01/09/2026
Napier Bowls Club History
The building of the bowling green commenced in 1964.
The local municipality donated a section of land, a loan was procured, and Melt Keller, manager of a local bank (Volkskas), took the lead in establishing the bowling green and handled all the administration thereof. He was the initiator of the bowls club in Napier, and that is the reason it was originally called the Keller Bowling Green.
Piet Groenewoud, a local farmer and civil engineer, did the surveying, measurements and groundwork with the help of his fellow farmers, who supplied and delivered building materials, sand and gravel.
The construction of the green and planting of grass was done by Hannes De K**k, Josie De K**k and Tommie Keyter.
On 23 February 1967, the Bowling Club was founded, and the first management committee consisted of JC Fourie (Chairperson), AJ Scheublé (Vice-Chairperson), CJ Human (Secretary), HW Le Roux (Treasurer), and Hannes De K**k (Greenkeeper).
Napier Bowls Club would become the first club to draw up its constitution in Afrikaans. J Erasmus provided invaluable help in setting it up.
On 6 April 1968, the opening of the Keller Bowling Green was held, but due to there being no clubhouse, Tommie Keyter provided his caravan and tents for the occasion.
The first ladies' committee was formed on 7 August 1968. Members were Issie Lotter, Joleen Keyter, Bettie De K**k, Letsie De K**k and Chaleen Scheubelé.
A building committee of three members was formed, namely Hannes De K**k, Melt Keller and Issie Lotter, and on 19 April 1969, the clubhouse was inaugurated.
The first local tournament was held on 31 May 1969, and players competed for the Steenkamp Trophy. In the same year, floodlights were erected, and in 1979, the expansion of the clubhouse started.
In February 1980, the newly expanded clubhouse was put into use, and players competed for the Woods Trophy.
From 1980 to 2005, the club membership started to dwindle and, unfortunately, in 2005, the bowling green was completely destroyed and washed away after heavy rain and flooding struck the low-lying parts of town near the river, causing the club to cease operations.
After a long hiatus, the club was revived in March 2017 following renovations initiated by the Napier Belange Groep in 2016. Membership began returning, and growth amongst seniors was seen in 2019. Currently, the playing membership fluctuates between 20 and 30 social and competitive bowlers, whilst there are also social non-playing members.
The club has always welcomed beginners and those who have not played before, and all are welcome to come and try it out. Coaching is offered, whilst the club's facilities are available to hire for private functions.
Napier Bowls Club is a distinct local bowling venue.
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Die rolbalbaan is begin bou in 1964.
Die Munisipaliteit het ’n stuk grond geskenk, ’n lening is verkry en Melt Keller, bestuurder van ’n plaaslike bank (Volkskas), het die voortou geneem met die bou van die baan en al die administrasie daarvan gehanteer. Hy was die inisieerder van die rolbalklub op Napier en dit is die rede hoekom dit voorheen die Keller-rolbaan genoem is.
Piet Groenewoud, ’n plaaslike boer en ook ’n siviele ingenieur, het die opmeet- en grondwerke gedoen met die hulp van mede-boere wat die boumateriaal, sand en gruis aangery het.
Die bou van die baanoppervlak en die plant van die gras is gedoen deur Hannes De K**k, Josie De K**k en Tommie Keyter.
Op 23 Februarie 1967 word ’n Rolbalklub gestig en die eerste bestuur is gekies, naamlik JC Fourie (voorsitter), AJ Scheublé (vise-voorsitter), CJ Human (sekretaris), HW Le Roux (tesourier) en Hannes De K**k (baanmeester).
Hierdie klub sou die eerste wees om sy konstitusie in Afrikaans op te stel. J Erasmus het hierin waardevolle hulp verleen.
Op 6 April 1968 word die Keller-baan geopen en aangesien daar toe nog nie ’n klubhuis was nie, het Tommie Keyter sy karavaan en tente vir hierdie geleentheid verskaf.
Die eerste damesbestuur word op 7 Augustus 1968 gekies. Hulle was Issie Lotter, Joleen Keyter, Bettie De K**k, Letsie De K**k en Chaleen Scheubelé.
’n Boukomitee van drie, naamlik Hannes De K**k, Melt Keller en Issie Lotter, word verkies en op 19 April 1969 word die klubhuis ingewy.
Die eerste plaaslike toernooi, waarin om die Steenkamp-trofee meegeding is, is op 31 Mei 1969 gehou. In dieselfde jaar word spreiligte by die baan aangebring en in 1979 word die klubhuis vergroot.
Dit word in Februarie 1980 in gebruik geneem toe daar meegeding is om vir die Woods-trofee te speel.
Vanaf 1980 tot 2005 het die klublidmaatskap begin afneem en ongelukkig is die baan in 2005 heeltemal vernietig deur swaar reën en oorstromings naby die rivier, wat veroorsaak het dat die klub se bedrywighede gestaak is.
Na ’n lang onderbreking is die klub weer in Maart 2017 herleef, na opknappings wat deur die Napier Belange Groep in 2016 geïnisieer is.
Lidmaatskap het weer begin groei, veral onder seniors in laat 2019, en vanaf daardie tyd tot 2026 het dit gewissel tussen 20 en 30 sosiale en mededingende spelers, plus sosiale lede.
Die klub verwelkom beginners en spelers wat nog nooit tevore gespeel het nie. Almal is baie welkom om te kom en dit te probeer. Afrigting is nou beskikbaar en die klub se fasiliteite kan vir funksies gehuur word.
Napier Rolbalklub is ’n kenmerkende plaaslike rolbalplek.
