Sandringham Club

THE SANDRINGHAM CLUB - HISTORY OF BOWLS AT THE CLUB

In 1913 the Sandringham Mens Club was formed at the original hotel in Sandringham on Beach Road. It was not until 1923 that the Members raised the funds to purchase the homestead called “Coggleshall” on the corner of Beach Road and Bamfield Street.

It was in 1926 that a single bowls rink was established between two hedges, on the Bamfield Street side. Social bowls was played between members on Sundays, taking place both on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.

It was not until 1947 that the second rink in front of the Club House was added. The hedges were removed to allow the two rinks to be side by side. In the early 1950’s matches were played against the Melbourne Bowling Club, Toorak Bowls Club and The Elsternwick Club.

By 1954, lights had been installed above the green, with mid-week bowls becoming popular, including tournaments against Elsternwick, Alma and Toorak Bowls Clubs. These games were played on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 8.00pm to 10.15pm. As well, Saturday games were played, and Sunday morning and afternoon games continued.

In 1958, the Bentleigh Club and Melbourne Bowling Club were playing home-and-away games for Winning Rink Trophies donated by Arthur Burton.

By 1961, the Hampton RSL Club had joined the other Clubs in playing friendly games. 1963 saw popular night tournaments for Members in team trophy events, organised by Tom Moloney. These were not perpetual. There was a move to turn the old cricket pitch into another bowls green, but due to lack of funds the idea was dropped.

In late 1964, due to the renewed large interest in bowls, Tom Moloney donated the Singles Championship Trophy to be played for first in 1965. That year there were 32 entries. In 1966, Bob Edwards donated a Pairs Trophy for competition from 1967. Also in 1966, due to lack of interest, night bowls was abandoned.

In 1988 the Bamfield Street green was converted to Mod Grass, and in 2004 the old cricket pitch area was finally turned into a Mod Grass bowls green.

So, starting from 1967 we have had both Club Pairs and Club Singles Championships, with social bowls played on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and on Sunday mornings. A night bowls trophy event was contested by triples in autumn 2009, and a Club Triples Championship was played under a Round-Robin format over later spring/early summer in 2009.

From 2009 until the present day we have played all major events and associated clubs on a regular basis. Bowls Convenor 2017

Sandringham Club

Bowls Singles Championship Competition

For the Tom Moloney Cup

(Donated 1964 – Tom Moloney became a member in 1955)