About Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Club
Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Bowling Club has a proud history of bowls. The club supports two bowls activities; Lawn Bowls and Bocce Bowls. These activities have their own management structures which act as Sub Clubs of the registered club. Both clubs have proud histories operating independently of each other.
Clovelly Bowls Club (Lawn Bowls)
The sport of lawn bowls has a long history in NSW extending back to early settlement in Australia. It has been a Commonwealth Games sport since the inaugural edition of the events precursor, the Empire Games. (1)
“Up until recently the Clovelly Bowls Club (Sub Club) consisted of two clubs based upon sex governed by two independent Associations. Bowls NSW (formerly the Royal NSW Bowling Association) which the male bowlers belonged to and Women’s Bowls NSW which the women belonged to. Both clubs operated independently of each other and adhered to the rules and conditions of play set down by each Association”. (1)
1Source Bowls Australia 22nd January 2021 letter to both Associations.
On the 31st of May, 2021 both Associations unified into the one Association known as Bowls NSW. This unification was deemed to secure and ensure the successful governance of the sport going forward.
The unification of the two independent Associations in NSW was undertaken in order to provide significant benefits and cost savings for the sport in NSW, reducing duplication, provide greater opportunities for access to government funding and recognition, allow for increased investment in game and club development and create opportunities to negotiate better commercial and supplier agreements 2
2 Source The Hon. Dr Geff Lee Acting Minister for Sport letter to the CEO of Bowls NSW received 8th February 2021
It was not mandatory that at individual club level for the men’s and women’s clubs to unify. It was left to each individual club to determine how they wished to proceed going forward. At Clovelly the members of both the men’s and women’s clubs each held their own vote as to whether they wished to mirror the decisions taken by their respective Associations. Both the men’s and women’s clubs voted overwhelmingly to unify. Hence, they are now organized under one club with equal men and women serving on the CBC Management Committee.
Following the unification, it was decided that the CBC would enter Bowls NSW Open Pennants Competitions as well as the women continuing to play Women’s Pennants (on Tuesdays) as they had prior to unification. The unified CBC has already achieved success in its region the Metro South-East Region; winning both the Women’s Division 2 Pennants and the Open Grade 6 Pennants in 2025. The plan is to build upon this success.
There are three different platforms of which members can choose to play, they are:
- CBC Championship Bowls (and invitationals from other Clubs)
- Bowls NSW Pennant Bowls and Bowls NSW accredited competitions (such as State competitions as well National competitions); and
- Social Club Bowls
There are some members who elect to play all three platforms, some wish to play both CBC Championship Bowls and Bowls NSW Pennant Bowls and Bowls NSW accredited competitions and some choose to play Social Club Bowls on an ad-hoc basis only.
Those who wish to play CB Championships and Bowls NSW accredited competitions must be members of Bowls NSW. The Bowls NSW membership fee is included in the cost of being a Full Bowling member.
CBC Championship Bowls
Club Championships are played throughout the year. The Match Committee of the CBC is charged with responsibility of developing the Club Bowls Calendar for each year; being mindful of and making allowance for when State and National accredited competitions are being played.
A draw for each competition is conducted by the Match Committee; posted on the Bowlers Information Board and updated as each round concludes.
The winners of the CBC Club Championships may then enter the NSW Bowls Champion of Champions competition if they so wish. Members must be Full Bowling members to play in the CBC Championships.
Bowlers must wear the CBC uniform when playing in CBC Championship games.
Bowls NSW Pennants
Bowls NSW Pennants competitions are divided into Geographical Regions.
The CBC is in the Metro South-East Region one of the largest and most competitive regions in the State.
Pennants is usually played in the first half of the calendar year. CBC Pennant sides play opposition Bowling Clubs in their section twice in their respective competitions.
When signing up to play Pennants, bowlers are requested to provide their availability for the entire season.
Members must be Full Bowling members to play Bowls NSW Pennants. Bowlers must wear the CBC uniform when playing Pennants.
Social Bowls
Social Bowls is organised to be played three times a week. Social bowls is very popular with members who are unable to commit to playing CBC Championships nor Pennants but wish to play on an irregular basis.
Some members play three times a week; some twice a week and some just on an ad hoc basis (when time permits). There is no uniform requirement when playing socially.
CBC also welcomes bowlers from other clubs to join them for Social Bowls as often as they are able to. Bowlers from several other clubs from the Metro South-East Region can be regularly found playing at Clovelly.
It is often said that if you can play well at Clovelly, you should be able to play well at other clubs.
Sunshine isn’t guaranteed, but we recommend that bowlers wear a hat and sunglasses when appropriate, as well as applying sunscreen as often as required.
CBC organised Social Bowls are played as follows:
Social Bowling Times- Tuesdays (Women’s Bowls) - 9.30am - Arrive by 9:00am
- Wednesdays & Fridays - 12:30pm - Arrive by 11:45pm
- Sundays - 9:30am - Arrive by 9:00am
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