Mats:
Firstly the mats are an expensive item, and something we don’t want to frequently replace. In order for these to remain in the fairly good condition ours are in, its important everyone brings a change of footwear to play bowls in. Your outdoor shoes, will contain dirt from the carpark or driveway which will easily transfer onto the mats.
These shoes / trainers should be designated for indoor use – playing bowls / stepping on the mats. Ideally bowling shoes, but if you don’t possess a pair, then flat soled footwear is perfectly acceptable.
Another important item about the mats is cleaning. I’m sure we all hoover our carpets at home and they look and feel better afterwards. The mats here require the same attention from time to time. We have 2 cordless cleaners which are easy to use. Rather than re-introduce the cleaning rota it would be nice if we all took it in turns to clean them once a month. The good news is, if we all took our turn it would probably work out everyone would be doing this once every 3 years!
On playing days, we only know how many mats we need and how to spilt people across those mats from the signing in sheet. You can help by trying to be here in good time and pay as you enter. Just one late person arriving after the cards have been given out, may result in an extra mat and change the format on those mats. Therefore it is much easier if the numbers are correct in the first place.
Finally on the playing front is clearing away. We know there are only a few members fit enough to actually roll the mats up, but all the other equipment is easy to put away. Jacks, foot mats, score boards and blocks are light in weight and almost everybody should be able to manage these. So please lend a hand, many hands make light work and it will make it much quicker for everyone. Help us to help you.