Bowls is experiencing a resurgence among people of all ages, offering great exercise and platforms to improve both physical and mental health.
Marchmount Bowling Club in Dumfries has been welcoming bowlers to its green for over 110 years, with notable successes at local, national and international level, as well as an open-door policy to introduce non-bowlers to the sport.
The club are in the process of developing a four week programme with a local primary school to get some of the pupils involved in trying something new, which Marchmount BC hope will develop into a long term partnership.
Marchmount BC has been a Try Bowls Club since 2022 and have hosted a number of come and try events, as well as Introduction to Bowls Coaching Award (IBCA) courses to support budding coaches on the pathway.
Bowls Scotland currently recognise 439 Try Bowls clubs who provide access to equipment and/or coaching and opportunities for the local community to try bowls through one off events, open days, or a series of drop-in sessions.
Embracing change
Marchmount BCs’ committee led by Bowls Scotland National Volunteer Award winner and Club President, Alan Glendinning continue to promote the many benefits of the game by holding competitive events and social opportunities for members and the wider Dumfries community.
Alan said: “There's lots of reasons why people play bowls. Some with aspirations to be a world champion, some who enjoy the social aspect and those who use bowls as a way of getting out and about..."
"There’s something for everybody across all ages and I think that's one of the huge benefits of the sport.”
He added: “We have fully embraced the Try Bowls ethos in doing things a little bit differently and focusing on fun games on the green, like noughts and crosses which gives people confidence in releasing the bowl, delivering a jack and working together. We need to continue to make bowls more appealing to younger generations and this approach has seen success.”
Eighteen-year-old, Mia Smith has played lawn bowls for six years. She joined her grandparents at a social evening to try out the sport and continued to play at Marchmount BC.
Mia said, “Playing bowls allows me to get out and about and has built my confidence when meeting people from my local community as well as further afield. At Marchmount BC everyone is treated equally and there are opportunities for everyone to play bowls.”
The best thing you've never done
Marchmount BC have an open-door policy and all you need to get started is a flat soled pair of shoes or trainers. The club encourage anybody to turn up and enjoy a game using a selection of bowls - some have been donated by past and present club members.
Alan said: 
“Bowls might just be the thing that you really enjoy, and it could add something extra to your life. Joining a club offers so many opportunities that can be beneficial to your health and wellbeing across all age ranges. Come in, meet the people and give it a go.”
He added: “We've got four or five players of school age and people who joined the club in their thirties and many of the reactions are that they wish I'd known about this years ago because they have really taken to the game and can’t get enough of bowls.”
Amy Buck is a visually impaired B1 classified bowler, who is a proud member of Marchmount Bowling Club and represented Scotland for the first time in 2023!
Alan has played a pivotal role in supporting and coaching Amy, and her mum Jenine, and the club helped to raise a staggering amount of funds for Guide Dogs in 2023.
Amy said:
“Alan is such a positive role model to me. He has brought out the fun in Bowls. I have been in some dark times with my sight loss - having support from Alan has given me the encouragement and strength to play bowls.”
Over the winter months, the club also run indoor short mat bowl sessions three evenings a week plus three daytime sessions with open competitions over the weekend.
Run by members for members
Alan has been a member of Marchmount Bowling Club for eight years having picked up bowls up again after retirement. Growing up in the small town of Longtown in Cumbria, Alan tried bowls as a teenager. His uncle and one of his friend’s mums played and so he went along and really enjoyed it.
Alan said: “It was something new that I took to and found I was quite good so that was the starting point and things evolved from there playing for a number of years then family and work life took priority when I moved to Dumfries when I was 21.”
Alan worked in the police force for 30 years, retiring at 48. He went on to meet a former work colleague who invited him to get back into bowls and that was it, he started bowling again three, four, sometimes five times a week!
Alan said: “I enjoy bowling, but the social side is important too. It’s about meeting people and it can also improve your mental and physical health. The exercise is fairly gentle, but you get quite a few steps in walking up and down the green which is about 40 metres long so there’s definitely a bit of stamina involved if you play a long game.”
He added: “Bowls is quite a strategic game, so you need to think about what you're going to do next and how you communicate with your teammates. At Marchmount, we try hard to bring that sense of community and togetherness and hope that everybody has a contribution to make. We have an elected committee, but the club is run by members for members and with the resources and skills we've got here, we do reasonably well.”
Andy Livingstone has been playing bowls since April 2022. He was invited along to one of the come and try sessions by a friend at the club.
Andy said:
“Everyone at Marchmount is incredibly supportive of each other and very encouraging. Bowls is a great sport which is also very social, it’s great to be outdoors and also to meet new people.”
With 821 friendly clubs affiliated to Bowls Scotland, from Shetland to Stranraer there is sure to be a club near you. Simply enter your postcode into the Bowls Scotland Club Finder Map to find your nearest club, get in touch and have a go!
Find out more
- Home | Bowls Scotland 2025
- Marchmount Bowling Club (Facebook)
- National Volunteer Award Profile - Alan Glendinning | Bowls Scotland 2025
