Falmouth Bowling Club, one of the premier clubs in Cornwall, is celebrating its centenary this year. The first meeting of the club, with ten people in attendance, took place on March 20 1908 at Falmouth Town Hall. It was decided to form a club and a subscription fee was fixed at five shillings (25p). On April 22 1908 the first general meeting was held in the town hall with 16 members present – mainly businessmen of the town. The first green was formed at Gyllyngdune Gardens for an annual rent of £4 and it was agreed to purchase two sets of bowls at a cost of £2 2s.

On October 23 1908, the club was offered a five year lease by the Recreation Ground Company – now Falmouth Rugby Club, our next door neighbours. In November the same year, it was unanimously agreed to accept a tender of £518 6d to put a new green in playing order. At this time the first clubhouse or shelter was erected at a cost of £16. The new green was formally opened on May 7 1909. The Mayor of Falmouth officiated and the club’s first President, Alfred Cox together with Captain T Whinyates and Honorary Secretary F Whiticar, were also in attendance. In 1914 the lease was renewed for five years and in 1920, more ground was leased to include tennis courts and allotments. A new lease was granted in 1921 for ten years at £12 per year. In 1924, mains water was supplied and installed at a cost of £910.

The year 1933 was a huge landmark for the club when its executive committee decided to purchase the freehold of the site for £500. This was completed on January 15 1934. A full sized green was first proposed in 1938 and extensions were made in 1948, but it was not until 1951 that the first full sized green was achieved.

In 1960 a new agreement was drawn up between Falmouth Bowling Club and Falmouth Ladies Bowling Club. At last, in 1997, a special meeting voted by a majority of 92 per cent to admit ladies as full members. Also in 1997, an application for a National Lottery grant was made to help cover the cost of converting the grass green to an all weather, artificial surface. The grass green was, by this time, in need of serious work and bowling on the end rinks was described as “playing on the side of a hill”. When the club’s main green advisor retired due to ill health and too few members were coming forward to keep the green in good condition, members felt it would be wiser to convert the green to an artificial surface. In 2000, Falmouth Bowling Club secured the grant and Greenguage was awarded the contract to lay the new artificial green.

That green has now been in use for seven years, both summer and winter, with three men’s teams competing in their leagues and the ladies playing Rippon and Date Cup matches. The club has also played a host of county fixtures and friendlies against visiting clubs. In the mild Cornish winters, men’s triples league games are played on Sunday mornings with 13 teams taking part. They play from October until April. Over the same period, the ladies run a triples league on Tuesday mornings. Because of the popularity of the winter triples, all the rinks are used. The green and surrounds are maintained by a green committee all of whom are volunteers. The upkeep of the clubhouse, the cleaning and the bar and kitchen duties are also carried out by dedicated volunteers.

In 2000 the clubhouse was once more modernised. The ladies changing room and old bar were demolished and replaced with a modern bar and lavatories for ladies, gents and the disabled. The kitchen was completely gutted and new units fitted. Its walls were tiled and new flooring laid. The main Function Hall was given a replacement floor, new furniture and chairs were purchased and the room was decorated to a high standard.

Falmouth Bowling Club is justifiably very proud of its facilities, which are recognised as being some of the best in the county. In the main hall, two carpet rinks are in regular use and teams play in the local leagues. The hall is also hired out for dances and private parties and a bridge club also meets there every Friday.

Over the years, Falmouth Bowling Club has had 13 Presidents, the current incumbent being Harry Stevens, a founder member of Falmouth Docks Bowling Club. There have been 56 Club Captains with the present incumbent being Ron Medlyn who, over the years, has been supervising the many improvements to the club. Falmouth Bowling Club now has 6 Life Members, 57 men and 44 ladies on the books. Over the years its players have been County Champions five times and won the Champions Cup outright in 1921. The club has also provided the county with players and its members have won the singles, pairs, triples and rinks as well as other competitions at both division and county level.