Young lawn bowling star Nick Golledge is preparing for a State double at Soldier's Point this weekend and the following Friday. Photo: Barry Smith 17012BSA01
NICK Golledge can bowl up a good schooner.
The South Tamworth Bowling Club barman is also one of the club’s star bowlers and this weekend heads to Soldier’s Point (near Nelson’s Bay) to play in the State 4’s Championship with club teammates Chris Herden, Terry Cummings and Nev White.
Next week the 28-year-old heads back to the same club to play in the State Singles and then in November travels down to the Austral Club in Sydney to play the State Champion of Champion Pairs with clubmate Chris Herden.
It’s an exciting time for the talented young lawn bowler who has been playing for about eight years when he headed down to the bowling club to have a “beer and a roll- up with the old man”.
His father, Mark Golledge, had started playing a little while before as had his older brother, Ben.
“I enjoyed it from the start,” Nick Golledge said yesterday.
“I started playing a few tournaments and then won a few and picked up a bit of cash.”
He and Ben won a few pairs tournaments but when Ben left, Nick teamed up with young star Chris Herden.
“We’ve won a few,” Golledge said.
“In November we’re going down to Austral to play in the State Champion of Champion Pairs.
“Herdo’s pretty happy about that.”
Golledge did start working and playing at Tamworth City for about a year but then moved to South Tamworth Bowling Club.
“The rest of it I’ve played and worked here,” he said.
“They (South) have been very good to me.
“They’ve been a good club and look after us all well.
“I’ve got a good boss (Owen Walker) and Phil (Johnson) does a good job organising the bowls.
“We’re pretty lucky really.”
Winning CNDBA and Zone 3 singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours is nothing new for Golledge but winning at State would be a nice finish to the bowling year.