Crown Green Bowls in Manchester: How to Play

Crown green bowls is specifically a North of England game – in the south they play flat green, which is a different discipline. The “crown” refers to the raised mound in the centre of the green, which means the wood runs differently depending on which side of the crown you are playing from, and mastering that subtlety is most of what the game is about. It looks unhurried from the outside, but crown green at a competitive level is genuinely skilful and the county and national competitions are taken seriously. Greater Manchester has dozens of active crown green clubs, most of them attached to pubs, working mens’ clubs or leisure facilities, which keeps the social atmosphere front and centre. Membership fees are low – often a few pounds a season plus a small match fee – and the sport is accessible to all ages and fitness levels.

Getting started is easier than in most sports: find a local club, ask about a beginners’ afternoon, and you will almost certainly be handed a set of woods and shown the basics within the first session. Most clubs have loaner woods for new members, so you do not need to buy equipment until you know you are going to stick with it. The Manchester and District Bowling Federation covers most of the city and can point you toward affiliated clubs in your area. There is an older demographic to most clubs, which is not a problem and is in fact part of the appeal – experienced club members are usually generous with advice and genuinely pleased to see new faces coming through.