A Kilmarnock bowling club have been bucking the national trend – all while bouncing back from setbacks.
Northwest Bowling Club have almost tripled their membership numbers in recent years, with many other clubs struggling to attract new members.
The Wardneuk Drive club hit the headlines back in March when the Standard reported that the hedge outside was set on fire.
That, alongside Covid, has ensured it’s been a challenging period for the club, but they’ve managed to come out of those situations stronger and they are now thriving.
President Gordon Mabon told the Kilmarnock Standard: “It has been a good season, it was tough coming out of Covid trying to do well.
“About four years ago the club was struggling, we only had 37 members, but over the last three years we’ve increased that up to around 100 roughly.
“We also bring a lot of clubs in to help the community, and that’s helped us get new bowlers in too as it’s extra exposure.
“We’ve won three out of the five Grade A titles which is big, there won’t be many clubs who have also won the Hospital Cup and Glasgow/Ayrshire Cup in the one year.
“It has been a huge achievement for the club, it’s come on leaps and bounds.
“We have been bucking the trend that’s true, we had the council asking us how we are able to do it.
“My motto is that it’s a non-profitable organisation bowling club, so when you get the money in you spend it within the club.
“There is a number of members who help with upgrades, they’ve built decking, new lockers, new carpets, new everything, and that brings in more clientele to help the bar.
“That’s all we want, to show the community that we’re here, it’s a community club and we want people to come in.
“Plenty of clubs come in, the Man’s Club come in two days a week, Slimming World groups, addiction groups, Women’s Shed, these things are all helpful for the community.”
Mr Mabon continued: “We have fought adversity with Covid, we came through that with the clubhouse looking great.
“We then had to deal with young kids burning the hedges of the club, we’ve banded together and tried our best.
“We want the general public to know that, we don’t want kids doing that again.
“We are encouraging the community to come in, we’ve got a lot going on, come in and enjoy the place. Come and chat to anyone.
“Bowling is expensive there’s no getting away from that, you’re talking around £500 to buy your shoes, bowls and club kit.
“But don’t let that deter anyone, in here we’ve got spare shoes, spare bowls, spare kit, plus the membership year fees are only £20 for the first year.”
Northwest’s fabric convenor John Cairns has been buoyed by the success of the club, and he’s delighted to see so many members enjoying it.
He said: “Success tends to breed more success, because we’ve worked hard at this we are now attracting bowlers to leave other clubs and join us.
“People want the atmosphere here, and they want the success of the bowling.
“We were frowned upon in the bowling fraternity, just the club from the Scheme.
“But now it’s ‘oh no we have got to play Northwest’, and we are attracting bowlers of a good standard which just raises everything.
“I’ve had comments from people joining the club saying how welcome they were made to feel.
“Some bowling clubs you go to new people are sitting in the corner by themselves.”
The club are committed to helping the community and they’re set to show that again in the winter as they gear-up to host ‘Winter Warmer’ events.
Mr Mabon said: “We have plans during the winter to introduce a Winter Warmer event, we will put a wee film on the TV and get kids to come round for a bowl of soup with their parents.
“It’s going to be a warm space for people who are maybe struggling with gas and electricity, it’s sad that we need that but again it’s just something that will help the people in the community, as I keep saying that’s what it’s all about.”
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