The Inverness Bowling Club, located on Bishops Road in Inverness, is a historic and thriving lawn bowls club. Founded in July 1874 by 11 businessmen, the club initially had a membership limit of 30 individuals. The original green was situated at Bellfield Park before being moved to the Crown area. In 1882, the club purchased land on Bishops Road and opened the present green, which has been its home ever since.
In 1892, The Inverness Bowling Club accepted an invitation to join the newly formed Scottish Bowling Association. Members of the club played an integral role in the establishment of the Inverness and Northern Counties Bowling Association in 1925. Additionally, they were involved in the evolution of the Northern Counties Bowling Association from its predecessor in 1984. The club has since competed in the championships of these associations, achieving considerable success.
Over the years, the club has continuously improved its facilities. Today, its premises consist of a lounge, bar, function hall, catering facilities, and revamped changing rooms capable of hosting open competitions and Hamilton Trophy matches. In 1967, the club began admitting ladies as associate members and, in 1994, they were accepted as full members.
Throughout its long history, members of The Inverness Bowling Club have been prominent bowlers in the North of Scotland, achieving numerous successes in local, county, and national competitions. Notably, Mark Davidson and his wife Elaine won the National Mixed Pairs. The club takes great pride in its members who have played at the county and national levels. John McBean, Sandy MacKintosh, and Ian Penwright, for example, have represented the club at a national level, with Sandy also serving as a Commonwealth Games representative in 1982 and winning gold and silver medals in the Visually Impaired National competitions.
The Inverness Bowling Club has established strong ties within the community. Several male members play for the Northern Counties Hamilton Trophy Team, while several female members participate in the Northern Counties Ladies Team. The club also hosts various tournaments and open competitions throughout the year, providing opportunities for players of all levels to showcase their skills.
The Inverness Bowling Club welcomes new members. Prospective individuals can fill out the application form found on the club's website and send it via email. The committee, consisting of President Mark Airey, Vice President Murdo Macaskell, Junior Vice President Neil Strain, Secretary/Treasurer Jim Dow, Immediate Past President Matthew Sloggie, and committee members Anne-Marie Brown, David Christie, Alan Robinson, Niven Ross, Jackie Sweeney, and Gary Nicol, oversee the club's operations.
For more information about The Inverness Bowling Club and its activities, visit their website, which includes added amenities such as the acceptance of card payments (with a minimum spend of 5) and the upcoming installation of broadband in the clubhouse.