WELCOME TO

EDGWORTH BOWLING CLUB

Bolton Road, Edgworth,

Bolton BL7 0AP

The green is ready to open for bowling on Monday 12th April.

In line with National Governing Body (BCGBA) Guidance, we use the Green Booking System that was in place last season. For ease of access, there is now a link to the Booking Sheet on the Club website, which can be found at http://www.spanglefish.com/edgworthbowlingclub/. You will need a password to the Members’ area. Please apply to Club Secretary if you do not have the password.

There are only three jacks available at the moment. The limit under Stage 1b and Stage 2 (from 12th April) of the Government lockdown Roadmap for Social Bowling has been defined by BCGBA as up to six people or two households only permitted on the Green. This limit will remain in place until Stage 3 of the Lockdown Roadmap, i.e. 17th May at the earliest.

For organised bowling activities such as club competitions, it is now permitted for these to be held with higher numbers (16 max) on the green. When the committee feels that it is able to run such activities then further notices will be issued and the Website updated.

We have had to rope off a section of the green for your safety (and to protect the turf) as the resolution of the surface water retention problem is ongoing. It is expected that we will wait until all the green is playable before holding formally organised competitions.

We have allowed bowling slots on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to be booked. However, access to the green cannot be guaranteed at these times as green maintenance MAY take place and will take priority. If the Greenkeeper needs to carry out any activity then please vacate the green and re-book for another time.

The club has recently purchased a portable hand washing and hand sanitising station which will be positioned at a convenient point at the side of the green, to encourage hand washing / sanitising of bowls, jacks etc and to remove the need to enter the clubhouse.

There is also a separate stand-alone hand sanitiser station which will be positioned on the other side of the green. Please avail yourself of these facilities.

The clubhouse will only be open to access toilets and only when there is a keyholder present.

The range of Barlow Wi-Fi has been extended outside. Look for “Barlow Guest” or “Reading Room” with the password 216Bolton.

In summary -

- The green opens for pre-booked Social Bowling from Monday 12th April.

- You MUST pre-book a slot, identifying ALL bowlers (for NHS Test & Trace purposes).

- There can only be a maximum of six bowlers on the green at any one time, using up to three jacks.

- You MUST be a Club Member (i.e. have paid your membership fee for 2021) in order to use the green.

- You MUST maintain Social Distancing on or around the green. If you are around the Green, please limit your interaction to groups of no more than six or two households.

- You MUST NOT come to the club if you feel unwell or show any of the COVID 19 symptoms.

Failure to comply with any of the above could result in disciplinary action and your access to the green being revoked.

It is also recommended that you utilise the QR Code check-ins displayed around the green to record your presence at the club, for Test and Trace purposes.

The latest BCGBA Guidance will be available to read from the club website and our main Facebook page.

Welcome back everyone, happy bowling.

Andy Warman - EBC Secretary - 07482 628500

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Dear Members

We are edging ever nearer to being able to recommence bowling this season at Edgworth Bowling Club.

The Cabinet Office have now published their guidelines for all National Governing Bodies to implement to allow the safe recommencement of all outdoor sports at grass-roots level. Our Governing Body is the British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA) and when they release their Guidance for Clubs and Individuals, the EBC Committee will then be able to put the required processes and procedures in place and advise all Members of what the initial restrictions will be to allow the safe return to play. It is expected that these restrictions will change during the season, in line with the Government's Roadmap out of Lockdown.

Also, Stewart is busy preparing the Green, including trying to improve the drainage at the Barlow Court end by regular spiking of the playing surface. There is a good chance we will be able to re-open on Monday 5th April (using the existing Green Booking System, as required by the Test & Trace programme), but it is most likely that a section at the Barlow Court end will initially be cordoned off, to protect the Green and also ensure the continued safety of those bowling, with a corresponding reduction in the number of Jacks we will be able to have on the Green at any one time.

Please note that the above opening date is still provisional and assuming the BCGBA Guidance is available and implemented in time, the final say will be with the Greenkeeper as to whether the playing surface is fit and safe to use.

May I also thank all of you who have already renewed your Membership for 2021 and remind those who have not yet done so that only those who have paid their £20 fee will be able to book on to the Green and bowl, as per 2020. Please see my earlier email for a reminder of the different ways that you can pay.

Best regards and happy bowling,

Andy Warman - EBC Secretary - 07482 628500