Port Fairy Bowls Club secretary Alan Parker doesn't call his sporting home a bowls club.
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He calls it a social hub with "110 members who are all friends".
Parker is thrilled roll-ups are allowed on Victorian greens again and he was rushing to Bowls Court in Port Fairy on Thursday morning to put up signs about the club's social distancing rules.
Late Tuesday, Bowls Victoria announced greens could open again due to the state government easing restrictions.
Bowls Victoria's return to bowls guidelines can be found here: https://www.bowlsvic.org.au/2020/05/12/coronavirus-impact-on-upcoming-events/
One of the key restrictions being only 10 people are allowed per green at one time. Competitions are not permitted and club houses are to remain closed.
Parker said Port Fairy didn't have strict opening hours with greens accessible to members during the day.
He believes the relaxed restrictions will have great benefits for peoples' mental health.
Parker, who lives at Toolong, lost his wife recently.
He's doing well but admits he's been a bit lonely during lockdown.
The secretary enjoyed a beer among friends at the club a couple of times a week before the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions kicked in.
"For the mental health of a lot of people; to have golf, fishing and bowls back means a hell of a lot to a lot of people," he said.
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Dennington Bowls Club president Tony Scott said greens were also open to members - at all times - and "everyone is just so happy to be out and doing something".
He also highlighted the camaraderie of the sport.
"It's not just going and rolling the bowls," he said.
The president added his club, which has about 110 members, had faced a number of challenges of late.
This time of year the club would normally hold its annual general meeting.
He said that would only be possible to do virtually.
But he said there were many people at the club who didn't have the technology or capability to participate in virtual meetings.
He also said bowls was only one aspect of the club - with callisthenics, pool competitions and dance teaching unable to go ahead due to pandemic restrictions.
Dennington consulted Warrnambool City Council before opening its greens as the club is leasing council land.
City Memorial Bowls Club's greens will be open for members for casual roll-ups every day, including weekends, from 10am to 3pm.
Groups can only be on a green for an hour to be fair to all members.
Warrnambool Bowls Club's Paul O'Donnell said the club needed to do some general maintenance and preparation over the next few days. He said it aimed to be open to members on Monday.
Timboon Bowling Club secretary Barry Bowen said the club's two greens were open for members at any time.
Bowen pointed out many of the club's 80 members were grey nomads who like to travel to northern Australian at this time of year - he had planned to go to Darwin to visit his daughter.
So he expects some members will make use of the greens because they've had to abandon their trips due to the pandemic restrictions.
Bowen said keen bowlers usually took part in the Heytesbury Indoor Bias Bowls Association competition at this time of year.
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