about us

Established in 1963 in an area of farmland in the suburb of Avonhead in the North West of Christchurch, the Burnside Bowling Club is located 3 km from Christchurch International Airport and 7 km from the city centre. The Club is situated in the 30 hectare Burnside Park which is also home to rugby, football, cricket, touch football, tennis and squash clubs. Play began in 1964 on the first of the three present-day greens. Initially separate men's and women's clubs shared the facilities but in 1998 Burnside became an amalgamated club. Today its 250 members make it the largest bowling club of the 58 clubs in the Bowls Canterbury Centre and indeed in the South Island. The three 36.6m x 36.6m maniototo weed greens are surrounded by attractive gardens with a central, large and welcoming club house which has separate dining room and lounge bar facilities. These features are complemented by a willing and skilled volunteer base and together the greens, facilities and volunteer group have made Burnside a focal point in attracting national and international events to Christchurch. Canterbury clubs are blessed with excellent greens and Burnside’s have set the standard for New Zealand conditions. These greens have been nurtured and developed by national award winning green keepers Ken Prebble (1987-2009) ,Glen Miller (2009 – 2021) and Jamey Ferris (2021 to present) to a level where many overseas players rate them among the best playing surfaces in the world. They have always received the highest praise for their consistency, pace and true line to the jack.

Since 2000 Burnside has been the headquarters for three National Championships and several Bowls New Zealand intercentre championships and regional events as well as Centre championships and representative matches. In the last decade the immaculate greens have hosted several international test matches including those against Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Malaysia, and South Africa. The Club successfully hosted World Bowls 2008 and before that the Asia Pacific Championship 2007. Burnside will once more be the headquarters for the World Bowls Championships in November 2016. This pinnacle event will again be shared with neighbouring clubs Fendalton and Bowls Papanui. In the lead up to World Bowls a series of international events has graced the greens and tested the organisational systems, volunteers and facilities – World Bowls Singles Champion of Champions 2013, Trans-Tasman Tests 2015 and 2016, Asia Pacific Championship 2015 and the Six Nations Championship 2016 – all passed with enhanced reputations.