MABC Take on Australia’s Best(er)
Mt Albert Bowling Club members Nathan “Rang” Haturini and Steve “Rambo” Ramsay recently represented our club at the prestigious 2024 Australian Open. Their journey began with catching up with several fellow Kiwi bowlers, including MABC member and NZ Bowls legend Gary Lawson, the Hill family (Jamie, Ryan, and Bones), Dean Edge from St Heliers, and Kevin Beasley from Howick at the Broadbeach Bowling Club.
Singles
Rambo kicked off his campaign on Saturday with the Singles event at Coolangatta. Even though Rambo didn't secure a win, his performance was commendable, considering his only practice on Australian soil was trial ends and a roll-up at Tugun Bowling Club.
Rang started his Singles on Monday at Mermaid Bowling Club, where he found the greens to be super slow and narrow, just as they had anticipated. After losing the first game, Rang won the second but needed to win the third by 8 points. He was ahead in the game but in the end he missed this target, going down 21-19.
Despite knowing the greens would be very different and the competition intense, they adjusted quickly to their new bowls, which they had been practising with over the past few months.
Pairs
With sunny weather and perfect temperatures ranging from 18-22 degrees, Rambo and Rang commenced their Pairs campaign at Tugun Bowling Club. They started strong with a win but faced tough competition in their second game against Robbie Bird and John Brien from Stokes Valley in Wellington, who they played in the Taranaki Fours in January. Despite playing some great bowls, they couldn’t overcome their opponents and finished third in their section.
Fours
On Thursday, Rambo participated in the Fours event, with Rang stepping in as a substitute due to an injury. They played at Broadbeach Bowling Club, with Rang as lead, Rambo as number two, Kevin Beasley as third, and a local player skipping. After two comeback wins, they were up against another team with two wins.
There was a large crowd watching, and while they liked to think the spectators were there to see them, it was more likely due to the experienced team they were up against. The team consisted of Mike Caroll from Wellington, Scottish Internationals Kevin Anderson and Ryan Burnett, and skipped by the current Singles World Champion, Ryan Bester.
The match was an incredible experience, highlighted by Bester’s exceptional drives and precision shots, showcasing why he is one of the best in the world. A memorable example of this was Bester’s final two shots of the game. With Rang and Rambo’s team holding shot, Bester drove the Jack into the back of the ditch, concrete flew everywhere as the Jack hit the top of the ditch and bounced back onto the Green and they were still holding. Bester’s final bowls saw him dead draw to secure the win.
Despite being well beaten, their team scored a memorable 5 points against their star-studded opponents.
Supporting Fellow Club Mates
On Thursday, Rang and Rambo made their way to Club Musgrave to support their teammates in the first knockout round of the Fours. With fellow Mt Albert members Tony Grantham and Gary Lawson, along with two bowlers from Victoria Bowling Club in Wellington, the team had advanced to this stage after a strong performance in their section, securing two wins out of three and qualifying at the top by points difference.
Despite their best efforts, they faced tough competition and were ultimately defeated, bringing their Fours campaign to an end.
Exploring the GC Bowling Clubs
The bowling clubs on the Gold Coast were truly remarkable. Each club they visited varied significantly in size, from the smaller Tugun Bowling Club to the massive Helensvale Bowling Club, which pulls in $1 million in revenue per day. Every club is well-equipped with restaurants and/or cafes on site, as well as large areas for events, functions, or Barefoot Bowls (Roll-Ups).
Most clubs feature three or more grass greens, and the favourable weather greatly contributes to their success.These features, along with the presence of pokie machines (Helensvale boasting 200 on-site) makes these clubs vibrant community centres that attract both bowlers and non-bowlers looking for a great place to meet and dine.
The trip was an unforgettable experience, and they highly recommend the Australian Open as a fantastic playing holiday for anyone looking for a challenge.
Rang, Rambo, teammates and opponents at the Australian Open, 2024
