There’s A Lot Going On At Guildford’s Wey Valley Indoor Bowls Club

Published on: 18 Dec, 2018
Updated on: 18 Dec, 2018

Guildford’s Wey Valley Indoor Bowls Club at Stoke Park has been ringing the changes over the past three years. Once a members’ only club – its doors are now open to the community with a host of attractions for all ages. This is the first in a series of articles about the club.

If you are looking to get some exercise during the Christmas period, try your hand at bowls (in the warm) when the club holds its Friendship and Exercise event on Friday, December 28. It runs from 10am to 3pm, and The Daisy Chain Café at the club will also be open.

Matches in full swing at the Wey Valley Indoor Bowls Club, Stoke Park, Guildford.

At Wey Valley, players range in age from 16 to 92 years, but it has had members as young as six years old! There is genuine friendship, exercise and friendly competition across all generations to the people of Guildford and the surrounding area.

You can join the club as a social member, take part in friendly tournaments or enter full blown competitions. Members’ physical, mental and emotional health are certainly looked after. The club is proud to say that it’s “a safe haven for the community”.

In fact, you don’t have to play bowls to enjoy the club. The club’s treasurer, secretary and membership secretary, Alan Tingay, says: “You can spectate and enjoy the benefits of being part of the wider community. The club runs social events open to members and non-members and often arrange events for outside groups within the community to use our facilities.”

Friendly matches are open to everyone and club president Marilyn Murphy says: “The games are great fun and yes, you will be good enough! Members just sign up and play.”

Wey Valley welcomes the Guildford Visually Impaired Group every Monday who play bowls and with guidance from their assistants.

Churchill Retirement Living also bought a group for a recent game and even their bear joined in!

The club says there are many health benefits from playing bowls. In a typical game, players bend approximately 42 times, walk about 0.8 miles and swing their arms with the equivalent of a three-pound weight about 40 times.

There is genuine friendship, exercise and friendly competition across all generations at the Wey Valley Indoor Bowls Club.

The mental health benefits are also celebrated as bowlers find companionship through leagues and teams, reducing stress and isolation.

There are six rinks on its indoor green and a 10-rink short mat facility, the latter currently operated by Surrey County Short Mat Bowling Association.

For more details click here for the Wey Valley Indoor Bowls Club’s website.

It is located off Lido Road (off Stoke Road), Guildford GU1 1HB.

Telephone: 01483 560844.