Bournemouth Bowling Club

We are a friendly club who run two teams on a Saturday afternoon within the Bournemouth & District Bowling Association League.

An ideal location situated within Meyrick Park, we have an ample private off street car park, and there is a golf course and a fully equipped gym a matter of 250 metres away. We have an unique Grade II listed clubhouse in a quiet park environment situated between our two greens.

An independent cafe and a fully licensed bar are available for club members and the public alike. There is also a tennis court for public hire and is also used for coaching by two private coaches if required. The club is an ideal setting for wedding receptions or craft fairs which have been accommodated in the past.

In addition to the Saturday League teams, we also run three teams in the Tuesday Evening Triples league and our ladies are well represented in these teams and in their own B&DBA League fixtures played on Thursday afternoons.

With Hampshire County, Bournemouth & District matches, a club sponsored Wednesday Morning Triples League, club competitions and club friendlies running throughout the season there is plenty to do.

We also organise regular non-bowling functions throughout the year; evening meals, tours, day trips, dinner dance, coffee morning, etc. where everybody is welcome to join in.

History

The Bournemouth Bowling Club, founded in 1903, is the forerunner of all the clubs within the Bournemouth & District Bowling Association.

In 1901 a Bournemouth councillor visited Scotland where he first encountered the Game of Bowls. He spent the majority of his holiday that year learning and playing the game. On his return he persuaded the local Croquet club to release one of their playing areas for one Friday afternoon per fortnight.

Within 3 months there were more than 50 regular players and this equated to half the Croquet membership. In January 1903 permission was granted for the second croquet area to be re-designated as a “proper” bowling green. Thus Bournemouth Bowling club was born! The cost, unbelievably, was less than £200.00.

To celebrate this, the then Council sponsored the first event – an open tournament that attracted 23 entries.
From this small beginning the world-renowned Bournemouth Open Tournament was established and Bournemouth bowling club was used as the Headquarters for over 100 years.