National Development Officer 2025 Season Highlights. Holly Hamilton - West of Scotland
Bowls Scotland’s National Development Officers (NDO’s) are responsible for working with clubs to develop quality environments that provide increased, quality opportunities for people to participate at all levels. Our three NDO’s work to support our member clubs year-round via both Try Bowls and BowlsMark, as well as other Bowls Scotland national programmes and projects.
Holly joined the Bowls Scotland team in 2023, based in Ayr, she offers support to clubs in the West of Scotland covering Argyll & Bute, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. Holly acts as the strategic lead for Bowls Scotland’s Try Bowls programme.
Key highlights from the 2025 season in the West:
- 20 clubs visited
- 9 Try Bowls events supported
- 1 school session supported
- 8 Club Development Forums hosted (94 attendees from 55 clubs)
- 6 BowlsMark awards - 2 Bronze, 1 Silver, 1 Gold
- 14 BowlsMark Clubs now in the West (4% of clubs in the West)
- 165 Try Bowls Clubs now in the West (46% of clubs in the West)
Holly told us what some of her personal highlights from the 2025 season were:
“Launching the Layout of the Green Video was a real highlight of the year for me, this is a great resource to support club and community events that is now being utilised by Try Bowls Clubs across the country.
“Our local Club Development Forums were a great way to meet clubs I haven't had the opportunity to meet in person before. We had a lot of great conversations, clubs were sharing stories and experiences with the room and offering each other support in some cases. There were some challenging discussion points, but these led to good conversations, allowed us to see the support that is needed in regional areas, and highlighted some areas we as an organisation can work on.
“Welcoming our clubs to the National Championships at Ayr was another highlight for me - another way to meet or catch up with clubs, volunteers and players. It was great to celebrate our BowlsMark clubs with a hospitality lunch again this year. It was also amazing to be able to showcase Try Bowls and the support that we can offer clubs on the greens during the event; I think it was well received!”
If you missed any of the success stories from clubs in the West over the season, check out a few of Holly’s highlights below:
- Alloway BC achieved their BowlsMark Gold award – the first club to do so in the West – more here.
- Cardonald BC celebrate membership growth thanks to Try Bowls events – read the full report here.
- A Q&A with Motherwell Miner’s BC, celebrating inclusivity and welcoming the community into the bowling club – find out more here.
Despite the outdoor bowling season coming to a close, our National Development Officers remain on hand to support our member clubs. Holly told us what she is looking forward to working on over the winter months:
“During the 'off' season, I am looking forward to supporting clubs to begin work on and achieve their BowlsMark awards. I am also looking forward to planning the Club Development Forums for next season and trying to reach more clubs!”
Clubs in the West of Scotland can reach out to Holly for support with BowlsMark, Try Bowls and more via hollyhamilton@bowlsscotland.com or 07715 025736. Our NDO’s also send out monthly communications to their clubs with updates and regional news, if you are interested in being added to the mailing list for this newsletter, just speak to our friendly team.