Geskiedenis van die Stellenbosch Rolbalklub: 1942 - 2022 (80 Jaar)
Deur die 1800’s was sportsoorte soos jukskei en papegaaiskiet nog gewild op Stellenbosch, maar teen die einde van die eeu het ander sportsoorte soos krieket vinnig gewild geword. Later ook voetbal, soos rugby destyds na verwys is. Pogings tot beter fasiliteite het meer aandag begin kry. Die Universiteit Stellenbosch se ontwikkeling was meer ten gunste van die studente en in 1919 is ‘n plaas tussen Welgevallen, die proefplaas van die Universiteit, en Coetzenburg gekoop, wat gelei het tot die Coetzenburg-sportfasiliteite wat ons vandag ken. Die studente kon natuurlik daaruit voordeel trek, maar boere en werkers het probleme met vrye tydsbenutting ondervind, wat gelei het tot die stigting van die Vlottenburg Rugbyklub. In 1921 word die Springbok Tokkie Scholtz kaptein van die Vlottenburg-klub, en met sy dryfkrag trek die klub vanaf Vlottenburg dorp toe. In die Raadsnotules van 31 Januarie 1922 het die Burgemeester en raadslid Cluver verslag gedoen oor hul gesprek met die Administrateur waardeur die stadsraad verlof gekry het om Bergzicht-plaas van 76 morg by die heer Du Toit te koop. Dr. Bosman het namens die Raad die plaas vir £6 825 op ’n veiling gekoop. Die doelwit was om ’n park daar aan te lê.
Op 25 April 1922 het die Stadsklerk gerapporteer dat Tienie Louw kennis gegee het dat hy op 26 April sou begin om die terrein by Bergzicht vir voetbal voor te berei. Tienie Louw was die eienaar van die plaas Neethlingshof en Voorsitter van die Vlottenburg- en Van Der Stel Sportklubs. Die burgemeester Charlie Neethling en raadslid Hermanus Stiglingh sou toesien dat dit volgens ooreenkoms geskied. Die klub sou ook herinner word daaraan dat die vergunning om daar te speel, slegs vir die 1922-seisoen sou geld.
Dat die klub vroeg in 1923 nog die Vlottenburg Voetbalklub geheet het, blyk uit die aansoek in die Stadraadsnotules toe hulle vir die komende seisoen weer die voetbalveld wou huur. Die versoek is toegestaan en hulle kon dit vir elf maande teen £1 huur. Hulle kon selfs onder die toesig van die stadsingenieur tydelike geboue op die terrein oprig. Nadat die Vlottenburg Voetbalklub in Februarie verlof gekry het om die voetbalveld by Bergzicht vir die 1923-seisoen weer te huur en selfs tydelike geboue op te rig, is die eerste verwysing na die “Van der Stel Football Club” op 6 Junie daardie jaar gevind. Toe die klub in Januarie 1924 ’n tydelike kleedkamer, badkamer en toilet van hout en yster wou oprig, het die Stadsraad slegs vergunning vir ’n houtkonstruksie met ’n sinkdak gegee. Hierdie klubhuis was toe gebou waar die BAT parkeerarea tans (2024) gevestig is.
Die naam is toe later verander na die Van der Stel Sportklub en deur die jare heen het verskeie sportklubs benewens rugby, begin ontwikkel. Bergzicht se Kaap-Hollandse woonhuis is deur die jare heen vir sakebedrywighede gebruik en huisves nou die Bergzicht-opleiding en ontwikkelingsentrum, en die Rolbalklub sou later langs hierdie plaasopstal se geboue ontwikkel word. ‘n Staanplek vir waens en ander voertuie, veral vir boere wat dorp toe gekom het om inkopies te doen, het ontwikkel. Die ou Bergzicht-plaas se buitegeboue is ook deur die boere wat in die dorp wou oornag as stalle gebruik. Hierdie stalle sou later verander word om die Klein Bergzicht Teater te huisves wat later tot op die grond afgebrand het. Die Stellenbosch Tennisklub is intussen gestig en in 1922 as klub begin fungeer.
