Craigieburn Bowling Club president Darrel Cochrane is hopeful a new $1.8 million clubroom will lure more women to the sport.
Mr Cochrane says the male-to-female ratio of members is about 80 per cent men and 20 per cent women, “but we’re trying to change that”.
The president was joined by Hume mayor Helen Patsikatheodorou last week to open new clubrooms, which include a social room big enough to play carpet bowls in winter, a members’ room, a kitchen, bar and two verandahs.
Mr Cochrane says Craigieburn has 105 members and he expects that figure to swell now the clubrooms are open, and as the suburb continues to grow.
The 70-year-old says the sport has served him well since he retired five years ago.
“It helps keep you fit and outdoors soaking up the vitamin D.”
Australia’s first lawn bowls club started in 1846; now Victoria has more than 524 clubs.
Once dominated by retirees, the game has recently been taken up by younger generations.
Bowls Victoria has 850 registered members under the age of 20 on its books for the 2015-16 season and another 1200 members aged 20 to 30.
