Lindfield Bowling Club

Our internal competitions are open to all playing members, although some (such as the Backbone, Veterans and Butfoy) have specific entry requirements. You can enter the competitions from January right up until the opening season coffee morning, usually in mid-April. The exception to this rule is the 2 Wood Mixed Triples. This competition can be entered up to the end of May. The reason for doing this is that it gives new members who join at the beginning of the season a chance to enter a club competition in their first year.
The first rounds of the men's and ladies' and mixed competitions will be drawn on a Saturday evening early in May (refer to the fixtures list) in the Clubhouse, and there are typically gaps of 3 weeks between rounds.
With the exception of the 2 Wood Mixed Triples, competitions are not played on set dates - it's up to the challenger to arrange the game, and offer 3 dates to his/her opponent.

Men's / Ladies' Championship
Winner is first player to 21 shots.
The Championship winners get an automatic entry into the following season's Sussex County Champion of Champions and Mid-Sussex Champion of Champions competitions. If they wish to enter the National Champion of Champions competition the club pays the entry fee.

Men's Handicap Singles
Each entrant will have a handicap decided by Men's Committee.
Scoreboard set to reflect handicap before game starts.
(e.g. A 6-handicap vs a 2-handicap will read 6-2 before a wood has been bowled).
First to 21 wins, so winner may only have to score 12 to win (with handicap of 9).

Men's Two Wood Singles
Played with two woods using a 'Roving jack', so just bowl to the jack without straightening it, like Crown Green.
Bowls must finish within one yard of the jack, otherwise they are 'dead'.
Winner is first player to 21 shots. No marker required, but you may arrange one if you so wish.

Ladies' Two Wood Singles
Played with two woods. Match consists of 21 ends. Highest score wins the match.
Extra end to be played if scores are tied after 21 ends.
Played with a centered jack, no yard stick required.

'Butfoy' Mixed Singles
10 points available on each end, which are applied in order (4 for shot, 3 for second, 2 for third and 1 for fourth). Shot wood takes the jack.
Winner is the player who reaches 100 first. This means, for example, if Player A is on 94 points and Player B is on 96 points at the start of the end and, after all the bowls have been delivered in the next end, Player B scores shot (4 points, making 100) then the rest of the points are not awarded even though Player A might have had second, third and fourth shots (6 points).
The 'Butfoy' competition is open to Members of the Club who have not won a Lindfield singles competition in the last five years.

Ladies' 100 Up Singles
Same format as the Butfoy (see above).

Men's 100 Up Singles
Same format as the Butfoy (see above).

Men's Veterans Singles
Open to men who have reached the age of 70 on or before April 1st of the current year. Winner is first player to 21 shots.

Men's / Ladies' Backbone Singles
Open to members who have not won a Lindfield singles competition in the last 5 years.
Winner is first player to 21 shots.

Men's Handicap Pairs
Entrants are divided into leads and skips and then drawn for partners. Match is played over 21 ends, with extra ends as necessary if scores are tied. Each pair is allocated a combined handicap by adding the two singles handicaps together. Before the game starts the scoreboard is set to reflect the handicap difference, eg if Bill and Stephen have a combined handicap of 12, and their opponents have a combined handicap of 8, the scoreboard will read 4-0 before the game begins.

Ladies' Pairs
Players are divided into leads and skips and then drawn for partners. Match is played over 18 ends or 4 hours (the final is 21 ends and no time limit), with extra ends as necessary if scores are tied.

Mixed / 'Drawn' Pairs
Pairs are drawn randomly. "Mixed" pairings cannot be guaranteed - sometimes it might be two men, or two ladies. Rounds played over 18 ends or 4 hours, with extra ends as necessary if scores are tied. The final is 21 ends, with no time limit.
Games are played in the "Australian" format, in a 2-4-2 format, so that players skip alternate ends.
Players can not visit the head before bowling their wood.

Whetstone Cup (2 Wood Mixed Triples)
Mixed Competition and players are divided into Leads, 2s and Skips and then drawn for teams. Play consists of 15 ends (final 18 ends), with only one to be scored on each of the first two ends. Played on set evenings in August.

Chris Sugarhood / Betty MacMillan Trophy (18 ends ladies triples)
Players are divided into Leads, 2s and Skips and then drawn for teams.
Played on set mornings. Only 1 to be scored on the first two ends.

Other rules:

1. Substitutes for Pairs Competitions may only be used in exceptional circumstances. These will be nominated by the Competition Secretary and the Committee and may must not have already played in that competition.
2. The date stamped on the bowls must conform to the Bowls England rules.
3. Rinks must be drawn for play.
4. All competitions to be played in Greys and the Finals played in Whites.
5. The Challenger books a rink and in the case of Singles, arranges the Marker, preferably not a spouse, but must be a bowler
6. All matches in all rounds of each Competition shall be played by the due date. Only in exceptional circumstances (e.g., illness) will the Competition Secretary consider the possibility of any extension to any due date. Finals Days games have to be played on the day(s) unless disrupted by rain.