Join the club for £30
Membership of County Antrim Indoor Bowling Club for the 2026/27 season. Sessions at £6 instead of £8, the opportunity to enter our leagues and championships, and twelve rinks at Jim Baker Stadium to play them on. No experience needed and no club to leave behind.
Already a member? Sign in to the members portal
- New members
- £30 for the season
- Member session
- £6 · visitors £8
- Season
- September to Easter
- Experience
- None needed
Jim Baker Stadium, 20b Ballysavage Road, Parkgate, BT39 0DX
Ten minutes from Ballyclare · free parking for 120 cars
Why join the club
You do not have to be a member to bowl here — anyone can book a session and play. Membership is for people who have decided they want more than that: cheaper bowling, a team to play for, and the run of the club through the season. New members pay £30 for their first season, which is the lowest price we can put on it and the reason most people start there.
The main thing membership opens up is competitive bowls. Members have the opportunity to enter our morning, afternoon and evening leagues, the veterans league, and the men's and ladies national championships across singles, pairs, triples and fours, with mixed pairs, under-25 and senior events alongside them and the Irish finals at the end of it. Being a member is also what makes you eligible to represent the club. If you have no team, we will put you in touch with one that needs players — that is how most new members end up on a rink every week rather than once a month.
Beyond the bowling, members get sessions at £6 instead of the £8 visitors pay, first refusal on club competitions and social nights, and use of the bar whenever the building is open. Plenty of members joined having never held a bowl, came to an open day, and are now playing league bowls two or three times a week. Nobody will ask what your handicap is.
- Sessions at £6 rather than £8
- Opportunity to enter leagues and championships
- Eligible to represent the club
- Help finding a team if you have none
- Club competitions and social nights
- A discount at the bar
- Bar and lounge whenever we are open
- Results and fixtures kept for your team
Book a session as a visitor for £8 and see how you get on. Nothing about joining is time-limited.
How a session works →What it costs
Subscriptions run for the season, September to Easter.
Your first season with the club. Everything a full member gets, at a starting price.
Apply onlineThree age categories. A date of birth is needed to confirm eligibility.
Apply online- Two-hour session, member
- £6 a head
- Two-hour session, visitor
- £8 a head
- Bowls
- Lent out, no charge
- Leagues and championships
- Members only
League and championship entry fees are set per competition and are separate from your subscription.
- Mon – Thu
- 10:00–12:00 · 19:00–22:00
- Fri
- 10:00–12:00
- Weekends
- By the competitions calendar
Session times are seasonal and run from September to Easter. We always recommend booking.
See session times →Prices are a guide for the 2026/27 season and confirmed when you join. Ring the office if you are unsure which category fits.
What members play in
Entry is open to any member — you do not have to play in everything.
The busiest part of the week. Teams of eight, a rink each, playing from ten o'clock.
Half seven starts for anyone working during the day, Monday through Friday.
Afternoon bowls at a gentler pace, with two divisions across the season.
Men's and ladies singles, pairs, triples and fours, plus mixed pairs, under-25 and senior events, played through to the Irish finals.
Standings, results and every fixture in the season, updated as cards come in.
Open the leagues →Draws, brackets and finals dates for the national championships and open competitions.
See the draws →How it works
Apply online in about five minutes. You are not charged until you are approved.
- 1Apply online
Fill in your details and provide a proposer — an existing member who recommends you.
- 2Save payment
Enter your card details securely. You won't be charged until approved.
- 3Committee review
Our committee reviews your application. We'll notify you of the outcome.
- 4Welcome
Once approved, you're charged, issued a digital membership card, and ready to play.
Call, email or WhatsApp — whichever suits. Someone will come back to you the same day.
Contact the club →Sign in to the members portal to renew, check your fixtures, enter competitions and see your digital card.
Members portal →“I came to an open day not knowing a soul. I have been in a Monday team ever since.”
Common questions
What people ask before joining an indoor bowls club — cost, experience, equipment, teams, age and how the season runs.
- Do I need to be a member to bowl here?
- No. Anyone can book a session at £8 a head. Membership brings the price to £6 and opens up the leagues and championships. Book a session →
- I have never bowled. Can I still join?
- Yes, and plenty do. Come to an open day or book a session first, tell us it is your first time, and we will have bowls for you to use.
- Do I need my own bowls?
- No. We lend bowls out at no charge. Most members buy their own eventually, but there is no rush and no need.
- What should I wear?
- Flat-soled shoes or socks on the green. Nothing else is required — there is no dress code for ordinary sessions.
- Do I need a team to join?
- No. Tell us which session suits you and we will point you at teams looking for players. That is how most new members get started.
- Is there an age limit?
- None at either end. Juniors are under 18 and play supervised, and plenty of members are bowling well into their eighties.
- When does the season run?
- September to Easter. Session times are seasonal, and weekend availability depends on the competitions and events calendar. See what's on →
- Can I pay monthly?
- Subscriptions can be split across the first few months of the season. Ask the office and we will sort it out.
- What are the leagues like?
- Morning, afternoon and evening leagues across the week, plus a veterans league. Members have the opportunity to enter any that suit them, along with the national championships — singles, pairs, triples, fours, mixed pairs, under-25 and senior events, played through to the Irish finals. Being a member is also what makes you eligible to represent the club. Open the leagues →
- Are entry fees included?
- No. Your subscription covers membership; league and championship entry fees are set per competition and paid separately.
- Can I bring a guest?
- Yes. Guests pay the visitor rate for a session, and social members can bring someone to the bar any time.
- Where are you?
- Jim Baker Stadium, Ballysavage Road, Parkgate, BT39 0DX — ten minutes from Ballyclare, twenty from north Belfast, free parking for 120 cars. Find us →
Apply online in five minutes, or pick up a form at the bar.