welcome and are quickly absorbed into the fold.
It is open for outdoor bowling only, between mid April and Late September every year (although a few representative indoor matches are played at other clubs during the close season).

The club is affiliated to the Southampton and District Bowling Association (S&D); The Hampshire Bowling Association (HBA); and to the English Bowling Association (EBA). It enters several teams of ladies and gents separately each season into S&D leagues.

While within the club itself mixed leagues are played on Mondays; Wednesdays; Thursdays and Fridays at varying times (1.30 Mons;10am Weds and Thurs; 6pm Fridays). Friendly matches against other clubs are played regularly, mostly on occasional Wednesday/Saturday/Sunday afternoons, home and away, throughout the season.

Most importantly from the point of view of newer and less competitive members, there are
numerous opportunities to play in 'Roll-ups' which are quite simply games between members who turn up and are then organised into teams to play each other. These take place on Tuesday Mornings and Wednesday evenings, whilst very slightly more competitive games are arranged on Saturdays when no other fixture is scheduled, or on some Sundays - and on all Bank Holiday Mondays. These games are called 'Spoons', so named because they produce a winner (by an arcane but jolly system!) who at the end of the season becomes the holder - for a year - of a lovely silver spoon. All of these games are played by teams drawn out of a hat by those who turn up and are hugely enjoyed by old hands and new alike.

Many social events take place throughout the season, from the Opening Day
celebration which consists of some fun quizzes before an American lunch; a group photograph and then a Spoon - all heavily patronised and hugely enjoyed; to entertaining visiting teams; going to other towns to play their teams; an Annual Dinner and Prize giving; A Christmas Party in the clubhouse (warm clothing a must!) but very importantly, the club arranges holidays regularly.

Every year we tend to go away for a weekend around the beginning of March, when bowls are played at a hotel against other clubs; whilst biennially we go overseas. These have so far been to Costa del Sol; Portugal; Costa de la Luz; Cyprus; Majorca; and this September to Calpe (Costa Blanca). We take several single members on these holidays and all have expressed surprise and gratitude for the inclusive attitude of every member so that they are never left out on a limb anywhere. Please ask for details.