Die ontstaan van die Stellenbosch Rolbalklub kan tot sover as 1939 teruggevoer word toe Mnr J.L.S. Franzen dit op homself geneem het om ‘n rolbalklub op Stellenbosch te begin. Hy skryf in sy dagboek gedateer Januarie 1939 “I will have to keep my promise that I would some day tackle the question of forming a bowling club”. In ‘n volgende inskrywing gedateer 1 Februarie 1939 skryf hy weer “I think of tackling the question of starting a bowling club”. Uit nog ‘n uittreksel uit sy dagboek gedateer 9 Februarie 1939 skryf hy: “Start canvassing Dr Mally, Abe Bosman, van Coppenhagen, Dr Cillier, Jan Smith, Bouman, Taute. It appears the time has arrived for successful starting. I WILL ACT ON MY OWN AS A ONE MAN SELF APPOINTED COMMITTEE AND WILL PROBABLY GET SOMETHING DONE.
Uit latere uittreksels blyk dit dat verskeie mense hom nou ondersteun en aanmoedig o.a. Prof Edgar (wat later vir die eerste 5 jaar die President van die klub was), R.C. Okes (Magistraat), Frank Pope (Assistent-magistraat) en P.J. Roos.
‘n Latere inskrywing meld dat Mnr Franzen sy vriend Prof C.S. Edgar besoek het met die doel om hom ook geïnteresseerd te kry in die idee om ‘n rolbaklub te begin. Die besoek het vrugte afgewerp en saam het hulle geen steen onaangeroer gelaat om dinge te laat gebeur nie. Daar is veral moeite gedoen om die regte soort gras in die hande te kry. Advies is uit verskeie oorde ingewin en voortvloeiend hieruit het Mnr Franzen dit op hom geneem om gras, waarskynlik grassaad, op ‘n plaas van Dr Reitz naby Harrismith te bekom. Hierdie keuse het geblyk baie suksevol te wees.
Die eerste kennisgewing wat uitgestuur was om te vra wie geïnteresseerd sou wees om by so ’n rolbalklub aan te sluit, is op 21 Oktober 1940 deur R.C. Okes in samewerking met Mnr Franzen en Prof Edgar uitgestuur. Die eerste vergadering wat hierop gevolg het, is gehou op 23 Oktober in die ou Good Hope Café. Dit is bygewoon deur 28 persone o.a. deur C.F. Markotter. C.F. Markotter was Oubaas Markotter se seun. Baie vergaderings is hierna gehou en teen 1942 is ‘n komitee in die lewe geroep wat bestaan het uit Prof Edgar (President), P. Mohr (Vise President), Mr J.L.S. Franzen (Hon Secretary), L.C. Van Coppenhagen, M.L. Louw, Dr Diemond en Mr Tyres (Tesourier). Die regsfirma Cluver en Markotter sou as die Stellenbosch Rolbalklub se amptelike borg in later jare die klub deur moeilike tye help dra.
Tam Butler (Mowbray), Mnr Harry Furness (Worcester) and Mnr John Longwill (Hermanus) se name word spesiaal genoem as hulle bedank word vir hul waardevolle insette om die baan te bou terwyl daar veral van Mnr Franzen se onvermoeide ywer spesiale melding gemaak word. Om aan te haal “To Mr Franzen therefore, the Stellenbosch Bowling Club owes a debt which cannot be repayed except perhaps by ensuring at all times that the game is played in the spirit of good sportsmanship and good fellowship.
Op 12 Desember 1942 is die huidige fasiliteite van die klub geopen, formeel gestig, en is daar vir die eerste keer op die baan gespeel. Die eerste President van die klub was C.S. Elgar. Een van sy opvolgers as voorsitter/president was P.J. (Paul) Roos wat die amp in 1947-1948 beklee het. Hy was op daardie stadium lid van die Volksraad en is kort daarna onverwags op 67 jarige ouderdom oorlede. Sy verbintenis met die Paul Roos Gimnasium is welbekend. Hy het na baie jare as Rektor (1910 – 1940) duidelik ook ‘n rol gespeel in die beginjare van die klub. In 1906 was hy Kaptein van die Springbokspan wat na Brittanje getoer het. Dit was die eerste keer dat ‘n Springbokspan oorsee gaan toer het.
