Lossiemouth BC Club Story

Lossiemouth Bowling Club has been working hard over the last two years to dedicate time, resources and volunteers to help attract a surge of new members to their club.

The Try Bowls registered club sits just a stone’s throw from the Moray Firth coast, in the town of Lossiemouth with a population of less than 7,000 people. It is the town’s only bowling club, as the former public green at Marine Park closed a number of years ago. The club has existed on its current site since 1878, boasting six outdoor rinks and two indoor short carpets, making it well-equipped to support bowls all year round.

Since becoming Lossiemouth Bowling Club’s President in November 2023, Alan Smith and his hard-working committee have made it their priority to increase the club’s membership and create a vibrant hub that the local community regularly utilise.

We spoke to Alan to find out more about the club’s progress. Read the full Q&A below:

Q1. Why was arresting the club’s declining membership a priority for the club’s committee?

AS: “When I joined in 1998, the club was thriving with around 90–100 active members. Like many clubs, numbers gradually declined leading up to the COVID years, and after the pandemic membership dropped to below 50.

“When I became President in November 2023, the club was in a precarious position with fewer than 50 members. We were operating hand to mouth with no reserves, running at a small loss, and maintaining excellent facilities with too few members.

“My personal goal was to double the membership in two years, even though I never made that public! Rebuilding numbers was essential for the club’s survival.”

Q2. How has the club gone about growing its membership again?

AS: “The first step was ensuring I had the right people on the committee, those with the skillsets and motivation to make a difference. From there, our focus was on community engagement.

• Open Day Partnership – For years, we held an annual open day with a local pub, but never followed up with attendees. In 2024, knowing it was the pub’s last year before closure, we offered a 75% discount on first-year membership and signed up nearly 30 new members in a single day.
• Business Association Links – We invited the Lossiemouth Business Association to use our clubhouse for a meeting, then hosted a Try Bowls session for them. This brought another 20 new members, many with strong local influence and skills.
• Try Bowls Tuesdays – What was meant to be a one-off event evolved into weekly sessions for the first two months of the season, heavily advertised via community pages. These ‘New Members Nights’ brought in around 30 more members.
• Integration Events – We rounded off the outdoor season with a Pro-Am Pairs competition, teaming 24 new members with 24 experienced bowlers. It was a fantastic way to blend ‘old and new’ and give newcomers a taste of competition in a friendly format.

“As a result, we now have 126 members (including social members), with over 100 players active in matches and competitions during the 2025 season. This growth has also transformed the club’s finances, giving us the resources to reinvest in our facilities.”

Q3. Have these initiatives been successful?

AS: “Absolutely! Membership has rebounded, finances are stable and the club is buzzing with activity.

“Tuesdays are now the liveliest night of the week and there’s a genuine mix of energy, friendship and competition across the membership.”

Q4. How does Lossiemouth ensure there are no barriers to entry to people who want to try our sport?

AS: “We operate a very open and welcoming approach:

• No need for new members to be proposed or seconded.
• Clear local advertising that everyone is welcome.
• A ‘try before you buy’ ethos meaning there’s no pressure to join.
• Visitors to the area are encouraged to use the facilities.
• Annual primary school visits. This year saw 180 P4–7 pupils take to the green.
• Community group days with the local pub, Business Association and Boys’ Brigade.
• Even partnerships with a German whisky tour guide, who regularly brings groups of tourists for a day of bowls and socialising!

“We believe that if the community sees the club as their facility, they will embrace it and membership growth naturally follows.”

Q5. Did the club receive any support from your National Development Officer or any advice externally?

AS: “During this period, we didn’t seek advice from our National Development Officer, but only because of previous positive engagements that had already prepared us well.

"The NDO’s are a fantastic resource, passionate about grassroots bowls and I’d strongly encourage all clubs to engage with them.”

Q6. With Lossiemouth BC being one of the most northern clubs in Scotland, does this bring any challenges or unique opportunities?

AS: “We don’t face any greater challenges than other clubs. In fact, we benefit hugely from being in a beautiful tourist town, known as the ‘Jewel of Moray’.

“Lossiemouth attracts visitors from across the UK and beyond, and many stop in at the club whether to play, enjoy refreshments or simply experience something new. Touring teams also regularly include us in their itineraries, helped by the fact that the town’s largest hotel backs directly onto our green.”

Q7. As bowls features as one of only 10 sports in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, does the club have any exciting plans in the lead up to the Games?

AS: “Yes, this is still a work in progress, but we fully expect to host themed events and social activities around the Commonwealth Games in 2026. We’re even considering organising a trip for members to attend the Games, giving some of our new players the chance to see bowls at the very highest level.”