UNITED SERVICES BOWLING CLUB
BYE-LAWS
a) for Club roll-ups (formerly the Noel Bennett/Alf Brown Competitions), and informal roll-ups the Club will take a lenient view regarding dress code, providing the individuals are tidily dressed and wearing approved footwear.
b) for Club Competitions and all other games - Club Shirts with Royal Blue trousers/tailored shorts from the range of a supplier that is approved by the Club Executive, from time to time.
a) for Club roll-ups (formerly the Noel Bennett/Alf Brown Competitions), and informal roll-ups the Club will take a lenient view regarding dress code, providing the individuals are tidily dressed and wearing approved footwear.
b) for Club Competitions and all other games - Club Shirts with Royal Blue skirts, trousers/tailored shorts or crops from the range of a supplier that is approved by the Club Executive, from time to time.
Footwear must be smooth soled and heel-less while on the Green for any purpose. For their safety, it is recommended that players wear recognised bowling shoes with slip resistant soles. Sandals may not be worn on the Green.
Waterproofs must be recognised bowling, or other mainly white, waterproofs.
Dress must be tidy, and correct footwear must be worn. When participating in formal competitions and any competitions involving other clubs - dress must conform to USBC dress standards. Guidance will be given where necessary.
New novice members will be required to attend a short in-house course before being allowed to play on the Green unsupervised. At a later date they will also be expected to attend a short course covering marking and game etiquette. The courses will be run by USBC and new members advised of the dates.
Finals shall normally be held on the first weekend in September. Finalists of knock-out competitions will compete on these finals day(s) unless there are exceptional circumstances and only with the authorisation of the Executive Committee.
Winners of competitions shall hold the appropriate perpetual trophy for one year. Such other trophies may be awarded as the Executive Committee shall determine.
Members shall pay the fees that are set by the Executive.
The draw for all competitions shall take place early in the season in the presence of the Competition Secretary and at least 2 other Full or Honorary Life Members.
Bowls England Rules shall apply, except that trial ends are only permitted in the Singles Competitions. (Please note that trial ends are not permitted in the two wood singles or the handicap singles).
Competitors, if successful, must be willing to play up to 2 matches in one day. All matches up to and including quarterfinals must be played on that day unless a decision is taken that the green is not playable, subject only to the proviso that no competitors will be required to play more than 2 times on one day. Semi-finals must be completed at least 2 weeks before Finals Day. Only in exceptional circumstances may the Competition Secretary vary these arrangements
The first reaching a score of 21 is the winner.
The first reaching a score of 21 is the winner.
The first reaching a score of 21 or his handicap is the winner. At the start of the season players will be allocated a handicap by the Competition Secretary, based on their performance in previous years.
The first reaching a score of 21 is the winner.
A maximum of 21 ends shall be played, the player holding the most shots is the winner.
The first reaching a score of 21 or her handicap is the winner. At the start of the season players will be allocated a handicap by the Competition Secretary, based on their performance in previous years.
This shall be a singles competition with the first reaching a score of 21 being the winner. The Novice Cup can only be entered by members who have less than 3 full years of bowling experience and have not won any Club Singles competitions within that time.
This shall be a singles competition open to all members with the first reaching the score of 21 being the winner.
The dates of the following competitions shall be as announced at the start of the season.
Play shall be a Pairs competition of 21 ends.
Play shall be a Pairs competition of 21 ends. Prior to play the Skips shall be selected and the leads drawn.
Play shall be a Pairs competition of 21 ends. To qualify for entry to the Pairs Competition will require both a Lady and Gentleman to enter as a pair to ensure numbers balance. A draw will then take place to allocate partners for the game.
Play shall be a Mixed Triples knockout competition.
These competitions are played on a Triples knockout basis.
Play shall be a Mixed Fours knockout competition.