Dié klub het aanvanklik as die Stellenbosch Rolbalklub bekend gestaan maar die Munisipaliteit het later om Administratiewe redes besluit dat daar te veel afsonderlike klubs is, en gevolglik moes die hokkie, krieket, tennis, muurbal, rolbal, judo en al die ander subklubs onder een sambreel geplaas word. So het die Van der Stel Sportklub tot stand gekom. Vroeg in die jaar 2000 is die Vlottenburg Rolbalklub, wat begin doodloop het, by die Van der Stel Rolbalklub ingelyf. Die lede van daardie tyd wou toe graag weer die naam Stellenbosch Rolbalklub in ere herstel, maar die Van der Stel Sportklub was nie daarvoor te vinde nie. ‘n Kompromie is toe aangegaan en die naam is verander na die Stellenbosch van der Stel Rolbalklub. Gedurende 2022 is egter besluit dat die naam tè lank en ongemaklik was en is dit terug verander na Stellenbosch Rolbalklub.
Van 1942 tot ongeveer 1980 het die klub net een perk gehad en ‘n tweede een, die Paul Roux- perk, is toe bygevoeg. Die klubhuis self was baie kleiner en het glad nie oor ‘n kroeg beskik nie. Dit het bestaan uit Mans en Dames kleedkamers, ‘n klein kombuis en sitkamer (Lounge) maar geen kroeg nie. Die lede moes met tee tevrede wees. Uit latere aanbouings kon afgelei word dat daar ‘n spasie van 5-6 meter tussen die klubhuis en die rolbalperk was asook ‘n stoep wat met dik kleiteëls bedek was. Daar is tot vandag toe nog tekens van hierdie teëls oor.
Die reëls van die klub, soos ook elders by rolbalklubs in die algemeen, was baie streng wat kleredrag betref het. Die dames kon byvoorbeeld nie ‘n langbroek dra nie, en moes ‘n rok dra wat tot onder die knie gestrek het. Dit is glo gereeld gekontroleer om seker te maak dat dit nie te kort is nie. Hulle moes ook onder sekere omstandighede ‘n hoed dra.
Toe het daar ‘n baie belangrike verandering by die klub plaasgevind. Die voorste muur van die klubhuis is met ongeveer 3 meter nader aan die A Baan geskuif wat die binnekant van die klubhuis baie vergroot het. Die afstand tussen die klubhuis en die A perk het dus met ongeveer 3 meter kleiner geword. Dit blyk ook dat die kombuis met meer as ‘n meter na agter uitgebou is. Dit moes om en by 1980 gebeur het. Daarmee saam kon ‘n klein kroeg en ‘n groter sitkamerruimte (lounge) gevestig word. Die kroeg is deur lede self gebou.
Om en by 1983 is daar nog ‘n groot verbetering aangebring toe die huidige eetsaal aangebou (10m x 10m) is met fondse wat deur die lede bymekaar gebring is. Lede is gevra om elkeen R100 by te dra (re John Malan). Hierdie toevoeging was ‘n reuse verbetering en toernooie soos bv. “All Days” kon toe suksesvol aangebied word. Die klub se inkomste op hierdie stadium het gekom uit die jaarliks ledegeld, kroeginkomste, baanfooie en skenkings indien enige asook All Days. Op so ‘n dag kom speel spanne van ander klubs vir die hele dag lank ook by jou klub. Dit is die gebruik dat etes o.a. dan ook voorsien word. Dit was ‘n belangrike fondsinsameling inisiatief.
