top of page

NEW ALL-WEATHER BOWLING GREEN FOR MILLHOUSE

A project is underway to create an artificial Bowling Green. The new facility will be open to all and will encourage everyone in the area, of all ages and abilities, to congregate socially and enjoy a game of bowls.

​

The site and Location

The Bowling Green will be built on land owned by Millhouse Recreation Club, at Millhouse Hall.

The land behind the hall will be levelled, creating space for the construction of a three-rink artificial bowling surface. Millhouse Recreation Hall will serve as the new facility’s social hub. The latest materials will be used to produce a perfect playing space, available all year round.

Local support and community impact

Surveys to gauge support for an all-weather bowling green have been carried out online and in post offices and hotels. The response has been hugely encouraging, particularly among the 45-75 age group which constitutes 65% of the local population.

But the idea behind the new Bowling Green is to involve all ages and social groups in the area, including children, elderly, lonely, disabled and disadvantaged, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or ability.

The local school has voiced its support and will be allocated dedicated playing time.

Bowls Scotland has offered set-up support, as have Active Schools Coordinators and the Community Sports Hub Coordinator.

​

Benefits

  • The Bowling Green will foster closer links between neighbouring and stimulate healthy competition between groups andcommunities.

  • It will encourage local people will take up a sport which can be played many standards and in differentseasons.

  • It will provide an ideal recreational activity for the elderly and people impaired mobility; young and old can develop a newskill.

  • It will stimulate use of Millhouse Recreation Hall for social events involving the wider

  • Investing in community facilities will attract

more visitors toMillhouse.

​

Running costs

Estimates of usage and running costs indicate that membership costs and visitor charges can be kept very low, with discounts for junior, senior and country

members, as well as the opportunity for lifetime and joint memberships. It is expected that the Bowling Green will become a popular, valuable and sustaining community asset.

​

Training

Millhouse Bowling Club is already registered as an Associate Club with Bowls Scotland, through which it can access advice, make inter-club agreements and provide training and coaching when required.

​

Fundraising

A project of this nature is expensive. In the current climate, more heavily deprived areas than ours tend to be prioritised for grant support for such ventures. Accordingly, Tighnabruaich District Development Trust, in addition to supplying a grant of £17500 from its own resources, has undertaken to lead a public fundraising campaign to secure the necessary funds for the Bowling Green.

 

The Trust is appealing for matching donations to enable it to increase the size of the grant it is able to make. All funds donated as part of this appeal will be given to the Bowling Green project. As a registered charity, the Trust is able to seek donations under Gift Aid, which means that every eligible Gift Aid donation is boosted by 25p for every £1 donated, at no cost to the donor.

 

The three-rink Bowling Green will be a fully certified construction, designed to national bowling standards. It will be integrated into the national network of clubs for competitions, training and social play.

​

How can you help?

 The cost of the project is £100,000. About half that amount has already been raised or pledged by Tighnabruaich District Development Trust, Millhouse   Recreation Club, local businesses and individuals.

 

All donors will have their names posted on a plaque at the new Bowling Green as a token of appreciation for their support.

bottom of page