Broadwater Bowls Club fires up

By Richard Whelpdale, Events Co-ordinator, Broadwater Bowls Club.

“Build it and they will come.” No truer words were spoken in relation to the resurfacing of the green at Living Choice Broadwater Court in 2017. The new green sparked a tidal wave of interest in bowling and, with the help of local company sponsors including LCA, the Club was formed complete with shirts, shorts, caps and equipment.

In 2018 we introduced Club Trophy Events which are very popular, not only as a bowling “spectacle” but as a social fun day occasion. All competitions are friendly, amicable, courteous events held in high spirits and help to build a strong social bond among village residents.

Bowls has become the No. 1 focal point of village life with the opportunity to have a roll-up every day of the week, particularly Sunday afternoons when the bar is open for “Sunday Sippers” for both bowlers and non-bowlers who want to catch up for a drink and a chat.

Club membership has reached 61 residents and even during COVID, membership flourished. In fact, because bowls is an outdoor sport, we were able to restart daily roll-ups quite soon after the self-isolation phase. Bowls enabled us to leave the house, get some fresh air, mingle with others at a safe distance and look after our mental and physical health at the same time.

In February this year we recommenced our monthly friendly against our “cousins” at Alloura Waters after an enforced 12-month break and there’s talk of starting up a regular game with the ladies from Alloura. Once COVID is finally under control and all restrictions are removed we will restart our invitations to other Retirement Village Clubs to join us in social bowls days.

As an indication of the strength and popularity of the Club, a 4-day bowls trip was organised for March 2021 and 22 members travelled to Nelson Bay, Port Stephens for a bowls holiday. The rains and flooding interfered with our itinerary, but it certainly didn’t dampen our spirits or our enthusiasm for bowls and the camaraderie developed over the past 3 years. In fact, we are already planning a bowls trip for 2022. Keep ‘em rollin’!

PHOTOS BY KEVIN BUNT