‘n Jaarverslag gedateer 30 Junie 1995 toon dat die wins van die kroeg daardie jaar R1,650 was. Daar word ook gemeld dat die teegeld (wat later die baanfooi genoem is) op R1 vir elke speelgeleenthheid bly asook dat die jaarlikse ledegeld nie verhoog word nie maar op R50 sal bly. Die totale inkomste van die die klub in die 94-95 seisoen word aangedui as R6,632 en die uitgawes R9,362 Die klub het in daardie finansiële jaar dus ‘n verlies van R2,730 gely. Twintig jaar later was die klub se inkomste net meer as R1.3 miljoen met ‘n baanfooi van R25 en die Jaarlikse ledegeld R2000.
Die gehalte van die klub se bane het oor die jare al meer verbeter. Dit was veral onder die leiding van Johann Gerber wat sedert die jaar 2000 vir meer as 20 jaar die Perkemeester was, wat die gehalte van die bane tot ‘n A klassifikasie verbeter het. Die klub se A-perk is in 2009 baie toepaslik na hom vernoem en staan bekend as die Johann Gerber Perk.
Daar is in 2006 besluit om nog ‘n persoon aan te stel wat kon help om die gronde goed versorg en netjies te kry en ook in die tuin te help. Hiermee saam moes die klub tuingereedskap aankoop om die Munisipaliteit se take oor te neem. Die klub se finansies was van so ‘n aard dat die hoofklub moes help om die koste te dra op voorwaarde dat hulle ook die gereedskap kon gebruik wanneer nodig.
In 2006 word ‘n ideal waarvoor, een van die klublede, Johan van der Westhuizen hom beywer het bewaarheid. Die pale, ligte ensovoorts vir die spreiligte is billik angeskaf vanaf ESKOM wat toe nie ‘n nut daarvoor gehad het nie. Die opening van die Spreiligte op die B baan het plaasgevind op Donderdag 19 Oktober 2006. Die eerste bal is gerol deur die Uitvoerende Burgemeester Lauretta Maree onder die wakened oog van die klub se President Johann Gerber en vise President Lome van der Weshuizen. Johann Gerber was ook die Perkemeester.
In 2007 begin Herman (Snorre) Theart om ‘n groep nie-rolbalspelers op ‘n Woensdagaand by die klub onder spreiligte te betrek. Dit sou die voorloper van die Aandliga (Sakeliga) wees. Hy het egter kort voor lank hierdie inisiatef van hom aan die klub oorgegee en gesê “nou moet julle maar oorvat”.
Dit het in 2007 na ‘n jaar se “gesukkel” om die B baan se bane (waar die spreiligte was) vol te kry maar die Sakeliga idee op ‘n Woensdagaand het vining meer gewild begin geraak. Die buitebraaiarea het toe nog nie bestaan nie en daar was nou veral ‘n groot vraag na ‘n geskikte braai- en kuierplek buite. Een van die lede, Jan Smitsman neem die verantwoordelikheid op hom om so ‘n braaigerief die lig te laat sien. Hy het die planne laat optrek en ook die projek befonds. Die klub het onderneem om die geld aan hom terug te betaal soos geld beskikbaar kom. Die Planne is in Augutus 2009 deur Rotumbo Argitekte opgetrek en die bouery het kort daarna begin. ‘n Enkele knap messelaar bygestaan deur van ons eie tuinwerkers het die meeste van die werk self gedoen. Jan Smitsman het ook ‘n baie knap skrynwerker, Dave Pope in diens geneem om die Kroegtoonbank, die soliede houtstuk bo die kaggel (“mantelpiece”) en dubbele deure na die klubhuis se kroeg uit Oregon Pine te maak. Die plaveisel (plaveistene) is deur die Van der Stel Sportklub geskenk. Die braai is in 2010 voltooi en in gebruik geneem. Dit sou 14 jaar later na Jan vernoem word as die Jan Smitsman Braai.
