KNYNSA NEWS - The Knysna Bowling Club celebrated its 100th anniversary last Wednesday with a centenary lunch held at the Simola Hotel, attended by 120 members.
The event marked a significant milestone in the rich history of one of the town's oldest sporting institutions.
The club, founded on 24 July 1925 at the Imperial Hotel on Knysna's Main Road (now the Foundation Shopping Centre), has come a long way from its humble beginnings. In 1929, the club leased land from Knysna Municipality to build its first bowling green - the start of a journey that would see it grow in both membership and community impact.
To date, it has seen 37 presidents, each contributing to its legacy. Current president John Rimbault, who joined the club four years ago, brought humour and nostalgia to the occasion with his speech.
"I thought bowls was just something you kept your snacks in," he quipped. "Now look at me - I own three pairs of white trousers and have strong opinions about the length of the grass! Back in the day, you had to wear a tie and whisper while playing. Today, we play with music on Sundays - someone even turned up in Crocs once. It took the committee three weeks to recover!"
John Rimbault
Behind the laughter was a deeper message: the enduring spirit of the club.
"This club has lived through wars, recessions, world cups and pandemics. Yet it has endured - a testament to the resilience, camaraderie and sheer bloody-mindedness of bowlers everywhere," Rimbault said.
He also thanked the sponsors and volunteers who have supported the club over the decades, helping it thrive through both good times and challenges.
Highlights from 100 years of bowling
1925 - Club founded at the Imperial Hotel
1929 - First bowling green built on municipal land
1942 - Membership stands at 17 men and 7 women
1949 - Clubhouse expanded to include modern toilets
1951 - Club flag flown for the first time
1957 - Second bowling green constructed
1958 - Brick clubhouse completed and honours board installed
1962 - Clubhouse extended; official KBC logo added
1981 - Membership grows to 180
1985 - First Knysna Winter Festival Bowls Tournament held
1991 - Knysna Winter Festival becomes Knysna Oyster Festival
1997 - First female president elected
1999 - Construction of third green begins
2000 - members plant 60 000 grass seedlings
2000 - 2001: Hosts SuperSport TV Tournament featuring top SA bowlers
2004 - Launch of business league for non-members
2012 - Water tanks installed to harvest roof run-off
2017 - Clubhouse serves as a refuge during Knysna fires
2019 - Temporary classroom for local schoolchildren
2020 - Club heavily impacted by Covid-19, as reported in Knysna-Plett Herald
2022–2025: Club rebounds with upgrades to the clubhouse and greens
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