History of the Host Club
and its greens

Regina's first lawn bowling club was constituted in 1912 when land now occupied by the Provincial Health Building was donated by the Saskatchewan Government for a green. Ten years later in 1922 the land was reclaimed by the government. The City of Regina then became involved, donating land near the General Hospital to build a green. In 1928, this land was also reclaimed for the purpose of building a power plant.

In 1929 Confederation Park in Exhibition Park became the next site for a lawn bowling green. The club continued there until the City allocated the land now known as Leslie Park. The members themselves then built the "West Green". They were supervised by the City assistant engineer, Mr. Talbot, and two club members. A short time later, a clubhouse was also built. Membership (circa 1932) was 54 men and 20 ladies.

In 1935 the ladies formed their own Victoria Club at the same site. With steadily increasing membership, a second club (of 40 members), the Caledonian, was formed at the same site in 1936. Two small clubhouses were built around this time, both of which were finished and financed by the ladies club members. The "West Green" was also improved in 1936 and a new "East Green" built.

The Second World War intervened and by 1947 the "East Green" had reverted to weeds. The club's problems increased when its secretary, Mr. Talbot, died. All club records were lost and never found. At that critical time in its history the Regina Club might have folded but for the tireless effort of its greenkeeper, Val McMillan. Aside from the time he spent as a full time postman, the rest of his working hours were spent at his beloved bowling green.

Good times returned in the late 60's to the RLBC with support from the City, and especially its mayor, Henry Baker. A new clubhouse was built and opened in 1970 and the new "East Green" was reseeded. Membership was almost 100. In the 1972 Annual National Championships hosted at the Montreal Club (Lachine, Quebec), women bowlers, for the first time, competed alongside the men. The Regina Club's bid to host the second such event was accepted. That news alerted the Club to its need for a third green. The new green was built to the north of the "West Green". Membership was then well over 100.

The City was again approached to build a fourth green to support the Regina Club's bid to host a major event in 1981. Although Canada was successful in its bid to host the 4th Women's Bowls (16 countries), and the Regina Club lost out to the Willowdale Club of East York, Ontario as the tournament's venue, the club did succeed in getting its fourth green which was built on the north side of the "East Green". Only a few years later with the construction of Saskatchewan Drive, this newest green was levelled and third green was reduced to a practice green. In compensation, the City built two new sand-based greens to the west side of the clubhouse. The original "West Green" was now no longer 'west', but actually one of the two east greens. To avoid confusion, Club member Fred Johnson built 4 large signs designating the clubs four greens, from west to east, as A, B, C and D.

The four greens have since hosted four Canadian Championships (1986, 1990, 1996 & 2003), the inaugual Junior Championships (1996), and the inaugual Canadian 1999 Senior Triples Championships. This year we will also be hosting an international event the North America Challenge. One of only 3 four-green facilities in Canada, they along with our hospitality and pies, are the talk of all bowling visitors! We are proud to be hosting the Nationals in 2006.