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Princes Park Bowls Club. A fully licensed bar in a park
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Princes Park Carlton Bowls Club
Situated in Princes Park Carlton we offer fun and good times to all!
"I'm too young to take up bowls"![]()
Frank foolishly told a former president over 40 years ago when solicited to join our club.![]()
Robbie was a much 'wiser' young man and jumped at the chance to play pennant for us.![]()
He'd been working behind the bar alongside being a 'liaison officer' with the barefoot bowling crowd. It was a Hand in Glove fit to step up and sport a PPC guernsey ( albeit wearing non approved shorts for quite some time ).![]()
" You've got to wear proper shorts Robbie."![]()
Frank needed 30 years to pass before he received the next unsolicited phone call from a PPC president. He was either ready by that stage or Santo Caruso was a lot more persuasive than the other past president . ![]()
Cashiers in Brunswick supermarkets were regularly pestered by Santo to take up bowls during his 'short reign'. The former owner of Melbourne Sports Books was considered our club's best ever recruiter and a proverbial serial pest.![]()
" It's that annoying little man asking us if we'd like to bowl on Saturdays."![]()
Frank readily admits that not having taken up bowls earlier in life has been a major regret.![]()
However at the 'sprightly' age of 84 he's going through a purple patch and been a regular lead in our Firsts...keeping a few blokes, half his age stuck in the Seconds waiting for a chance for the call up.![]()
Yes, Bowls really is The Beautiful Game.
Uniform Irregularities ![]()
When this photo was taken over 40 years ago a visiting contingent from Hong Kong caused 'uproar' in the bowls fraternity when they appeared at an International Women's Bowling Carnival![]()
wearing shorts and short skirts on the green.![]()
In the early 1980s this was quasi scandalous.![]()
The accepted attire was how this Australian 'lady bowler' ( on the left ) dressed on the green.![]()
We suspect the cries of 'How dare they',' who do these Asian hussies think they are' was heard around the traps.![]()
Fast forward over 40 years.![]()
One of our newest members recently visited a bowls shop to buy himself a pair of approved shorts, and when asked what club he belonged to, was met with some eyebrow raising from a staff member.![]()
" When I worked in Bowls Victoria the amount of letters we received relating to uniform irregularities concerning your club caused us headaches."![]()
Over the years we've recruited some colourful personalities from a few unconventional sources.![]()
Quite a few of the clubs we play against have the benefit of associations with cricket, football and netball clubs from where they 'organically' recruit new members. ![]()
We don't, so we need to think outside the box.![]()
Our membership base is a Motley Crew, top heavy with what one of our detractors once labelled 'weirdos and oddballs'. ![]()
We affectionately refer to ourselves as a Dad's Army contingent.![]()
We've placed a lot of importance recruiting and introducing these 'oddballs' to the Beautiful game of Bowls. And over the years quite a few of them have worn the 'wrong shorts or socks' to field our pennant teams. We make no apologies for our occasional cavalier and unconventional ways. ![]()
As I once pointed out to a conservative opponent who was running a critical and judgemental eye over a few of our member's 'dress sense'.
A Wonderful Weekend ![]()
Both sides had wins on Saturday. ![]()
Our Seconds had their first win of the season against Brunswick and our Firsts had another convincing 40 shot win against Moonee Valley, a side that gave us a 'spanking' at the beginning of the season. ![]()
At the start of round 3 we found ourselves bottom of the table. ![]()
We go into the break second on the ladder.![]()
A remarkable turnaround, considering the unavailability list our selectors were dealing with.![]()
It's no secret that we were struggling to get our members onto the green for the first half of this season, however we've finally managed to get into 3rd gear. ![]()
We actually had bankers on Saturday.![]()
An unimaginable luxury a month ago. Once we return after the Christmas break we suspect a few of our members will be complaining about not getting a regular game.![]()
Oh well, keeping everyone happy at a bowls club...an exercise in futility.![]()
However, as long as the MAJORITY are happy, we're doing a pretty good job.
Pains in the Arse![]()
Not these two, however occasionally we come across unpleasant opponents. Who go out of their way to be difficult.![]()
Kara came up against an opponent who took pleasure in highlighting everything she did 'wrong' on the green. It wasn't done in an instructive manner, it was done to belittle her. ![]()
And we came to the conclusion that it was done in a nasty manner.![]()
Kara's a first year bowler and her enthusiasm, up until this match was infectious.![]()
However after the game she was positively deflated.![]()
"I don't want to spend my Saturday afternoons putting up with that bullshit."![]()
It took our selectors quite some time to get her back playing Pennant. ![]()
And we're delighted that she's back on the green.![]()
Bowls needs more bubbly and enthusiastic recruits like Kara and far fewer 'Battle-axes' belittling those new to the game.![]()
We look forward to seeing Kara's game progress and becoming a valuable member of Princes Park Carlton Bowls Club
We've had our BEST weekend of the season. ![]()
The club was positively buzzing on Saturday. ![]()
The greens were full of barefoot bowlers,we had our Christmas breakup and there were animated post match rap ups being told over a few drinks.![]()
Our Firsts continue their winning streak having convincingly beaten Gladstone Park. ![]()
A team that thrashed us in the first round of the season. And our Seconds managed to field a FULL team, for the first time this season. Not only did they field 16 on the green, they managed to win two rinks against Alphington Bowls Club Inc, undefeated top of the table team...to win our firsts points of the season.![]()
It FELT like a win.![]()
Whilst a few of our members have been 'missing in action' and placing strain on the ranks and giving our selectors MORE WORK than necessary, there has been a stand out effort on the part of Andrew Buckley ![]()
He's waiting for heart surgery and has been advised not to play pennant. ![]()
However he's been troubled seeing our Seconds playing short every week. He made himself available yet again, however only managed to play 7 ends before retiring to the bench. ![]()
His rink ( skipped by his brother Dave Bucks ) still managed to pull off a 16 shot win playing one player short.![]()
Another valiant PPC performance.![]()
Here's to having two FULL teams on the green next Saturday. ![]()
It feels like Princes Park Carlton Bowls Club has gotten into 3rd gear... and we can't wait to 'get her into 4th'.