History of Balgonie Bowling Club

The Club was first mentioned at a Public Meeting held on Friday 26th of August, 1913 in the Victoria Memorial Hall and chaired by Mr John Provan. The meeting discussed the possibility of Mr Balfour, (owner of Balfour Collieries and Estates), financing the provision of a bowling green at the Coaltown of Balgonie.

The following Committee were appointed, John Provan, William Hutchison, John Dow Sen., Thomas Hutchison Sen., David Spear, William Wilkie, Thomas Gilmour, John Grieve and James Dalrymple (interim Secretary and Treasurer)

The contractor for the work was named as Mr Robert Provan, Rutherglen and his initial estimate for the work was £320, without pavilion, fences and drains etc. After a site inspection by the contractor at the end of August, and with an agreement that the Club would do the excavations, draining, bottoming and all carting, the estimate was reduced to £244. This was formally accepted at the Committee Meeting held on the 2nd September 1913. The site was staked off and the excavations began on the 9th September 1913.

 

The agreement between Mr Balfour and the Club was formally agreed at the Committee Meeting held on the 8th October 1913. The agreement comprised eight sections as follows;-

1. Mr Balfour agrees to be at the expense of providing a bowling green with Bowhouse at Coaltown of Balgonie, the members agreeing to make the excavations, lay the bottoming and ashes etc.  for the contractor.

2. All the soil excavated will be deposited within the site of the Bowling Green.

3. The Club shall be managed by a Committee and the Office-Bearers shall be limited exclusively to employees of Mr Balfour’s Collieries and Estate. The Committee shall draw up rules and regulations for the proper conduct and management of the Club, and if possible the subscriptions of the members shall be fixed annually at such sum as will keep the Club free from debt. The Committee shall have power to charge members other than employees of Mr Balfour’s Collieries and Estate a larger annual subscription but in no case less than that paid by these employees.

4. The Club undertakes to keep and carry on the Bowling Green from season to season in a proper playing condition.

5. The green shall not be open for play on Sundays without the written consent of Mr Balfour or his Colliery agent.

6. Two copies of the annual statement of accounts shall be supplied to Mr Allan, Agent of the Colliery, or his successors in office, three days before the Annual Meeting of the Club.

7. Entry shall be as from Martinmas 1913 and the Club shall pay to Mr. Balfour the sum of 5/- as rent for the Bowling Green at the term of Martinmas annually beginning Martinmas 1914.

8. Should the rent fail to be paid, or should the Club fail to carry on the Bowling Green in a sportsman like manner and for the purpose for which Mr Balfour has given it, he or his successors shall have power to resume possession at any term of Whitsunday or Martinmas on giving six months notice.

The agreement was formally signed by Mr John S. Allan (Agent of the Colliery) and Mr John Provan (Chairman of the Club).

At the same meeting it was agreed that the entry money be set at 2/6 and the annual subscription be set at 10/- for ordinary members, to be paid before April 1914. (This is 12.5p and 50p in new money.)

 

The first Office Bearers of the Club were elected at the General Meeting held on 20th March 1914.

Honorary President       Charles B. Balfour Esquire

President                      Mr John Allan

Vice President              Mr John Provan

Secretary                      Mr James Dalrymple

Treasurer                      Mr David Speir

Committee                    J. Grieve,  D. Lindsay,  W. Hutchison,  J. White,  H. Friel,  J. Hill

Green Ranger               Mr John Dow

Overseer                       Mr William Wilkie

 

The green was formally opened on the 25th April 1914 at approximately 3:30pm, when  Mr Charles S. Balfour officially handed the green over to his employees and the opening jack was thrown by Lady Nina Balfour.

The contractor presented Lady Nina with a silver jack and the Bowling Club presented Mr Balfour with a pair of gold mounted bowls.

 

The green was finally opened for play on the 30th May 2014 with a match between the President v Vice President, with four members from Markinch B.C. and Windygates B.C. invited to participate.

Mrs Provan presented the Club with their Flag.

The result of the opening game was: President 73 points and the Vice President 92 points.