Harpenden Bowling Club

Spenser Road, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 5NN Tel: 01582 766155

About Harpenden Bowling Club

Harpenden Bowling Club was founded in 1908 by eight local businessmen and celebrated it’s Centenary in style in 2008 having mixed matches with both the Chelsea Pensioners and Royal Household and was very fortunate to be offered return matches in the following year.    

Over the years our membership has fluctuated but during the last few years it has remained steady at around the 150 mark, one of the largest Club memberships in Hertfordshire. Our Club fixture list caters for bowlers of all standards, from friendly and sociable roll-ups to District, County, London & Southern Counties and National competitions. In recent years our Club has played a prominent role in these competitions as the standard of bowling has improved. There are several qualified Coaches at our Club to help newcomers learn to play bowls and provide remedial / improvement sessions for any player.

In 2001 the homely collection of wooden buildings which served as clubhouse, changing rooms and stores were replaced by a single fully furnished brick building. This was achieved with the help of a substantial lottery grant, mortgage and the generosity of members, the result has paid handsome dividends to our Club. With a green of outstanding quality the new facilities have made it possible for our Club to host some important matches including County and Eastern Counties matches as well as John’s Trophy matches.

In the Autumn of 2003 and the Spring of 2004 the Club replaced the old wooden ditch boards which were showing signs of wear. This was a major undertaking and the work was completed entirely by Club members. We now have pre-cast concrete units lined with astro-turf. In addition the north and south sides of the green were paved and steps added to the south embankment for easier access.

Our Club has achieved unparalleled successes in recent years with many first time achievements which are detailed on our Honours’ pages and celebrated in our Club Photographs.

Since the renovations the Club has won or been a close contender for the ‘Harpenden in Bloom’ leisure facility award for its magnificent outdoor floral displays and, in 2005, was able to attract its first sponsor the Harpenden Building Society.