It may be the most uncertain of times, but Warilla Bowls is investing in its future with a major development to its facilities.
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The biggest club in Zone 16 is constructing a new alfresco area with a covered viewing to watch bowls on the No 1 green.
The development should be completed in the coming weeks and will include a new bar, pizzeria and burger bar plus an expansive children's play area and complete refurbishment of the existing bowls lounge.
Warilla are a powerhouse club on the green and boast some of the world's best bowlers including international stars Jeremy Henry, Aaron Teys, Corey Wedlock, Gary Kelly and Brendan Aquilina among others.
But the club also understand that growth of the sport at a membership/grass roots level means welcoming young people and families to enjoy the playing and social side of bowls.
The state of the art development will focus on ensuring families can enjoy a game of bowls over a meal and drinks with friends in a relaxed alfresco setting, while also having entertainment on hand for children.
While a timeline for the return of full-scale bowls is still unknown the new development will be perfect for showcasing Warilla to new members and guests.
Warilla is listed to host the 2021 State Pennant Finals in Grade 7, which although currently suspended could be rescheduled to 2022; ensuring the new development is available to hundreds of visiting bowlers and supporters.
Warilla Bowls' recent amalgamation with Corrimal BC has proved a success for the Northern Suburbs club with Warilla's funding of a massive refurbishment well received by Corrimal's members and guests.
Crowded 2022 bowls schedule
Even if bowls is not back in some form in the next few weeks it remains a massively busy period for administrators trying to navigate the medium-term future of the sport.
With a huge chunk of the Zone and State bowls calendar wiped out by the ongoing COVID lockdown there is plenty at stake in getting the best possible outcome for when the greens are filled again.
The State Match Committee is conducting twice-weekly Zoom meetings to deliver a state program for 2022 which includes trying to play the recently cancelled 2021 State Pennant Finals, plus find room for scheduling the Zone Champion of Club Champion Singles and Pairs competitions in order to run a 2021 State Champion of Champion Singles and Pairs finals early next year.
The 2022 calendar is already under pressure given Bowls Australia want its events incorporated ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from next July.
Warilla stars Aaron Teys and Corey Wedlock will be part of the men's Jackaroos side and face a hectic schedule of Zone, State and National events ahead of the national team being at its prime for the Commonwealth Games.
Bowls NSW Ltd is expected next month to release its Bowls Calendar for 2022 while it is also due to release the findings and recommendations from its Member Survey which was conducted in late May.
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