As we approach our 150th Anniversary of the club, the excerpts below have been taken from our 1968 publication printed to give an insight into the “Auld Green’s“ first hundred years of existence.
Acknowledgement was made by the club at the time, recording their gratitude and appreciation of this publication to the following members of this time, and I feel it is only proper to name them again… to Mr Andrew Steel and the following members: Archie Alston, James Reid, Adam Miller, Tom Bryson and Dan Cameron.

Larkhall Bowling Club must have been among the earliest, certainly prior to 1868, but how early we just don’t know.
Our earliest “Bowl House“ seems to have been a hut, but this was soon replaced by a single storey brick built Club House. Throughout the years this has been extended and adapted and indeed the process is still going on today. We have today, from the earliest structure, developed and modernised a club-house which is admired by all visiting bowlers.
Gleanings from the Minutes
In the earlier days of the Club, life was simpler and more leisurely than in recent times and even the minute book did not escape a secretary’s witticisms.
1869      Membership 56.  Subscription 10/-.
1870      Treasurer intimated he had no money to carry on the business of the club. Agreed to borrow £100.
1873      It was agreed that the practice of playing from corner to corner of the green be prohibited.
1876      Plans submitted by Mr G.Watson for new Bowl House, his contract price for Joiner, Plumber and Slater                  was £44. A committee to look after brickwork. Gas to be installed in Bowl House, cost not to exceed 5/-. 
1877      A claim for £5 from R.Frame , Joiner, for loss of Hay Crop during building of Bowl House not entertained.
1878      The Treasurer reported all the money was locked up in the City of Glasgow Bank and he had not enough             to meet the Bowling Club Account, much sympathy was expressed. Arrangements made to claim from                  Bank Liquidators. Cash in bank was £17.17.0.
1879      It was proposed to charge non-members 6d. for admission on Opening Day. This was agreed to.
1881       Water was introduced to the Green at the corner near to entrance at the cost of £3.
1891       It was agreed to buy 1500 cut and boxed turf 12in. by 14in. at £115 F.O.B. (Freight on Board) at Islay from             Robertson of Islay. Arrangements to be made for steamer to bring turf to Glasgow --- Mr Robertson, Islay               wrote saying it would be a fortnight before it would be ready to load. The secretary stated he had already              sold 300 sq. yds. Of our present turf at 6d per sq. yd. to Hamilton Caley.
            Mr. James Barr stated he had arranged with Bowmere Distillery for a schooner to carry our turf from                   Islay to Glasgow for the sum of £25. This was agreed to.
            The Secretary stated that he has chartered a steamer “Helen McGregor” now lying at Islay to bring the                 turf to Glasgow at once for £30. A copy of the charter on the table was agreed to and read a letter from               Bowmere Distillery to hold us responsible for 4/6 per ton for the schooner. It was agreed to take no notice               of it. A letter was also read from Mr Robertson, Islay, asking for £90 to account. Mr. Barrie submitted his             report as to the position regarding Bowmere Distillery claim for £22.10.0.  Mr. Barrie gave his opinion that             the club was liable for the freight but subject to deduction of damage to the turf in the delay which                     would have occurred if it had waited on the schooner.
            Life was Simpler  ???

1893      A Committee meeting was held tonight. The first tie prizes to be a pair of trousers length, and a leg of                   lamb was drawn for.
1897      The Larkhall Curling Club asked permission to get the loan of our two barrows for their new curling                   pond. It was agreed to grant them the use of same, on the condition if damaged in any way they would             repair same.
1899      The Greenkeeper intimated that he wanted a holiday on 5th August. This was granted after great                     discussion.
1900      Subscription £1. Entrance fee 5/-. Old members to be admitted free.
1901       Greenkeeper re-appointed at 24/- per week.
1902      The sum of £3.3.6. was collected for Ibrox Disaster.  (The 1902 Ibrox disaster was caused by the collapse of              a stand, which led to the deaths of 25 supporters watching a Scotland v England football game. 517                    supporters were injured. It happened on 5 April 1902 at Ibrox Park (now Ibrox Stadium) in Glasgow,                    Scotland).
1903      New Storey on Present Building. Estimates from following were accepted.                                                         Masons,Joiners,Plasterer,Plumber,Painter and Tiles, totalling £136  5  6.
            Here were thirty nine applications for job as Greenkeeper.
1904     Paid 3/7 to Andrew Wilson for coal supplied to the Club during past winter. Bannatyne and Jackson to l             look after green at the rate of 28/- per week.
1905      It is interesting to note that an opportunity to be registered under to new licensing act of 1905 was                     turned down unanimously. A levy of 3d per member was passed on each member taking part in the                   Promiscuous Game. The new upstairs of the pavilion was repainted at the cost of 50/-.
1907      It was decided to returf the whole green at the cost of £95 – 10/-. This included 300yds of Cumberland               turf, wooden edging and drains.
1910       There were twenty resignations in this year, this did not worry the directors unduly as there was a big                  waiting list.
1912       Club in debt £260  12s  3d.  It was unanimously agreed to scrap the minute book owing to some                       malicious party interfering with it.
1914      Considerable discussion arose over the question of gambling in the pavilion.
1916       A member expressed his opinion that too much whisky was consumed at private games. Attention was                 also drawn to the question of writing out lines for horse racing.
1917       It was agreed the club should entertain a party of 30 wounded soldiers in the pavilion. Dinner and Tea             to be provided. During that season a sum of £173 had been raised for war charities.
            Records appear to have gone missing during this period.
1944     The Directors agreed to an offer of £5 for the heavy roller from the Dog track.
1945     Mr. William Tennant was appointed Greenkeeper at £3  5s per week. Membership 102.
1950      It was proposed and seconded that the club revert to the system previous to 1946 whereby the President                 pays all expenses on Opening Day.
1954     It was decided by a large majority of the members to apply for a Club License. This was granted and                  towards the latter part the year this additional profitable amenity was being enjoyed by all.
1955      This year the club had the honour of staging the game between a visiting team from South Africa and a            representative team from the Lanarkshire association. Our President Mr James Fairley took part in the                  game which Lanarkshire won by 34 shots. Interest was expressed by the visitors in the Memorial Flagpole              which had been erected that year to the memory of the late Mr John Steel, who had taken part in many              international representative matches. This was a ‘Red Letter’ day the game being played in ideal weather              and Mr D Hitchins of South Africa in his speech of thanks at the dinner said this would be a wonderful            memory they would take away of Larkhall Bowling Club.
1956      A Silver medal originally gifted to the club in 1875 by Dr McKenzie was restored to our trophy collection.             And in this year the Rodger family presented the John Rodger trophy which is now our Chamionship                  Cup, An interesting point about this cup, is that it had won by one of the late Mr Rodger’s trotting                      ponies! 
1957      Annual Burns Supper was started in 1957 and has proved one of the Clubs most popular winter events.
1958     The bar continues to do well, but a complaint had been made regarding the lack of propriety whisky. A                promise from Messrs. Jas. Keith Ltd., that supplies of propriety whisky would be increased.

          The Latter years of the century were noteworthy mainly for the improvements made at the clubhouse and             its furnishings, and to ensuring the financial stability of the club. The members enter their century                     comfortably housed without debt, a position throughout the last 100 years sometimes seemed incapable of           achievement. 

About the Club



Affiliation
  
Bowls Scotland    District 19
LBA      Lanarkshire Bowling Association