Kia ora {{First Name}},
A short newsletter update on what your Board and members are up to over the quieter off-season- tarting with last weekend's Future Plan hui, facilitated by Steve Clifton (some of the attendees pictured above). Thanks to all of the members who attended and contributed to the session- we're still happy to hear any ideas or suggestions for how we can make our club even greater.

The Board now has focus and plan that will help grow membership, club funds and future-proof the club. This is encapsulated in 6 Key Goals for the coming season:
1. Grow and cement the AIC partnership
2.  Artificial Green Development Plan 
3. Volunteer engagement plan
4. Growth in Membership Participation
5. Commercial revenue growth
6. Promote digital technology

We'll be reaching out to members who have expressed an interest in volunteering their skills, services and time to the club on registration to help with these various initiatives but the biggest burden on the club is members to steward groups that book our greens during peak season.

This isn't complicated or particularly arduous, is usually under the lead of members who have stewarded a lot, and even comes with a $50 Westfield voucher for every session a member stewards! We'll hold the first Stewarding 101 session on open day so everyone can see what's involved.

president's update
Welcome everyone, and thank you for taking the time to stay engaged and involved during what is traditionally our quieter period. For an off‑season, we’ve certainly managed to keep ourselves busy — both on and off the green — and it’s been fantastic to see the club humming with activity.

The new committee met for the first time this month, and I’m genuinely encouraged by the synergy and shared vision around the table. The alignment we have gives us a strong, clear pathway for the coming year, and I’m confident that together we’ll continue strengthening Rocky Nook Bowling Club across all areas of our operations.

Key Events from the Last Period
Winterclub is underway, and after two well‑performed playing days, we currently sit mid‑table in what is an expanded and highly competitive group. With a win and a loss against each club so far, it’s a great reflection of how far we’ve come over the last 12–18 months. Our leads and 2s — many of whom are year 0–2 bowlers — have been stepping up under pressure and securing valuable bonus points. Their composure and growth have been impressive, and it’s clear the development work happening behind the scenes is paying off.

Winter coaching for our 0–5 year bowlers continues across the regions, and we’ve had strong representation from Rocky Nook. I’ve heard plenty of positive chatter about the sessions, with excitement building toward the end‑of‑coaching tournaments. A special mention goes to James Winter, whose enthusiasm for the game seems to grow by the week — especially now that he’s looking to invest in new bowls and join Team Aero. Great to see that passion taking root.

We also held our Club Hui, with 10 members attending to discuss and strategise how we can grow and strengthen the club across all operational elements. The discussions were positive, robust, and constructive, and we finished with clear alignment on what we need to do to be successful both on and off the green. Thank you again to everyone who contributed — your voice matters, and your commitment is appreciated.

Upcoming Key Events
The final qualifying week of Winterclub is approaching, and two strong wins could see us finish in the top four of our group and advance to the finals. With our members regularly playing, training, and sharpening their skills, our chances are as good as they’ve ever been.

Winter coaching concludes with the Canoe & Campi tournament weekend on the 15th & 16th of August. If you’re free, come down and support our junior members — it’s a great chance to see the next generation of stars honing their craft. The ABCA Cup follows the next weekend, offering a fun and social continuation for our juniors after the intensity of C&C.

A friendly reminder: dress for the wet and cold. It’s practically tradition for these events to be played in gale‑force winds and sideways rain. Consider it character‑building… or at least a good test of your waterproof gear.

Closing Remarks
There’s been some excellent bowls on TV over the last two weeks with the Commonwealth Games underway. While results haven’t quite gone New Zealand’s way so far, the quality of play has been outstanding. It’s exciting to see how much the sport has developed across Asia and the Pacific, with emerging nations putting up strong performances against the traditional powerhouses. The evolution of bowls — especially the short‑format version — is great to watch. With the success of the WBC in Australia and now the Commonwealth Games format, the future of our sport looks incredibly bright.

Thank you again to those who attended the hui. The camaraderie among our members, both on and off the green, is one of Rocky Nook’s greatest strengths. It’s this spirit that will help us become a real force in the Auckland bowling community over the next 3–5 years.

That’s it from me. May your bowls be true, your grass be green, and your excuses be believable.

Morgan McConnell - President

winterclub
Team Kōtare sit mid-table in their section after two weeks in, let's say, challenging conditions! The forecast is fine for Sunday so hopefully that's the difference that sees them break into finals contention.

season opening
The full calendar will be confirmed shortly, but mark Saturday October 3rd in your diary for the season opening- which will be a little different this year!

Ka kitē, and Up The Wahs!