Play shall be a Pairs competition, played on Monday evenings. Skips shall be selected with nominated skips drawing for their respective rink. Other players shall draw for their rinks. (Subject to byelaw 3.4.1)
Play shall be a Triples competition normally played on Wednesday afternoons but may be played on the Tuesday or Thursday. Skips shall be selected with nominated skips drawing for their respective rink. Other players shall draw for their rinks and play in the order drawn. (Subject to byelaw 3.4.1)
Points counting towards the Bowler of the Year Trophies can only be gained by playing and not by walk- over.
This Trophy will be awarded to the man who obtains the most points in Club knock out competitions each year under the following formula:
| Q-finals | S-finals | Finals | Winner | Max possible |
Singles | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Two Wood | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Pairs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Handicap | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Reilly Cup | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Total maximum points: 64
This Trophy will be awarded to the lady who obtains the most points in Club knock out competitions each year under the following formula:
| Q-finals | S-finals | Finals | Winner | Max possible |
Singles | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Two Wood | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Pairs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Handicap | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
Jenny Hardy Cup | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Total maximum points: 64
The Competition Secretary shall act under the authority of the Executive Committee.
A member wishing to dispute a decision of the Competition Secretary shall put the complaint in writing to the Secretary for the attention of the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.
Should a dispute occur during a match, or on a match day, the rules in force at the time shall apply. Appeal against the rules or given ruling shall, in the first place, be put to the Competition Secretary. If the complaint remains unresolved then it may be put in writing to the Secretary for consideration by the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.
Dates displayed on the notice board for the completion of each round of Club competitions shall not be extended.
The onus is on the Challenger (the first named) to meet competition dates. Matches are to be offered within 7 days of completion of the previous round. If the Challenger fails to offer dates within 7 days then the opponent will then become the Challenger and will then have a further 7 days to offer dates. If verbal agreement on a date to play a match is not possible a notice may be displayed on the Match notice board giving two dates to the Challenged. The Challenged shall acknowledge an agreed date by returning the notice to the Challenger.
A Scorecard shall be completed for each game played. In singles games the Marker shall keep the Scorecard. In all other games the Skip shall keep a Scorecard and scores made during the game shall be agreed by players or the skips. At the finish the scorecard shall be signed by each player in the case of singles and by each Skip in the case of all other games. Scorecards shall be made available to the Competition Secretary for entering up the results.
Singles competitions shall be played with the attendance of a Marker. The Challenger is responsible for arranging a Marker and that the Marker is aware of a Marker's responsibilities. If the Challenger fails to provide a Marker then the Challenger shall either play on a re-arranged date (within the time limits) or forfeit the match.
A player unable to attend on a set date must inform the Competition Secretary at least 48 hours prior to the competition being played. A player who fails to follow this rule or who fails to attend on the set date(s) shall be debarred from the same competition the following year. This Rule may only be relaxed on grounds of illness or family circumstances acceptable to the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall advise any member affected by this Rule, and of any decision made by the Executive Committee under this Rule.
National Rules shall apply in respect of substitutes, as summarised below.
In all team events, if teams are unable to provide a substitute (who is not already participating in the competition) or play on an agreed date the defaulting team shall concede. If a singles game cannot be played, the defaulting player shall concede. The following grounds are held as the primary mitigating reasons for a competitor to withdraw their name from a competition - ill health, family bereavement and National or County commitment on the same day.
The Captain or delegated person shall collect Green Fees from participating members of USBC at all away games. If the away team wishes to waive the Green Fees then the fees shall instead be passed to the USBC Treasurer.
Green Fees for members of the public shall be as displayed in the clubhouse door area and may be varied by the Executive Committee.
There shall be separate Selection Sub Committees for ladies and men, each comprising the Captain, Vice Captain and up to 3 other selectors as elected at the Club Annual General Meeting.
The relevant Selection Sub Committee shall select teams for all competitive Club matches.
The Captains and Vice Captains may select for Friendly matches without reference to the Selection Sub Committees.
Rev 30/10/2025