A BIT OF MILNERTON BOWLS CLUB HISTORY

Milnerton Bowls Club started in 1945.

First location was next to the present Milnerton Tennis Club and Jansen Hall which was Cape Town’s first casino. In 1950 the Bowls Club moved and amalgamated with the Milnerton Golf Club which was shared with the Golf Club.

The original Golf Club House was an ammunition store during World War Il years, hence the very thick walls – it is now a national monument. Some bowling history: Until 1999 the bowls club had no uniform colours only iron-on Stag badge which was done by a shop in NI City Mall.

The Stag is symbolic to all sports clubs in the Milnerton precinct. Apparently the Stag used to roam around Milnerton in the early years. The river running past the old club is the Touw River which starts in Riebeeck West. In the 1800’s ships brought down wheat all the way to Cape Town harbour.. We had three greens – the third green was where the new Golf Club presently stands. When the Golf Club moved house a promise was made to build another green, which they never did. In 1999 the club membership increased by 45 new members, a record that still stands in WP Bowls.

The next year in the mens Flag Competition, all three divisions were promoted as follows: Division 1 to premier, Division 2 to Division 1 and Division 3 to Division 2 – a great achievement. Brian Silks was president in those years 1998 to 2000 with the late Rassie Erasmus as Vice-President.

The Golf Club moved into their new club house in 1977 – opened by President John Vorster. Later the golf club acquired the leased land from Milnerton (Graaff Estates) for the sum of R1. They needed more space for parking and offered R350 000,00 for us to move, hence the amalgamation with Cambridge Bowls Club. Cambridge Bowls Club was in a spot of financial trouble with only R10 000,00 in their bank account. We amalgamated with R1,2million and spent R1m on renovations to our new club house which we currently enjoy.

Cambridge greens were terrible to say the least and very heavy. We had many greenskeepers after the take-over, but it was only when Gavin took over as our greenskeeper that we had greens on a par with any other top club in the Peninsula. Brian silks also employed our barman Billy in 1999 – a long serving member and the longest serving barman of any bowling club in the Peninsula. In 2012 the late Claude Perreira and Mike O’Leary, President, were instrumental in the move and amalgamation with Cambridge – a very difficult and trying time – Graham Crowley president after Mike O’Leary with John Tallack as vice-president.

Building and extensive alterations started in 2012 and a year later we could move into a beautiful club house. Since then the number of members have shrunk somewhat, but still stays the friendliest club in the Peninsula with excellent and well kept greens and gardens. When the golf club moved to their new clubhouse, the bowlers only had tea in the old clubhouse and as there was no bar, the bowlers had to go to the golf clubhouse for drinks as they held the liquor licence. It as only in 1998 that the Bowls Club were able to obtain their own liquor licence – thanks again to Brian Silks – it is a long story but worth asking him how this was achieved. Old years eve 1999, Pat Haley (presently oldest lady member) and Elize Solms put on a cabaret show just before midnight, which was hilarious and enjoyed by a packed hall of members and saw in the centenary 2000 – the first bowl was bowled just after midnight. Sadly, just of late, Feb 2022, the dining room section in the old Milnerton Bowls Club caught alight due to an electrical fault and destroyed 35 golf carts housed in the dining room – the thick walls saved the rest of the old bowls club.