Double Bay Bowling Club has unveiled exciting plans for its immediate future with the membership overwhelmingly accepting a proposal to extend and refurbish the clubhouse.
A Development Application (DA) is to be put before Woollahra Council which calls for a deck to be added to the eastern side of the clubhouse adjoining the new bar area and level with the current clubhouse floor.
It will have stairs and a disability ramp for external access. as well as a modern barbeque area. The plans provide for a mechanical, louvered roof that can be closed. Heaters will be placed under the roof.
In keeping with the modernisation, the bar is to be upgraded and repositioned to give it an opening to the deck area.
The kitchen will be refurbished with the most modern equipment and be relocated to where the bar is presently, allowing for the serving of light refreshments on the new deck area.
The gaming area, with up-to-the-minute machines, will be adjacent to the club’s main entry, but will be screened for players’ privacy, whilst a section will be allocated for smokers.
A new toilet area for the club’s female membership will be constructed and the plans provide for disability toilets.
Another important part of the development is to provide new carpet and clubhouse furniture.
It is the first major modernisation of the clubhouse since Double Bay Bowling Club was established in 1942.
Overall the project aims to build a club that the membership would want to use more and would attract new members.
Double Bay, which has a sound financial base, has a current membership of 255 registered players (168 male, 87 female), the largest number of the 29 lawn bowling clubs in the Royal NSW Bowling Association’s Zone 11 (Eastern and Western Suburbs).
(Updated December, 2008)