The History Of Sandyhills Bowling Club

Sandyhills Bowling and Tennis Club opened the doors to its members on 4th December 1930, the Tennis section were off serving and deucing straight away, while the bowlers would have to wait two years to have ‘a throw’!
The opening of the bowling green was officially carried out by Bailie W T Doherty on Saturday 9th April 1932. Originally there was no liquor license although this didn't mean there was no drinking done. The Directors then used to pay the Secretary, say ten shillings when the Boardroom cupboard needed to be re-stocked, and at the weekly Saturday night dances, Directors and perhaps office bearers and notable visitors would be invited to the Boardroom for a wee dram at the discretion of the Secretary.
The club was originally called Sandyhills Bowling and Tennis Club and there were three red blaze courts at the east side of the green where the public play area is now. There was an active and well supported tennis section but interest waned in the early sixties to the extent that there were no players left and the courts were unused. They became a nuisance in that the wind blew the blaze onto the green so the site was completely cleared and eventually sold back to the Glasgow Corporation, in accordance with the conditions of the original purchase agreement, for a sum of less than £400. It would be worth a wee bit more now.
The outward appearance of the club has altered over the years with bits and pieces added on. For instance when the place was built the verandah was open with a glass lean-to roof supported by cast iron pillars and windows in the hall looked onto the verandah. Around 1967, though I’m not sure of this date, a new structure was built which extended to the edge of the green with a door at each end giving access to the far end of the club (though not into the hall because the windows were still in place). The work was mainly done by two late members - Sam Donnan and Bob Murray (Kenny's father).
The new verandah, though a big improvement, had two major disadvantages, one being the limit of access to the hall and the other that it was right up to the edge of the green, so it was dismantled and the present one built. The windows and the brickwork under them were removed thus opening the verandah to the hall. It was intended to remove all of the wall between the hall and verandah and insert a beam to support the roof but the cost was considered too high and that is the reason the present pillars have been retained and are essential for supporting the roof.
In 1966 the club applied for, and was granted, a club liquor license during the presidency of Willie Henderson (Harris's father). He stayed on as President for another year as his V.P. felt he wasn't ready for the job that year!. The boardroom was converted into a bar and called the Last End. The original locker room (where the bar is now) was too small and some lockers were moved into the hall at the corner where the display case is now.
In 1971 when Eddie James (Colin’s father) was President we decided to build an extension onto the East end gable creating the present lounge and a games room above. The existing brick-built green keepers shed was incorporated in the structure and is now the beer cellar. The estimated cost was around £7500. The design, drawings and submissions etc were done by a then member Ian Munro with no cost to the club. Some money was loaned by Tennent Caledonian, which incidentally was repaid well within the specified time, and arrangements made through Royal Bank to have an overdraft facility of up to £4000. This was given, with reluctance by the then Manager, until I pointed out that as they held our title deeds on a property valued at around £25000/£30000 they were hardly running any risk. This project was completed in 1972 .
The snooker table was bought second hand for £350 and put on the specially strengthened floor in the games room. It weighs, so I was told, some 15 cwt.
The bar was moved to its present location and the boardroom recreated. Prior to this we had no boardroom and meetings were held in the ladies room, which at times, caused a few problems.
Another extension in 1987/88, funded again by Tennent's, extended the games room and created the locker room.
In 1990, the 60th Anniversary of the club, the hall, and the bar were refurbished and equipped with new furniture and apart from building the storage shed at the SW corner of the green there have been no other projects.
This year there was a change in policy regarding prizes in order to save money and its interesting to note that years ago, I suppose many years ago, competition prize winners got their names inscribed on the appropriate trophy and that was their sole honour.  Information kindly provided by Douglas Chesney