Summer at Poverty Bay Bowling Club

Recently, while chatting about what makes Gisborne special, we got thinking about those local gems that have been part of our community fabric for generations. You know the ones – they've been there forever, but somehow they keep reinventing themselves, staying fresh and relevant for each new generation.

The Poverty Bay Bowling Club is exactly that kind of place. When a group of bowlers decided Gisborne needed a third club back in 1920 alongside Gisborne and Kahutia clubs, they probably couldn't have imagined what their venture on Ormond Road would become. Starting with just a simple green on the corner of Ormond Road and Hall Street, the club steadily grew – installing floodlighting, extending the clubrooms, and most recently, laying an artificial turf surface that allows year-round play.

Friday Nights Just Got Good

Picture this: It's Friday afternoon, you've wrapped up work, and instead of the usual rush home through Gizzy traffic, you're standing on a bowling green with the evening sun warming your back, about to send a bowl rolling toward the jack while the smell of beef burgers wafts from the kitchen. This is Bowls, Burgers & Bevvies – the club's weekly social evening running until Christmas.

Every Friday from 5pm to 7pm, the club throws open its doors for what might be the most relaxed introduction to lawn bowls you'll ever find. The beauty of it? You don't need any experience. The club provides the bowls and coaching if you want it – just bring flat-soled shoes and maybe some mates. Whether you nail your first bowl or send it sailing into the next rink, nobody's judging. There are raffles to win, burgers to demolish (nuggets for the kids), and that perfect Friday atmosphere where the work week melts away. (A big thanks to the sponsors for Bowls, Burgers and Bevvies: The Village Butchery, Pak n Save and Leaderbrand.)

Wahine Bowls: Where Women Roll Together

When the club participated in Well Wāhine Week organised by Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti, something became crystal clear – women wanted to learn bowls as a group, in a relaxed environment, without the perceived pressures of jumping straight into club roll-ups. And since afternoons didn't suit many of them, Thursday mornings became the perfect solution.

Now 15 months strong, Wahine Bowls has become a Thursday morning institution. Starting at 9:15am, women gather for a fun, social morning where learning happens naturally through laughter and encouragement. Every session wraps up with morning tea – think yummy scones, sandwiches, or muffins – because what's better than bowls and baking combined? Several participants have now become full members, and once a month, a mini tournament brings out those competitive streaks that were just waiting to surface.

It's the perfect example of the club's inclusive approach, recognising that sometimes the best way to learn is when you feel completely comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and celebrating those small victories over a cuppa. All wāhine are welcome, with non-members paying just a small green fee to join in the fun.

Why Bowls? Why Now?

Here's what nobody tells you about bowls – it's like meditation with mates. Each delivery requires focus and visualisation, engaging your mind in that sweet spot between concentration and relaxation. You're moving, bending, walking (surprisingly, you can clock up decent steps in a game), but the controlled, low-impact nature means your knees, hips, and back stay happy. It's the perfect antidote to desk jobs or physical trades – gentle enough to avoid injury, active enough to keep you mobile.

There's something quietly revolutionary happening in lawn bowls. The sport is shedding its traditional image and emerging as genuinely inclusive – one of the few activities where age, fitness level, and experience don't create barriers. Whether you're recently retired and looking for your next chapter, or still working but craving something more meaningful than gym sessions, bowls offers that rare combination of mental strategy and physical activity wrapped in genuine social connection.

With membership options from full competitive to casual, the club maintains a good balance of male and female members, all enjoying the benefits of Gisborne's only artificial green that's playable in any weather. The club's modern approach focuses on participation rather than just membership, creating opportunities for everyone to engage with the sport at their own level. With the Wahine Bowls and Bowls, Burgers and Bevvies initiatives, it's a sport that's tactical without being overwhelming, social without being forced, and active without leaving you gasping – the kind of activity that suits our Gizzy lifestyle perfectly.

Your Invitation to Roll

As we head into summer, there's something comforting about a local institution that's been weathering storms for over a century. After celebrating its centennial in 2020 and coming back stronger after cyclone Gabrielle with a brand new green, the Poverty Bay Bowling Club isn't just surviving; it's thriving, evolving, and creating new ways for our community to come together.

In a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, here's a chance to be part of something real and local – a friendly environment that's been bringing Gisborne people together for 105 years and counting. The mental health benefits are real: the focus required quiets the mind, the social aspect and banter brings good vibes, and there's something deeply satisfying about watching your bowl curve gracefully toward its target. Plus, where else can you learn a new sport, win a raffle, and knock back a burger all before 7pm on a Friday?

Whether you're joining the wāhine on Thursday mornings or rolling up for Friday night's social scene, there's a place for you on the green.

See you on the green, Gizzy locals. Let's roll into summer together.

Poverty Bay Bowling Club is located at 111 Ormond Road. Find more information on their facebook page or email questions to Secretaryatpbbc@gmail.com.