New host green for Winter League

Winter League

The Winter League has made a major step forward in finalising arrangements for the 2026-27 season with the news that a ninth host green has stepped forward to support the Division 8 teams. Hemplow have offered their green to the League to cover the loss of Lockwood Con which the League has gratefully accepted.

The recent withdrawal as a host green by Lockwood Con was inevitable with major problems with the green which can only be partially resolved by giving the green 6 months rest from activity. That left the Winter League with a dilemma following the earlier withdrawal of Paddock I&C and Primrose Hill Lib as host clubs as well. Neither of those being for green-related issues. The gaps created have been filled by Thorpe Green taking over Divisions 4 and 9 responsibilities and Skel Central stepping up to take over the Division 10 hosting responsibilities.

Part of the agreement for Hemplow to assume hosting arrangements for the Division 8 teams is that a new Hemplow B team will join the League in Division 8 so making their team members available for key hosting duties on matchdays. The only way that this is possible, without penalising a current League team, is by making Division 8 a nine-team Division. That has been agreed. Host clubs are generally in favour of restricting Divisions to 8 team members because of the reduced time that permits greenkeepers to prepare their greens for the Summer season following the end of the Winter League season. Changing to a nine-team Division makes the season 18-weeks long once you factor in the extra two (home and away) fixtures and the two bye-weeks.

Hemplow have indicated that they are happy to retain Tuesday as the Division 8 matchday which should minimise any disruption to player availability. There are a few things to be finalised before we can complete the revised fixture programme but that will happen shortly with a provisional start date for Division 8 teams at Hemplow of Tuesday 27 October.

Unfortunately as things stand we don't have a new green to support the introduction of a new Division 11, despite the fact that we have five new teams on a waiting list to join the League. There is still time for that to happen but unless a new host green comes forward very soon, the clock will beat our best efforts to find a suitable partner to introduce a new Division to the League. Any club wishing to learn how a 14-week Winter bowling season can make them a minimum of £3,500 should contact the League Secretary at jefftheref2000@yahoo.co.uk as soon as possible.