Kinburn Bowling Club – a little gem in the heart of St Andrews

By Duncan Elphick

Not many people know that there’s a bowling green and putting green nestling in beautiful leafy surroundings, yet just a stone’s throw from St Andrews town centre.

Kinburn Bowling Club lies in Kinburn Park, a quiet, peaceful location next to the St Andrews Museum and the Tennis Club in what were once the gardens of Kinburn House, a stunning Victorian Mansion. There is also free parking in the car park next door, overlooking the tennis courts.

It’s one of St Andrews’ best-kept secrets, and really is a little gem in the heart of St Andrews!

The Club currently has about 35 members with a common interest – lawn bowls. We are a friendly bunch of people from all walks of life – there’s nothing more levelling than playing bowls! A few of us are quite good, most of us much less so, and at least one of us, me, rubbish! But we all enjoy our bowling, no matter how skilled, or unskilled, we are.

We’re a small bowling Club, where the emphasis is on social bowling in these strange times – in more normal times we play in the East Fife Bowling League.

We also have an 18-hole putting green, the second-best putting green in St Andrews, the Home of Golf!! It’s open whenever the Bowling Club is open and there’s no need to book in advance, just come along. We even supply putters and balls (all sanitised prior, and after, each use).

During these strange days, our opening times are restricted to Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. But we are also happy to open outwith these times for groups of friends and other organisations, provided they can comply with the current Covid-19 restrictions.

We always welcome groups/parties to hire the bowling and/or putting greens for their exclusive use (subject of course to the current Covid-19 restrictions). As these would be outside of our current operating hours, pre-booking is required.

We’re open to the public – anyone can come along, we can supply bowls, and, if you aren’t wearing flat-soled shoes, bowling shoes (all sanitised before and after each use).

Anyone can also come and join us bowling during our operating hours, by joining in and playing with members. We will also offer tuition if required.

Visitors to St Andrews are also most welcome, both to putt and to bowl. We have regulars who come back year after year, and always enjoy their time with us.

Never thought about taking up bowls? Why not? It really is a splendid game, providing gentle exercise, being outdoors in the fresh air, with friendly socialising, and making new friends (all within the current Covid-19 guidelines). Although it’s a game of skill and hand/eye co-ordination, it’s also easy to pick up the basics. Just come along for a chat between 2.00pm & 3.30pm on Sundays, Tuesdays, & Fridays. We’d be delighted to see you.

If wishing to play please book by email to: stephentither@talktalk.net

or text to: 07551 199 831.