Dear Friends
The English Short Mat Bowling Association and the Bowls Development Alliance bring you… Bowls Big Summer 2026!
This May to September, we are inviting Short Mat Bowls clubs across the country to be part of something special, a nationwide celebration of bowls that is all about opening your doors, welcoming your community, and sharing everything that makes our sport so enjoyable.
With bowls taking centre stage at the Commonwealth Games 2026, the spotlight is firmly on our sport. There is a real buzz building, and this summer is your chance to capture that excitement and turn it into new members, new energy, and new opportunities for your club.
Picture your club filled with people giving bowls a go for the very first time, friends, families, neighbours, all enjoying a relaxed, social session where the emphasis is simply on having fun. That is exactly what Bowls Big Summer is about. No pressure, no experience needed, just a warm welcome and a chance to try something new.
Short Mat Bowls is perfectly placed to shine. It is accessible, flexible, and incredibly sociable, and this is the perfect moment to show your local community just that.
By hosting a simple open day or evening using the campaign materials, you can create a real festival feel at your club while also building awareness and attracting new players who may never have considered bowls before.
Use the bright posters and digital material on social media or your website, or place them in prominent places around your local area to help spread the word and bring people in.
This is your moment to grow your club and be part of a national movement.
Make your club visible and register on Play Bowls; an online club finder tool at www.Play-Bowls.com so people can easily discover your club and what you offer.
access the Bowls Big Summer campaign material here: https://bowlsengland.myprintdesk.net/category/bowls-big-summer/30
Join the movement and shout about your club at Bowls Big Summer.
Let’s make this a summer to remember for bowls, for your club, and for everyone who steps onto the mat for the first time.
Warm regards,
James
