Key dates for Winter League season

Winter League

Each of the host greens decide on the key dates for matches to be played on their green. Currently we are looking to collect all the season start dates for all 10 divisions in the League.

The start dates vary depending on the work programmes that each host club has decided that their green needs to fit in between the summer matches finishing and the Winter League starting. This is totally a host club decision and involves discussions with their greenkeepers.

Currently 5 of our 9 host greens have provided us with the dates that the Winter League fixture programme can begin. This is another example of the Winter League being different from any other League. The fixtures can only be compiled and shared once all the host greens have decided upon their start dates. We are aiming to release the 2026-27 full fixture programme on Tuesday 1 September which is just 10 days away.

The Christmas two-week break is factored into the programme which also includes a 14-week playing season for each division. That Christmas break is from Monday 21 December to Sunday 3 January 2027 with action resuming on Monday 4 January 2027.

There is also a change to the running of the League's two knock-out competitions with the individual Winter Cup and Pairs KO qualifying rounds being held on the respective host greens. This has been past practice for the Winter Cup and that arrangement has now been extended to the Pairs KO for this coming season. The dates for these 20 qualifying rounds will be agreed with the host clubs in due course. The Finals Days for our two competitions are rotated around our host greens and those details and dates are expected to be finalised and shared next month.

We are still looking for a new host green for the 2026-27 Winter League season. We already have a waiting list of five teams wanting to join the League. Earlier this week I was approached by teams who have been playing during the Winter months at Heckmondwike for the past three years.

News that the Heckmondwike Winter League has closed down with one of the greens no longer in use and 'increased costs and uncertainty about the future of the club' all adding to the decision to close down their Winter League. All this adds to the certainty that we could readily fill an 8-team Division 11 if we only had a green to play on.

Any club that would like to receive £3,500 (or more) for hosting 14 days of bowling between October and February should contact me now. You have the questions; I have the answers.