Open clubs tend to be the largest and most popular clubs due to the lack of restriction on membership. Usually, an open club serves the orienteering needs of a particular geographic community (e.g. Bristol Orienteering Klub). Orienteers are restricted to membership of one open club only. However if their circumstances permit,they are also able to join a closed membership club. For example a student may belong to an open club and their University club simultaneously.

The following open membership clubs exist in the SWOA region:

Club Name	Abbreviations	Secretary
Bristol Orienteering Klub	BOK	David Palmer
Devon Orienteering Club	DEVON	Nick Hockey
Cornwall Orienteering Club	KERNO	Roger Hargreaves
North Gloucestershire Orienteering Club	NGOC	Caroline Craig
North Wiltshire Orienteers	NWO	Richard Jackson
Quantock Orienteers	QO	Richard Sansbury
Sarum Orienteering Club	SARUM	Carolyn Dent
Wessex Orienteering Club	WSX	Alan Hooper
Wimborne Orienteers	WIM	John Warren

Closed membership clubs restrict themselves to the orienteering needs of a specific institution (for example a University) and does not accept outside membership. A University student might belong to both their University 'closed club' and their local community 'open club' at the same time. This allows them to benefit from the activities of both clubs. They can compete for their University in competitions arranged with other educational institutions, without being barred from competing for their 'open club' in other team competitions.

The following closed membership clubs exist in the SWOA region:

Club Name	Abbreviations	Secretary
Royal Marines OC	RMOC	John Rye
University of Bristol OC	UBOC	Duncan Birtwhistle