Dubbo City bowlers might have made the move from their old club midway through last year, but on the weekend the switch was made official.
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The grand opening of the North Dubbo RSL Sporties greens was held on Sunday morning after COVID restrictions ruined any chance of it taking place last year.
Following the closure of Dubbo City Bowling Club, bowlers made the switch to the reopened Sporties in June of 2021.
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To celebrate the official opening of the two synthetic greens at Sporties, clubs from all over the western area and Bowls NSW official made the trip to Dubbo.
"It was great," Dubbo City men's president Ian Hobson said.
"It's really hard to try and get a lot of bowlers on the green now and for two years we've been trying to generate a bit of interest.
Current Bowls NSW president Matthew Goodwin, who is a City member, unveiled the plaque for the new greens alongside Hobson and City women's president Judy O'Connor.
Dubbo City Bowling Club life members David Davis and Ian Pickering then took to the greens first as a fours tournament featuring the bumper field of players began.
Bowlers from across Dubbo as well as the likes of Warren, Peak Hill, Nyngan, Yeoval, Forbes, Narromine, and Trangie were all part of the action.
"It was much appreciated to see them all turn up," Hobson said.
"We tried to reach out to as many we we could in our Zone, Zone 4.
"We could fit 28 teams on the green and we finished up with 26.
"It was brilliant to see all the different bowling groups."
It was brilliant to see all the different bowling groups.
- Ian Hobson
While there was real sadness leaving City last year considering the history of the club, bowlers are now feeling settled in their new surroundings.
The move has come with some benefits, also.
"Most certainly. Most of our bowlers are in the senior ranks so they're really appreciating the synthetic greens," Hobson said.
"The synthetic greens are a little quicker than grass so they're staying and playing bowls. We kept pretty much all our group from the old City club.
"We've got 50 ladies and about 80 men so we've held our group together, which is great."
Hobson added the one part the club was "sadly lacking in" was the junior ranks, and the hope is younger players will start to take to the sport.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
