6 INTERCLUB • VOLUME 30, ISSUE 2 - 2024 REACHING CLUBS SINCE 1995 CLUB LIFE: NAENAE BOWLING CLUB Amazing Club with a real go-ahead attitude Naenae Bowling Club is one this country’s leading and innovative bowling clubs, sporting three beautiful outdoor greens plus a full-size competition-standard covered indoor facility. Manager, Natalie Cochrane, says its an amazing Club with a real go-ahead attitude to its development. With the greens it has on offer, it’s often the first choice for many National and International events, such as the recently held Trans-Tasman bowling tournament, covering Premier, Para-bowling and Development squads. “We have 200 full bowling members, but we are extremely proud to have another 1000+ Social members who are the backbone to our Club. We’re fortunate that we’re able to offer a great social gathering space, greens for social, club and competitive bowlers alike to play on, and we’re also home to the Taita RSA,” Natalie says. Naenae Bowling Club extends across a substantial footprint and helping Natalie on the day to day operation is a team of seven. Catering services are contracted, a structure that she says works well. “When the Club was set up here, it was decided to out-source the catering services. It works well for us, leaving me free to concentrate on day to day operations, taking care of the licensing obligations and liaising with my Executive who are very supportive of the Club and want to see it continue to thrive.” Naenae Bowling Club has 12 gaming machines which Natalie says perform well for the Club financially. She also has an indepth uderstanding and application ofthe legal ‘host responsibilities’ that come with operating gaming machines. “We host many events, both community based and corporate in nature. In any given year we would regularly host 50-60 corporate events. We’re the only facility that operates all year round, closing only for Christmas.” Because there is so much space Natalie says Naenae Bowling Club is often hired out for company team-building or training days. The history of the Club is interesting. Established at the then Naenae Reserve in Witako Street, Lower Hutt in 1945, it was, until 2008, a male-only bowling club. Women were warmly welcomed into the Club in the 2008/09 season and they have brought continued success to the Club at all levels on the greens since their arrival. Sue Russell In 2012, Hutt City Council presented the club with a proposal to build a new bowling facility on Mildenhall Park, incorporating two existing greens used by Park Avenue Bowling Club at the time. The proposal included to building a third outdoor green as well as a multi-million dollar indoor bowling space with associated social amenities. The $6.25million facility offically opened on 1 September 2017 and has never looked back. Anyone following national and international bowling tournaments will have witnessed events held on Naenae’s indoor green as bowling events are more frequently televised these days, giving a real boost in popularity and awareness of the sport to the wider public. “It’s a great entry level sport for anyone who wants to give it a go. We have public bowls available for social groups and the bowlers are very friendly and welcoming of new members. It is also now attracting many young players, changing the demographic of the sport.” Highlights of the yearly operation include, what Natalie describes as, a ‘fabulous massive’ Melbourne Cup day event. Other events, such as the next TransTasman challenge coming up in January, add to the excitment of the Club. “The best part of operating a bowling club with the facilities we enjoy is that everyone is welcome, whether they play the sport or not. “We’re just a happy, welcoming neighbourhood club who do our best to ensure everyone who visits has a great time.” ColdCraft Refrigeration LTD Refrigeration | Heat Pumps | Air Conditioning 0800 100 445 info@coldcraft.co.nz | coldcraftrefrigeration.co.nz Design - Build - Installation - Service Commercial & Industrial Refrigeration Specialists Available 24/7 in the Greater Wellington Region WE BUILD COOL ROOMS & CARRY OUT ALL MAINTENANCE WORK 30 Hillary Court, Naenae, Lower Hutt 5011 | 04 567 1838 PROUDLY SUPPORTING NAENAE BOWLING CLUB Open Hours: Mon - Fri: 8.00am - 7.30pm Sat: 8.30am - 7.30pm Sun: 9.30am - 6.30pm Leonie Gough and Larry Williams winners of the Kettles Cup.
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