Throw your hat into the ring and try bowls

The new season of Crieff Bowling Club gets under way on April 16.

And the long- established local club is hoping to welcome new members on to its green this year, whether they have bowled before or not.

Founded in 1867, the club originally used Mungall Park as its venue before moving to Coldwells Road in 1901.

Past president Calum McDougall said the club is urging anyone interested in finding out more about the sport to go along to one of the club’s weekly ‘hat’ nights when they restart.

Names are pulled from the ‘hat’ matching up players for games.

And it doesn’t matter if you have never played before as the friendly members are more than willing to help anyone get started.

The club even has sets of bowls that can be used by those new to the game.

Calum explained that, as with many clubs, membership has dipped over the past few years, particularly since lockdown.

Calum told the Herald: “We are always looking for new members.

“And we are going to be doing a leaflet drop to let people know where we are.

“A lot of people new to the area might not know there is a bowling club in Coldwells Road.

“Our new season starts on April 16. “Hat night is a Tuesday night at 6.30pm. Anyone, even nonmembers, is welcome along to find out about bowls.

“We have lots of equipment which we can give people to get started. All you need is a flat pair of shoes.

“It’s not just Crieff Bowling Club, all clubs are finding it difficult to attract new members, particularly since lockdown. People have got out of the habit of going out.”

Callum explained that the membership of most of Perthshire’s clubs is dwindling and economic factors are also making things increasingly difficult for club’s to sustain.

He continued: “We have taken a 600 per cent hit on our fuel bill. We have got try to keep things going

“That will come down again once Russia gets out of Ukraine but in the short-term our expenditure has gone balistic.”