The All-in-One Bowls Club Management System
December rolls around, and suddenly your usual roll-ups feel a bit... well, usual. How do you keep members turning up when the weather's grim and the festive social calendar is competing for attention? Great news, as the Christmas period offers the perfect excuse to introduce game variations that put fun front and centre.
These aren't gimmicks that undermine the sport. They're carefully considered formats that honour bowls tradition but show personality when the season calls for it. In this guide, we'll walk you through tested Christmas bowls club activities that boost member engagement and create memorable sessions that strengthen your club community.
Member engagement naturally dips during the winter months. The nights draw in, the cold sets in, and competing festive commitments pull people in different directions. Introducing festive bowls formats gives members a compelling reason to turn out, transforming what might feel like "just another session" into something worth wrapping up warm for.
Beyond the immediate participation boost, these fun variations help build club traditions that members look forward to year after year. They're conversation starters that ripple through the membership, creating shared experiences that strengthen community bonds.
Perhaps most importantly, festive formats offer an accessible entry point for newer or less confident players who might find standard competitive play intimidating. Club social events like these demonstrate that your club takes the sport seriously without taking itself too seriously, a balance that attracts families, younger members, and those seeking the social side of bowls.
Timing matters when introducing December club sessions with a festive twist. Early December captures Christmas build-up, but mid-month slots avoid clashing with family commitments and work parties. Most clubs schedule these as special events rather than replacing regular sessions, giving traditionalists their familiar format too.
Equipment needs are minimal for festive bowls formats: bowls, jacks, mats, plus simple additions like prizes and decorations. Bowlr's scheduling features let you set up special event bookings seamlessly, while clear communication ensures member engagement. Send details early, explain what to expect, and encourage members to invite guests.
The more notice you give, the better the turnout.
This social, luck-of-the-draw format brings members together who might not usually partner up. Players register individually and are randomly drawn into pairs, their "Secret Santa" partner for the day. The competition follows a standard pairs format, structured as round-robin or knockout, depending on time and participants.
Here's the festive twist: each player brings a wrapped gift (£5-10 spending limit). The winning pair gets first choice from the gift pile, followed by runners-up. Introduce a "white elephant" rule where players can steal previously chosen gifts. Christmas bowls club activities like this one mix familiar bowls club games with surprise and laughter, perfect for all abilities.
Fast-paced and high-stakes, this format brings explosive energy to club tournaments. Set up a standard knockout bracket but keep games short (three to five ends) to maintain momentum. Players or teams losing an end are eliminated immediately until one remains standing.
The festive element? Winners of each end pull a Christmas cracker and keep the prize inside. The ultimate winner receives something more substantial, like a gift voucher or trophy. This format works exceptionally well for festive competitions because it's inclusive, quick (members aren't committed for hours), and cracker-pulling creates natural celebration moments. Consider team formats or handicapping to ensure newer members feel competitive.
This cumulative, points-based challenge runs across several December sessions or is compressed into a single day. Create 12 specific challenges, each corresponding to the classic Christmas song.
This format incorporates several smaller Christmas bowls club activities as challenges; players earn points for completing these during regular games. These challenges can include:
A visible leaderboard tracks progress throughout December. And the best part is that these bowls game variations adapt beautifully: make challenges harder for experienced players, easier for beginners, or create team-based versions.
This precision-focused game centres on accumulation. Place a large, decorated Christmas stocking (or target ring) at the end of the green, and players then take turns trying to land bowls as close to, or inside, the stocking as possible.
Award points based on proximity, with five points for bowls inside the stocking, three for the shot bowl, two for the second closest, and one for the third. Festive bowls formats such as this one really shine when you use small, wrapped items (chocolate coins, mini candy canes) as actual "presents".
Players who land their bowl inside the stocking physically add a present to their personal collection to take home. This format suits mixed abilities perfectly because luck plays a role alongside skill, giving everyone genuine winning chances regardless of experience level.
Simple yet engaging, this target game works for all skill levels and ages. Create a large picture of Rudolph's face (easily made with cardboard) with a distinct red circle for his nose, slightly larger than a bowl, then position it at one end of the green.
Each player gets two or three bowls to "pin the nose on Rudolph" by landing completely on the red circle. Of the Christmas bowls club activities listed, these games are short, making them perfect to slow down in between longer games or as standalone quick-fire competitions.
Players who successfully land on the nose win small prizes or earn bonus points. The visual appeal draws spectators, and the format requires minimal setup.
Lastly, this variation adds an auditory element and unpredictability. Use a white bowl or soft white ball as the "snowball" jack (if your green permits) or simply attach a jingle bell to a regular jack with tape.
Play a standard game, but the jingle from the jack when moved adds atmosphere and helps visually impaired players track play. The key innovation in these bowls club games is that the "snowball" jack is deliberately non-centred, meaning it can be hit anywhere on the green, adding delightful unpredictability.
For a full festive effect, use only white bowls if your club has them, enhancing the winter wonderland feel. The bell's gentle chime creates a distinctive soundscape that signals when the jack's been disturbed, keeping everyone engaged even when they're not bowling.
If you're looking for even more roll-up variations to spice up December, consider these formats that work brilliantly as outdoor and indoor bowls activities:
Successfully implementing social bowls events requires some planning. Consider these practical elements:
Member engagement grows when people feel ownership of club traditions, so involve members in planning and gather feedback afterwards to shape future events.
December offers a unique window to showcase what your club provides with Christmas bowls club activities that prove that serious sport and genuine fun work together beautifully.
And with Bowlr’s cloud-based system that dramatically reduces admin time, you’ll have more free time to experiment with different formats to find ones that best suit your club’s personality.
Ready to learn more about our software and how it supports member engagement? Ring us on 01202 684400 or use our contact form.
From all of us at Bowlr, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2026. See you next year!