Helping the Club Run Smoothly
Without our volunteers, there is no club.
Burgess Hill Bowls Club is run entirely by its members — from maintaining the green and keeping the clubhouse clean, to running the bar, organising social events, and managing the club's affairs. Every member who lends a hand, however small their contribution, helps make this club what it is.
Member Duties
Every member is expected to carry out one tea duty and one cleaning duty per year. These are shared fairly across the membership and make a real difference to how the club runs.
Tea Duty
Tea duty involves organising the teas at friendly home matches — preparing refreshments and making visiting teams feel welcome. You'll be joined by fellow members on the day, so it's a team effort rather than a solo task.
View Tea Rota → (opens in new tab)Cleaning Duty
Cleaning duties take place on a Saturday morning. A team of three or four volunteers tackle the clubhouse, changing rooms, toilets, and the outside seating area — keeping everything clean and welcoming for members and visitors alike.
View Cleaning Rota → (opens in new tab)Many More Ways to Help
Beyond the rotas, there are countless ways to get involved and make a difference. No contribution is too small.
Maintaining the Grounds
From grass cutting and hedge trimming to keeping the outside areas of the rink looking their best — there's always something to do.
Working Parties
Throughout the year we organise working parties to tackle larger jobs — painting fences and sheds, cleaning soffits and gutters, putting the green to sleep at the end of the season and waking it up again in spring.
Social Events
Help make our events a success — running raffles and tombolas, helping with BBQs, baking, or simply lending a pair of hands on the night.
Running the Bar
Our bar is volunteer-run, which is what keeps prices so reasonable for members. If you can help behind the bar, even occasionally, it goes a long way.
Join the Committee
Have your say in how the club is run. The committee welcomes new faces and fresh ideas — you don't need experience, just enthusiasm.
Skills & Expertise
Do you have a skill that could benefit the club? Whether you're a handyman, a designer, a local councillor, or something else entirely — get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.
Spreading the Word
Help us attract new members by promoting club events and open days in your neighbourhood. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to bring new people through the gate.
Featured Role
Sweeping the Green
What is sweeping?
Sweeping uses a long-handled dew brush to sweep the green in overlapping strokes before play, brushing the dew down off the grass and into the soil beneath. Light brushing also controls the grain of the grass, improves ball roll, and helps disperse any worm casts. A swept green plays faster and more consistently than a dewy one. The whole green typically takes around 15–20 minutes.
The photo shows the green mid-sweep. The darker half has already been done — the dew has been brushed in and the grass surface is visible. The lighter, silvery half still has its dew coating, which scatters the light. The difference in playing pace between the two surfaces is immediately obvious to any bowler.
Why does it matter?
There are two reasons, both important. Removing dew keeps the grass as dry as possible, which helps prevent outbreaks of fungal disease — a wet surface left to sit is an open invitation for problems that can damage the green for the whole season. And for the players, a green that hasn't been swept before play will have an uneven, unpredictable surface — hardly ideal when match results depend on consistent pace across all six rinks.
When does it need doing?
During the playing season the green is swept four mornings a week — our greenkeepers cover the other mornings. In the closed season, sweeping continues every morning to protect the surface through the winter months.
Sweeping needs to be done early — typically between 7:00 and 8:00am, before the dew has a chance to dry off naturally or play begins. There's no need to sweep when it has been raining, when the green is frosty, or when there's snow on the ground. If enough members volunteer to sweep once or twice a month, the rota stays manageable for everyone and no one is asked too often.
Interested in getting more involved, or have a skill you think could help?
Get in touch →