‘n Goeie klankstelsel is intussen aangekoop om musiek te verskaf en ‘n buitekroeg by die B Perk is ingerig omdat die binnekroeg te klein was om die volumes te hanteer. Die voorsiening van etes (Babie Bredell en Louise Coetzee) was ‘n volgende stap. Op hierdie stadium het Marlene Lambrechts (She was everybodies darling en uiters bekwaam.) al meer betrokke geraak by die werwing van spanne en aanbieding van die sakeliga. Sy sou vir die daaropvolgende 15 of meer jare ‘n reuse bydrae lewer tot die ongekende sukses van die Sakeliga. Hierdie sukses onder haar leiding en haar span helpers het in momentum gegroei. Deur skenkings wat sy bekom het kon rojale pryse uitgedeel word en intussen is mooi houtbanke laat maak (totaal 7) vir die onderdakbraaiplek wat deur die aandliga spelers en ook van die klublede geborg is. Die koste van die banke wat uit soliede houtsleepers gemaak is, was R3000 elk.
Die maksimum wat op so ‘n aand ingepas kon word, was 112 spelers, 28 spanne van 4 elk op 14 bane. Dit was egter gou duidelik dat die omvang om etes op so ‘n aand deur lede van die klub te voorsien te groot was en buitepersone is ingekry om dit oor te neem. Ollie met sy Potjiekos etes en Braai op die laaste aand, het dit vir baie jare gedoen.
Die President Lieb Swiegers se wederhelf Marthie Swiegers, het orde geskep om die chaos teen te werk wat veroorsaak word as 112 nie-rolbalspelers balle soek om die aand mee te speel en alles moet na die tyd weer ordelik weggepak word. Sy het netjiese sakkies gestik waarin twee balle elk pas, alles volgens grootte georden sodat dit ordelik uit- en ingeteken kon word. Hierdie taak het sy vir baie jare op haarself geneem en waar nodig mense opgelei om te help. Brian Shepherd wat ook tydens hierdie jare President van die klub was het nooit geskroom om sy volle gewig in te gooi by die aandied van die Sakeliga en ander Bunksies nie.
Hierdie Sakeliga- en Buitefunksies inisiatief het genoeg fondse gegenereer om die braai af te betaal en verdere projekte aan te pak soos:
- Die vervanging van die Wendy-huis stoortjie met ‘n 12m skeepsvraghouer.
- Opgradering van die bestaande masjienerie wat baie afgeleef was,
- Opgradering van die klub se walle (Johann Gerber)
- Opknap van die klub se gebou buite. (Bernabe Strydom)
- Aankoop petrolaangedrewe grassnyer en Groomer. (R108,000)
- Beligting van die klub binne om ‘n gesellige atmosfeer te skep.
In 2013 word aansoek gedoen vir Lottofondse (R200 000) om die klub uit te brei. Nuwe kleedkamers vir die dames het hieruit voortgevloei en ook die eetsaal te vergroot (Trofeekamer). Pretplan (Botha Pretorius) het die planne gratis vir die klub gedoen.
Intussen het ‘n nuwe tendens nou ontstaan wat as uitvloeisel van die Sakeliga beskou kan word. Dit is om te fokus op funksies van nie-lede en groepe wat die geriewe wil benut en betaal vir spanbouaksies waarmee klublede dan behulpsaam is. Besighede in groepe van 40 tot ‘n 100 mense kom speel rolbal, braai vleis en geniet hulself. Die waarde van die fasiliteite om geld te genereer bo-en behalwe die Sakeliga met die aanbied aan buitegroepe teen betaling is nou terdeë besef en toegepas. Pietman Retief wat voorheen betrokke was by Rembrandt en Brandewynstigting was ideal geskik vir diè taak en het hier die inisiatief geneem en dit baie vinning gevestig en nog verder uitgebrei. Hy was vir etlike jare met ‘n span in beheer hiervan, en Karin en Johann Burger het later by hom oorgeneem. Dit was ‘n groot en ondankbare taak wat tot groot voordeel van die klub gestrek het. Die klub het nou oor ‘n invloei van geld beskik vanaf nie-lede en sakeondernemings.
