Club History – Breakers Bowling Club Wamberal

Wamberal Men’s Bowling Club celebrated its 25 year anniversary on Saturday July 10 2010. The Club, is only a youngster by comparison with some of the older bowling Clubs on the Central Coast. It is a sporting Club of the progressive and modern Breakers Country Club which grew from humble beginnings in a tin shed and became licensed on September 18 1973 under the name of Terrigal Memorial Country Club (TMC).

With the support of a strong vibrant membership the TMC quickly expanded and by 1982 was considering the establishment of a bowling green at the Club and the formation of a bowling club. On August 13 1984 an inaugural meeting was held and the Terrigal Memorial Men’s Bowling Club was officially formed with foundation membership of 129 men. A ladies Club was founded on September 18 1985. Two greens were officially opened by Jack Ball, President, RNSWBA on July 6 1985 in the presence of Greg Oxley, President of TMCC.

Initially the Club had an identity crisis within bowling circles because of the similarity of names between Terrigal Memorial Country Club and Terrigal Bowling Clubs, so an approach was made to RNSWBA in 1987 for a name change. Wamberal which more accurately reflected the Club’s location was approved as the new playing name on August 28 1987. The aboriginal meaning of Wamberal is “Where the seas break”

During these formative years the Club maintained a very active bowls programme (including mixed games) with numerous visitations and annual inter Club competitions. The clubs first venture into District Pennants was a Grade 5 side in 1985 and with the greens not quite ready for competition play the Terrigal Bowling Club generously allowed the Club to use their greens.

Over the years the Club has developed a competitive spirit and has progressively gained the respect of other Clubs in the Bowls Central Coast, Zone 15, Pennant competition. It won its first Zone pennant, a Grade 7 flag in 1990 and then had to wait a decade before tasting success with a Grade 3 flag in 2000 and attendance at the State play-offs in Taree. Subsequent Zone flags were won in 2001, Grade 4, with the State play-off at The Entrance, 2004 Grade 6, State play-off Greenlees Park and 2008 Grade 3, State play-offs at Tumut.

The ultimate goal of winning a State flag has to date eluded the Club with its best performance reaching the State Grade 3 semi-finals at Tumut. Another memorable victory was winning the Zone 15 C Grade Mid Week Triples competition in 2007.