Woy Woy Bowling Club closes its doors after 90 years
Woy Woy Bowling Club closed its doors on June 20 after nearly 90 years of operation.
The club has handed in its liquor licence and will play out the 2022-23 bowling season as a sub-club of Umina Bowling Club, said club publicity officer Mr Patrick Croke.
"The board and members decided to wind up the licenced operations due to falling attendance and rising service costs," he said.
"This licence is now cancelled."
A gala bowls day was held on Saturday, June 19, "to commemorate neally 90 years of lawn bowling on the Peninsula and the pleasure and camaraderie the sport has given to its members".
Mr Croke said the club began in October 1932 when a -meeting was held in Mr Jack Hall's shop attended by 13 local citizens.
"In 1933, the Woy Woy Shire Council granted the committee use of ground at the rear of the Bayview Hotel, which is now Anderson Park.
"The following year a four-rink green was built on the site.
"While this was in progress, members used a private four-rink green owned by Mr J.Toon, of Ocean Beach.
"This green was used on later occasion while our green was undergoing repairs.
"Woy Woy Bowling Club became affiliated with the Royal NSW Bowling Association in June 1933.
"In 1934, assisted again by the Shire Council with finance, an old house was purchased arid moved to ground at the rear of the green, to be used as a clubhouse.
"The first meeting in this clubhouse was held on April 19, 1934.
"In June 1936, Woman Bowlers were officially granted use of the greens and clubhouse every Monday.
"Nine years later, members began looking to the future and realized a new and larger site was needed to cater for the increasing number of members.
"The committee approved the purchase of land on the corner of Burge and Brickwarf Rds and also purchased the original clubhouse from the Woy Woy Shire Council and moved it to its new position.
"On the newly-acquired land, one green was built and a grand opening was held on Christmas Day 1948.
"A liquor licence was granted in October 1958."
Extensions were made in 1961 and again in 1963.
"In 1964, with the ever increasing number of members and the growing interest in the game of bowls, plans were being made for a larger clubhouse and more green space
"The first step was the purchase of an adjoining property.
"A contract for the erection of the current clubhouse was given to GM Pluim and Co of Gosford.
"Work commenced in July 1968 and was completed in early December the same year at a total cost of $100,000.
"Woy Woy Bowling Club had three grass greens which were in constant use by day.
"All were equipped with lighting for night bowls in summer.
"Over the many years, the club has actively participated in charity days and has raised money for organisations such as Child Flight, Gosford Hospital and the Cancer Council."
SOURCE:
Media release, 19 Jun 2022
Patrick Croke, Woy Woy Bowling Club