Barnsley’s Locke Park Bowling Club is hoping to attract a new generation of bowlers to keep the 90-year-old club thriving in the future.
While crown green bowling has long had a reputation as a retiree’s pastime, there’s a new energy stirring. Across the country, clubs are seeing a resurgence in youth interest with teens and twenty-somethings discovering that crown green bowling isn’t just a game for their grandparents.
Since starting up in the 1930s, Locke Park Bowling Club has had a proud tradition of welcoming members with a love for bowling that has been passed down through generations. The average age of their members is 70, but there’s a broad spectrum of ages; the youngest is 11 and the oldest is 93-year-old Jean Yoxall who has been part of the club for almost 40 years.
However, the committee is aiming to start a youth team made up of under 18s to play in Yorkshire’s flourishing junior leagues.
Young bowler, Kieran Price, has been part of the club for three years and is now a regular in league matches. The 19-year-old says: “My grandad Malcolm has bowled for a number of years and I saw it as a good way to spend time with him. At first I thought It was just a sport for older people, but it’s a good social game and I like the competitive aspect of it. It is really rewarding when you do a good bowl.”
What if you could get all the benefits of being part of a team – community, confidence, competition – without the high-pressure intensity or injury risk of contact sports?
That’s where crown green bowling shines.
Crown green bowling offers a unique balance of strategy, focus, and finesse.
Unlike flat green bowling, crown green bowls are played on a contoured or ‘crowned’ surface, adding layers of complexity and challenge to each shot. Every bowl counts.
It isn’t just rolling a ball in a straight line. It’s about reading the terrain, judging weight and angle, and thinking two or three shots ahead.
There’s also a one-on-one nature to most matches that appeals to people who enjoy personal competition, as well as the slower, more thoughtful pace compared to high-impact sports.
Plus, there’s the real joy of playing an inclusive sport where a teenager can go head-to-head with a pensioner.
Whatever age, crown green bowling offers a whole host of benefits.
It’s good for physical health, without lots of running or exertion. With 21 ends to play, you’ll be doing lots of walking, bending and rolling – all of which are good for balance, posture, flexibility and muscle strength.
Bowlers also get a mental wellness boost from playing in the fresh air, with calm focus and unplugged social interaction.
“I would definitely recommend it to younger people and encourage them to try it. I think it is the stereotype that it is for the older generation that puts younger players off unless they actually try,” adds Kieran.
Whether your child or grandchild is a total beginner or just curious to try something new, there’s a place for them on the green. The club can support players from the age of six, with lightweight balls for children and teenagers.
This summer, Locke Park Bowling Club is organising a free youth open day on Saturday 26th July between 12pm and 3pm. All equipment will be provided, just bring your trainers and your enthusiasm.
The club trains and plays their home matches on the two well-kept greens at Locke Park in Barnsley, with views of the iconic tower. During the summer, the greens will be open on Wednesdays from 11am and Sundays from 1pm for anyone interested in becoming a member. There is a clubhouse, toilet and disabled access.
For more information, contact the club via email Lockeparkbowling@gmail.com or phone 07484 104053.
