Ocean Grove Bowling Club (OGBC) has been awarded a prized spot in the Victorian Bowls League 2 (VBL2) as a new franchise.
OGBC will be the third of eight new clubs to be awarded a new franchise. After a successful inaugural season, VBL2 will commence in July with finals competed in September.
OGBC chief executive Nathan O’Neill said joining VBL2 will open opportunities to participate against highly rivalled clubs across Victoria.
“We aim to optimise our bowls pathways from grassroots to elite at Ocean Grove Bowling Club and being involved in VBL2 is an integral step forward to provide a greater pathway for our athletes,” he said.
The eight inaugural franchises who participated in VBL last year will return, along with eight new franchises.
Clubs from Dandenong, Sunbury, Moama, Deer Park, and Warrnambool will all be competing alongside OGBC in VBL2.
“We continually challenge our members to reach new heights, this will be another opportunity to benchmark ourselves against some of the best,” OGBC GM bowls development Matt Flapper said.
Ocean Grove recently completed a hugely successful season, including being Champions of State Pennant and winning the Geelong Bowls Region Saturday Pennant premiership.
“Our best is good enough and we look forward to being part of VBL2,” Flapper said.
OGBC is currently planning to undergo a redevelopment consisting of a world-class undercover 16-rink bowling structure.
“We are looking forward to seeing the redevelopment come to fruition over the next 12 to 18 months,” O’Neill said.
“The completion of our future redevelopment will further advance us in having a local and national prominence.
“The redevelopment will lure major events to the community to increase tourism and deliver positive economic growth.”
With VBL2 commencing in two months, the remaining franchises will be announced in the coming weeks.
