Bowler Stony just loves the fellowship out on the greens

 Stony Steenkamp has been enjoying his time on the bowling greens since 1993 and on his day is described by his fellow bowlers as ‘unbeatable’.

The affable 68-year-old, who lives in Glencoe, is currently one of the Dundee club’s longest playing members. He recalls how he was encouraged by friends, Gideon van Aswegen and Hans Bender, to get involved.

“I had never picked up a wood in my life up until then. I had played rugby while growing up in Ladysmith where I also worked for the railways,” Stoney said.

He moved to Glencoe with the railways and later joined the then Glencoe municipality, working as a caretaker at the town hall, for 25 years before his retirement in 2019.

“Once I started playing it was really fun. We also played at the old Northfield bowling green in Glencoe.”

He remembers fondly former Dundee bowls club president, Gordon Steedman, and the late club legend, Lukas Meyer, who presented Stony with huge size 7 woods.

“I still have them but there are far too big for my hands. I now use a size 4,” he laughed.

Stony has played in Dundee’s famous Friedman Cup – one of KZN’s oldest annual bowling tournaments – and the Suzette Cup.

“It is such a nice way to spend the day out of doors, making friends and enjoying competition in a good spirit.”

After a game, Stony likes nothing more than retiring to the club and enjoying a glass of fine red wine with his mates.