Browns Bay Bowling Club

Welcome to Browns Bay Bowling Club

As one of the premiere clubs in North Harbour our players have earned many National and Center titles through the years, and continue to compete in all the major events.

We are a very active club, catering for many of the North Harbour events, Club Champs, Roll-up Bowls and even Indoor bowls. We currently have three grass greens and one carpet green, so play can continue all year round.

A fully licensed bar that caters for all those thirsty souls after a long days play.

We also have a lounge area with a snooker table and 2 pool tables and dart boards.

A fully equipped kitchen means we can cater for functions of up to 250 people in the main building and up to 60 people in our smaller Pavilion venue.

We have a big business league competition in summer that is sponsored by Harcourts Cooper & Co

and we cater for many corporate functions through the year.

So, whatever your level of play, we can help. With our local coaches we can help you get into the wonderful and competitive world of bowls.

All enquiries are welcome.

Handicap Pairs 2024

The men’s and women’s handicap pairs were played over the weekend of 2/3 November with qualifying on Saturday and finals on Sunday. The gents were on the Pavilion while the ladies were on A green and all finals played on Sunday were on the Pavilion green. The wind again was strong on both days making for an interesting reading of the green. One minute you had the green and next you didn’t, or weight was way out.

Some of the newer bowls with high handicaps made it very difficult for those on lower handicaps to catch up, with some teams giving away up to 14 points. Great for the less experienced bowls to get one over their more fancied rivals. But watch out next year, boy, are your handicaps going to suffer!!!

Also a big thanks to Colin Rogan stepping in at the last minute on behalf of a bowler who had to call in sick, thereby avoiding a bye in the round robin. Thanks very much Colin.

At the end of the day if you didn’t get to the final you weren’t good enough on the day and both finals were played in very good spirit. The ladies final was a clear-cut win for Lin East and Denise Hetherington over Jo Wyatt and Janette Glogoski. The men’s was a cliff hanger with the McIsaac boys coming from well done against Steve and Simon to have to big ends of a 5 and 6 to jump into the lead only to then give away a 3 to lose the lead again and being down by 3 going into the final end. Not to be outdone the McIsaacs managed a 4 on the last end to claim first prize. Steve Wetini and Simon Battersby as 2^nd year bowlers did bloody well to get to the final and pushed the McIsaacs (4^th and 5^th year bowlers) to the bitter end.

CLUB COMPETITIONS

The clubs men’s handicapped singles was concluded over the weekend along with the women’s consistency singles.

30 blokes started last week with the first round of 16 players reduced to 8 progressing to post section. On Saturday 14 players put their hand up and again 8 went through to Sunday for post section. It was great to see a number of juniors getting through to the latter rounds and I have a sneaking suspicion that next year the handicaps may not be so generous.

The seasoned hands were seen to be muttering under their breaths but they all recognised that while they had their chances they didn’t take them. Arguably the handicaps worked. Still its history and at the end of the weekend the final was a great game between a 2^nd and 6^th year bowler. While Gideon got off to a flier and well into the game lead 18 -12. But Steve didn’t give up, or look like giving up, clawing back the difference to go on and win.

The ladies played on the Pavilion green and by all accounts it is in beautiful condition, running like a dream. Not a big field unfortunately (maybe it was the arithmetic putting some off) but played in good spirits and lovely conditions. In a turn around from last week Shelley came through with the win.

But come on ladies support your fellow players and get into the club comps a little more. It is more fun than you probably think. One of your esteemed gentlemen colleagues who hadn’t played in club competitions to date (after around 6+ years) played in the handicap singles for the first time. He tells me he thoroughly enjoyed it and was a little disappointed he hadn’t started in comps earlier. So give it a go sooner rather than later, you may well surprise yourself.

Metlifecare New Zealand Masters 2024

The Metlifecare New Zealand Masters 2024 were held at a number of bowling clubs in the North Harbour region over the week of 7 – 11 October, with the Browns Bay Bowling Club acting as the headquarters for the tournament. More than 660 participants took part over a number of events. These were split into men’s, women’s and mixed 60 – 74 and 75 and over age groups. The teams played either pairs or fours.

The weather gods were not kind and most games were played on artificial surfaces except the finals. These were played on our A green with live tv coverage provided through You Tube. From purely a selfish perspective the finals got off to a fantastic start with the home team of Lin East and Lloyd Sinton winning the mixed 60 – 74 group pairs event. Here are the champs basking in their glory.

BBBC member Lindsay Gilmore also bringing home the gold in the 60- 74 mens fours composite team. Well done.

Further photos of the winners can be found in the gallery and all results of games on the BNH website.

Women’s Handicap Singles

This event was played over the weekend of 12/13 October to a somewhat disappointing number, although following on from the NZ Masters may not have helped.

That aside, and the bloody weather which meant that the games were all played on the carpet, resulted in some great games with those with a start over their vaunted opponents using the handicap to give a scare to more seasoned players. Upsets also resulted. Here is the starting line up, some would say the bowled and old, BUT IT WASN’T ME.

After qualifying there were 3 players with 3 wins, Denise, Val and Shelley. Unfortunately Denise (a first year who’s handicap will most likely suffer next year) missed out on differential and thus Val and Shelley played off in the final.

This was won by Val Stewart in a well fought out game and congratulations to all who took part.

Sorrill Cup at BBBC

18 August 2024

This junior (1 – 8 year) tournament was again very popular and like the Latimer Cup played in trying conditions. Getting through 2 1/2 games was as good as it good and there were no complaints about the early finish and early drinks at the bar.

All games were played with good banter, a little bit of sledging and the odd decent bowl turning ends around . Great lunch put on by Crystal and the typical post match drinks followed. Thanks to all those teams that turned up from Mahurangi East in the North out to Hobsonville and down to Beachhaven.

The tournament was taken out by Orewa, with Manly as runners up and Mahurangi East third (Phil somehow found his way into a winning team - if he isn't careful he may get a mantel like Denis). All were three game winners with ends and differential being the deciding factor.

The winning team on the day with more photo’s in the gallery.

2023 / 24 Prize Giving

As is the custom the Friendship Cup was played prior to prize giving whereby the gentlemen had to loan players to the ladies so they could be competitive! The gentlemen, as is their want, were gracious in providing players and did not stack their team as was so unfairly suggested by some of the ladies, indeed!

That aside the 2 games of 8 ends were well contested with the gentlemen winning by a convincing margin. That the score cards were destroyed after the event only demonstrates that the gentlemen were not going to brag as to the margin. Any suggestion otherwise is wholly rejected by the scorers and the adage that the scorers never lose is totally unfair. If the gents had the score cards that would be proven, but alas.

Prize giving followed play and it was great to see a great turnout. Photos of the prize-winners can be found in the gallery (see main menu above) and follow this link to the winners and their certificates.

Here are a couple of prime shots.

Est 1943 - 2023