Bowling FAQ

When you arrive please head to the Members Bar or Outdoor Bar.

Our staff will guide you to your allocated area and provide a demonstration before you begin.

You are welcome to bowl in socks or barefoot! However, shoes are welcome on the green, as long as they are flat soled. In other words, no heels or platforms of any kind. This includes men’s dress shoes.

Everything you need to bowl will be provided including the bowls, jack and mats.

You are welcome to bring some food items to the Club.

Please visit our Bar & Catering page for details.

Yes.

You will be allocated your own area, which includes tables and chairs for your guests. Each rink includes approximately 10 seats and standing room.

Each area also includes shelter, either under a roof or umbrella.

You are required to book 1 rink for every 16 people attending, including non-bowlers. For example, if you have 20 people, you will require 2 rinks.

Only 8 people can play per rink at one time. For a group of 16, we recommend splitting into two groups of 8.

If you book multiple rinks they will be allocated next to each other and close to your allocated area.

Full pre-payment is required to confirm the booking. Bookings can be made online and paid for through our booking portal.

If you are unable to pay with a credit card, please contact the office for alternative payment methods.

Our staff will give you a demonstration and explain the rules when you arrive at the Club. In the meantime, feel free to check out this video from Bowls Australia:

Learn to Bowl

Our staff are happy to answer any questions, but cannot assist in the running of your bowls games.

The bar will be open during your bowling session.

You can set up a tab on the day or guests can purchase drinks at their own expense. For more details, visit our Bar & Catering Page.

Please note, our bar is private and can only be accessed during your booking time. The bar is not accessible prior to or after your booked session time.

The bar stocks packets of chips. For more substantial offerings, you will need to arrange catering or bring your own food.

Please visit our Bar & Catering Page for requirements regarding external food.

All Barefoot Bowls bookings are allocated to our outside area, which includes limited shelter. Our function room can also be booked at an additional cost. We recommend booking the function space for groups of over 60 people.

For more information visit our Function Room Hire Page.

Remember: bowling is an outdoor activity.

We have an all weather synthetic bowling green, which is available for year round use. Your allocated area will have some form of shelter like a roof or waterproof umbrellas.

If the weather is forecasted to have a 50% chance of more than 1mm of rain during your bowling time, cancellations will be considered. We require notice at least 24 hours before your booking start time.

If the weather is forecasted to be 36 degrees C or higher during your bowling time cancellations will be considered within 24 hours of your booking start time.

We use The Bureau of Meterology’’s (BOM) Detailed forecast for all weather forecasts (http://www.bom.gov.au/places/vic/melbourne/forecast/detailed/).

Cold weather without rain will not be considered a reason for cancellation.

Our function room has air conditioning and heating. As such, cancellations due to weather conditions will not be considered.

Children are welcome at the Club but must be closely supervised at all times. The greens are strictly for bowling and are not a play area.

We are a wheelchair accessible Club and have a wheelchair accessible toilet onsite.

If you let us know in advance we can ensure your allocated area is easily accessible.

If driving, the best place to park is on Dudley street near the corner of William Street. There are no stairs on this corner of the park.

Guests in wheelchairs are also welcome to Bowl. The chair wheels just need to be a minimum of 50mm wide and if they have a tread the wheel needs to be taped over. We have a ramp available at the Club to get down onto the green.

Dogs attending City of Melbourne Bowls Club must:

• No pets permitted for non-members (guests) of the Club

• All dogs must be on a lead and under the control of their owner.

• No dogs are permitted inside the club house.

• The club has a zero tolerance for dogs displaying anti-social or aggressive behavior.

In accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, assistance animals are exempt from the above.

We ask that you abide by the following rules:

• No drinks on the bowling green. Drinks are permitted in your allocated rink side area.

• No food on the green. Food is permitted in your allocated rink side area.

• City of Melbourne Bowls Club is a smoke free venue. Smoking is permitted over 4 metres from the front entrance

• No aggressive bowling or other anti-social behaviour.

• No cursing at staff or other bowlers.

• No sitting on the edge of the green.

Of course, you can find a copy of our Terms and Conditions here