Bowls in Selsey

Lawn bowling and social sport

Bowls is one of the most popular sports in Selsey, reflecting the town's older demographic and the long tradition of lawn bowling in English coastal communities. The Selsey Country Club and other local venues provide bowling greens that are well maintained and well used during the season, which runs from April to September.

The bowling greens in Selsey are traditional, flat, closely mown grass surfaces maintained to a high standard. The game is played in the familiar English format, with teams or individuals sending their bowls towards the jack across the green, competing for proximity in a game that combines skill, judgement and gentle physical activity. Matches are played against teams from across the Chichester district and the wider West Sussex league, and competitions run throughout the season.

The social dimension of bowls is at least as important as the sporting competition. After a game, players retire to the clubhouse for a drink and conversation. The bowls club serves as a social hub, particularly for retired members who value the regular contact, the structured activity and the sense of community that the club provides. New members are welcome and coaching is available for beginners.

Indoor bowls provides a year-round alternative, and facilities in the wider Chichester area allow play to continue through the winter months when the outdoor greens are closed. Short mat bowls, played indoors on a portable mat, is also popular in community halls and is a more accessible introduction to the game.

Bowls has a reputation for being a sport for the elderly, and in Selsey the membership does skew towards the older age groups. But the game requires genuine skill, and the competitive matches are taken seriously by players who have spent decades refining their technique. The etiquette of the green, the whites dress code during matches and the tea interval give the game a traditional character that suits the atmosphere of a small English coastal town.

For anyone retiring to Selsey and looking for a sport that combines gentle exercise, competition, social contact and fresh air, bowls is an obvious choice. The clubs are welcoming, the greens are beautiful and the game can be enjoyed at any level from casual roll-up to serious league competition.