For nearly 70 years, Te Atatū Bowling Club has brought locals together over a shared love of bowls. ‘We are a friendly, whānau-oriented club deeply embedded in the local community,’ declares Treasurer Marion Hakaraia.
The club welcomes players of all ages and abilities, from newbies to seasoned veterans. It boasts top-rate facilities, including one grass green and an artificial one, and hosts a series of tournaments for more competitive players.
One of the most popular competitions on the calendar is the Matariki Tournament, which is held over the public holiday. This year, the tournament was co-hosted with the Hobsonville Bowling Club and an incredible 62 teams took part in the fun event.
Te Atatū Peninsula Bowling Club also has a fully equipped kitchen, function hall, BBQ area, and licensed bar. After a game of bowls, players can enjoy a drink and a bite to eat, and the club hosts many social events, including house bowls and potluck dinners.
‘We’re all about good bowls, good health, good friendships and good fun,’ says Marion. She adds that the club is passionate about promoting the sport of bowls and provides coaching, competitions and events for its mix of casual, corporate, and competitive members.
Club President Garry Howard stresses that membership fees are kept as low as possible so that more people can get involved in the sport. However, maintaining the club’s facilities comes at a cost. In particular, he says that keeping the grass green up to competition standards is expensive, costing over $17,000 each year.
The bowling club applied to the Your West Support Fund and $5,000 has gone towards the maintenance budget for the grass green.
Having a competition-standard green is crucial to the club. ‘It means we can host Auckland Bowls tournaments, bringing bowlers from all over Auckland to The West,’ says Marion.
Te Atatū Peninsula Bowling Club is located at 5 Imelda Road. There’s always a warm welcome on offer for new or returning players, so why not get involved? Check out the website for more information.
