THE club secretary of Ardrossan Bowling Club says members are “champing at the bit” to get back on the greens again.

It comes after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a four-phase route-map to ease lockdown restrictions last week.

The first phase, which includes allowing people to play some outside sports such as bowls, tennis, golf and angling, comes into effect from May 28 but sporting organisations will have to implement safety measures before they can return with the First Minster expected to outline further guidelines on Thursday.

Jim McCracken, from Ardrossan Bowling Club, said: “We are very pleased with the announcement that will let us get back onto the bowling green soon.

“The people and members I speak to are all missing the bowls very much and they are desperate to get back out playing.

“I would stress that the club will be operating in line with the Bowls Scotland guidelines at all times.

“Members can expect to see us having to introduce a booking system 20 minutes between the times of people arriving and leaving in order to maintain social distancing.

“In addition, there will be one rink space between each rink, members having to use sanitiser to wash their hands as they enter the club and we have two gates so we will introduce a one-way system so one gate will be the entrance and the other will be the exit.”

Jim admits that it may not be until the first week in June before the club opens to ensure safety measures are in place.

He said: “Looking at the age group that is predominantly in the club there are a few people who may have been at risk but everyone seems to have come through it okay and they are just champing at the bit to get out to play again.”

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