Green Etiquette & Possession of the Rink

Green Etiquette

Dress appropriately and ensure that you know the dress code for each game or match in which you are participating. Do not show disrespect for your opponents by arriving late, ensure that you leave sufficient time to change before the game. If you are representing the club on another bowling green you should remember that you are an ambassador for Dinas Powys Bowling Club, and behave appropriately. 

Enter and leave the bowling green safely. Do not walk across rinks that other people are using. Be aware when other bowlers are about to bowl and don’t walk across the end of a rink when doing so, it can be a distraction.

Introduce yourself and shake hands with your opponents both before play commences and after the game is complete. During the game do not move around the head when your opponent is about to deliver his bowl. Stand well back from the head, keep quiet and do not do anything that would distract your opponent. Wait until the bowl has been delivered before moving. 

If you are at the same end as the player delivering a bowl you must stand behind the mat thus staying out of the player's line of vision. Here is what the rule says about this. "Players of each team not in the act of playing or controlling play shall stand behind the Jack and away from the head or 1m behind the mat. " 

Bear in mind that some people like to see the rink boundary markers and the centre pin while playing so make sure that you are not obscuring them. On sunny days you must also ensure that your shadow does not fall on the jack. 

Spectators who are in the player's line of vision should also keep still while bowls are being delivered and they should not distract players on the green. For example if you need to arrange a tie with another member don't try to do this while he is playing someone else!

At Dinas Powys Bowling Club we are privileged to have one of the best bowling greens in the area. Look after it! Don't drop your bowls onto the green and ensure that your delivery is not causing scuff marks or otherwise damaging the green.

Possession of the Rink

The official ruling on this rule reads as follows:

"Possession of the rink shall belong to the team whose bowl is being played. The players in Possession of the rink for the time being shall not be interfered with, annoyed, or have their attention distracted in any way by their opponents.

As soon as each bowl shall have come to rest, possession of the rink shall be transferred to the other team, time being allowed for marking a 'toucher'. " 

After you have delivered a bowl and before it has come to rest you have two options. If you want to follow your bowl's progress down the green you must be behind the head when it stops. In other words you must beat it to the head without running. If you don't go to the head you must be behind the mat as your bowl stops. This ruling is quite clear but unfortunately many players, including many of those who should know better, show disrespect for their opponents by failing to observe it. 

How many times have you been on the mat, ready to play your bowl, when you have had to wait for your opponent to complete his stroll up the green or back to the mat? If your opponent is guilty of this you should politely ask him to stop. Remember that it is he who is in the wrong.