History

The Club is now into its 26th year. Back in 1993, assisted by an $18,000 grant from the Rotorua District Council’s Sports Facility Fund towards greens development, enthusiastic foundation members began the transformation of a patch of rural land in Warwick Drive into Rotorua East Bowling Club’s home. The first bowl delivered on the top green was sent down in August 1993.

The first men’s president was John Taylor, while Viv Taylor was the first women’s president. Alan Sparks served as the Club’s first patron.

Within three years a large, handsome brick pavilion had been completed, overlooking two greens and a fund-raising Christmas tree plantation on a potential third green area.

In 1996 Rotorua East became one of the first bowling clubs in the country to amalgamate its men’s club and its women’s club, closely following the amalgamation of the New Zealand Bowling Association and the New Zealand Women’s Bowling Association to form Bowls New Zealand Inc.

Today Rotorua East Bowling Club provides roll-ups, championship events, open tournaments, a Twilight Bowls Competition, Have a Go events for the public, and winter indoor bowls using outdoor bowls.

Various organisations use the Club rooms, such as Probus, card players, mah jong enthusiasts.