2025 Club Competition Rules

1. All entries shall be in writing on the form provided and must be submitted to the Hon. Secretary no later than the day of registration for the current season.

2. The draw shall be made using the Bowls Surrey online application.
Handicap Events: - Handicaps will be in accordance with the list issued by the Handicapping Sub-Committee with 0 being the more accomplished player.
For Pairs, the two handicaps will be combined, e.g. 6 and 5 = 11.

3. It shall be the responsibility of the player (or pair) shown in the top half of the match bracket (home team) on the schedule, to initiate contact with the opponent(s) to arrange the fixture. The challenger shall offer at least TWO weekday dates PLUS one weekend date on which those challenged have no previous commitment for club matches or competitions already arranged.

 4. The challenge must be made within 2 days of commencement date of each round i.e. date when previous round ends. Failure to do so, means that your opposition may choose dates & time.

5.  Every round must be completed by the scheduled date. Any player(s) failing to complete a round by the scheduled date, both players will be eliminated from the competition. If a walkover has been conceded, then a note to that effect must be given to the Competition Secretary. If it can be shown to the Competition Secretary that an exceptional reason has occurred to make play impossible, then an extension of upto 2 days may be given.
Please note: Holidays will not be regarded as an acceptable reason for an extension.

6. All Club Matches and Surrey Comps take precedence over club competitions.

7.  It is the responsibility of the challenger to supply a marker. It is preferred that you use a registered Club Marker.
“Relatives of the challenger can only mark with the agreement of their opponents.”

8. A player or players in any competition having prior knowledge of any commitment which precludes participation in the Quarter, Semi, or Final stages of a competition must declare such a commitment and withdraw from the competition before the Quarter final stage (notice to be given to the Competition Secretary). Otherwise the result is then declared a walkover unless rule 13 (substitutes) is invoked.

9. The following rules shall govern the procedure of play: -

a)lt is the responsibility of the marker to ensure that the match is played according to the Club Rules in conjunction with the Laws of the Game.

b)For each match, a scorecard shall be used showing the title of the competition, name of each player, the date of play, the rink number and where applicable, the handicap of each player or pair, written at the top of the scorecard.

c)The final score must be clearly shown at the foot of the running totals, the time the match finished, following which, the card should be signed by both players or skips (in team games).

d)Two trial ends for every competition.

e)In Singles, the winner shall be the first player to score 21 shots.

f) In Pairs the winner shall be the player/players who have the highest score after 18 ends.
In the Two-wood Singles the winner shall be the player with the highest score after a maximum of 21 ends. lf at the end the scores are level, then an extra end shall be played until there is a winner. In Pairs the player with the lowest handicap must skip.

g)ln Handicap Singles the winner must display a score of 21 shots. Each player should work off his handicap but common-sense dictates that, for example, if a 6 bowler is playing against a 3 bowler then the 3 bowler starts at -3 and the 6 bowler starts at scratch.

H)ln Handicap Pairs the difference in handicaps (as a minus) will be shown at the start of the 18 end game. After the first match the playing order will remain unchanged throughout the competition.

i)100 up Competition. The winner shall be the first Player to reach 100 points, after all counting woods have been taken into count. lf there should be a tie at 100/100 then an extra end(s) shall be played until there is a winner. The player with the shot gets the mat for the next end. Scoring: Shot = 4 points, 2nd = 3 points, 3rd = 2 points, 4th = 1 point. If There is a tie for 1st, 2nd or 3rd wood then the available points shall be split to each player. e.g. 1st & 2nd = 7 points, so split is 3 1/2 points each. Any half points will be noted on the score card.

j)The Senior Cup is open to all members who have reached the age of 70 on 1 May in the current season.

k)The Junior Cup is open to all those on a handicap of between 8 and 12. No previous winners may enter.

l)The Drawn Triples player entries will be split into 3 groups Leads / Twos / Skips. The team must play in the order it was drawn.

m)The Presidents Plate will be a mixed gender competition played by those players who have lost their first played singles match.

10. The winner or winning skip is responsible for placing the correctly completed scorecard in the container provided and updating the competitions online site.
Only the Competition Secretary or his assistant is permitted to write on the published Competition Schedules.

 11. Club Competitions may only be played if rink space available on the day.

 12.  You may only play a Club Competition when a Club Match or Representative game is on, by gaining the permission of the “Captain of the day”.

13. Substitutes: - In the event of a player in the Handicap pairs or Drawn triples competition being unable, through good reason, to play within the prescribed time, another member may be substituted with the permission of the Competition Secretary, as long as the substitute has not already entered or played in the relevant competition and does not have a more favourable handicap than the player that he/she is replacing (any new player will be assigned a handicap according to experience). The substitute may only play in the substituted position previously held. lf the substitute plays for more than one round, then he/she will be classed as permanent. Only one substitution is allowed per team. For all other competitions Except Singles one substitute is permitted provided they have not previously played in/or entered the competition.
However no substitution is to be allowed in any FINALS game.

14. The Competition Secretaries decision is Final.