The Auckland Park Bowling Club is not closing, as rumours say it is

MONTGOMERY PARK – Local club members want the public to know that the Auckland Park Bowling Club is still operational.

June 4, 2018

Nicholas Zaal 1 minute read

Bob Davies, Peter Wales and Deon Enslin hope to see the Auckland Park Bowling Club as busy as it was before.

The Auckland Park Bowling Club is still very much alive, contrary to an unfortunate rumour that went around.

The club was founded in Auckland Park in 1929 and later moved to Jan Cilliers Street, Montgomery Park, in 1969.

Peter Wales has a bowl at Auckland Park Bowling Club.

A rumour spread that the club was closing down after a change in management a few months ago. This saw many members leave the club – in total the club’s membership base dropped to just 20 committed bowlers.

Nevertheless, the club still fields a team in the Johannesburg Bowls Association league. It also holds corporate and social events and runs a fully-licensed bar.

Former club president, Bob Davies reminisces about the time Auckland Park Bowling Club won the South African Championships in 1989.

The remaining loyal members told the Northcliff Melville Times they wanted the public to know the club was still a great place to come play a free game of bowls, which it holds every Wednesday and Friday from 2pm onwards.

“We are happy to accommodate anyone,” said former club president and now a lifetime member, Bob Davies. “People can come and play bowls here and enjoy one of our Sunday braais. We are also reactivating our pizza oven.”

The Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club still meets to watch soccer matches at the club, and members have invited a Joburg-based darts group to make its new home there.

For those who are more interested in visiting the club for its social side rather than for bowls, the bar trades from 11am until late every Tuesday and Sunday.

The big-screen TVs attract sports fans throughout the day.