Die Klein Libertasteater wat sedert 1967 in die ou Bergzichtplaas se “stalle” gehuisves was, het op 13 Junie 2015 afgebrand. Die Teater se oorblyfsels is gesloop en verwyder. Dié oop stuk grond tussen die Rolbalklub en die dorp se Taxi-staanplekke, het gou haweloses mense gelok wat hier strukture begin oprig het omdat dit vir hulle ‘n ideale blyplek was. Daar was egter geen voorsiening gemaak vir lopende water en toiletgeriewe nie. Die heining tussen hierdie nuwe “nedersetting” en die klubgronde was opgeroes en totaal onvoldoende om mense uit te hou. Boosdoeners het begin om vanaf die klub se krane en watertenke water vir huishoudelike gebruik. Maar dit het ook tot plundering van veral koperdraende items soos krane en elektriese kabels gelei. Alles moontlik is gesluit en verpak om die situasie te verbeter maar die probleem is steeds nie opgelos is nie. Mike Kühn en Lieb Swiegers het veral in dié tye baie waardevolle bydraes gelewer. Hulle pogings het later o.a. ‘n ordentlike nuwe heining en verbeterde alarmsisteme opgelewer.
Intussen, gedurende 2016, is die ou dameskleedkamers, wat op daardie stadium in ‘n onordelike stoorplek van “rommel” ontaard het, omskep in ‘n funksionele kroeg met stoorruimtes asook ‘n klein kantoor en ‘n groter sitkamer. Hierdie kroeg kon toe die groter volumes hanteer en was dit nie meer nodig om ‘n tydelike kroeg buite aan te bring by groot funksies nie. Die omskepping van die kleedkamers na ‘n kroeg het ‘n groot impak op klub in geheel gehad omdat die klub nie sonder ‘n kroeg behoorlik kan fungeer nie.. Bertha Lane wat die kroeg vir baie jare puik bestuur het, het ‘n tydelike kroeg in die eetsaal ingerig wat voortgegaan het om die nodige diens aan lede te lewer.
In 2017 tref ‘n erge droogte die Wes-Kaap en sportvelde en tuine mag nie meer met drinkwater besproei word nie. Om die perke en tuin te red word ‘n noodplan in werking gestel waarvoor daar nie begroot was nie. Teen meer as R100 000 word watertenks aangebring, pomptoerusting aangekoop en ‘n pypleiding vanaf die hoofklub se boorgat na die klub aangelê. Die perke kon nou effektief besproei word, maar op ‘n stadium moes water (grys water) met tenklorries aangery word en selfs die brandweer is ingespan om te kom help.
Met die waterkrisis agter die rug is die kombuis aangepak. Die ou kombuis is in sy geheel uitgebreek en in 2021 totaal nuut oorgedoen. Met al die veranderinge by die klub is soveel as moontlik van die ou wingerdstokke en ander karaktereienskappe van die klub behou.
Jannie Malan wat sedert 2006 by die klub betrokke geraak het was uit die aard van sy posisie op die bestuur ten nouste gemoeid met die bou van die buwe braaiarea, die aanbou van die nuwe kleedkamers en vergroting van die eetsaal met Lotto-geld, die ontwerp en bou van ‘n nuwe kroeg en opgradering van die kombuis. Die nuwe Trofeekamer is na hom vernoem.
Saamgestel deur Jannie Malan en Pietman Retief
Erkenning aan Prof Floris van der Merwe vir sy navorsing en bronverwysings oor die van der Stel Sportklub.
History of the Stellenbosch Bowling Club: 1942 - 2022 (80 Years)
During the 1800s, sports like jukskei and target shooting were still popular in Stellenbosch, but by the end of the century, other sports like cricket quickly became popular. Later, football (as rugby was then referred to) also gained traction. Efforts to improve facilities began to attract more attention. The development of Stellenbosch University primarily benefited students, and in 1919 a farm between Welgevallen, the University’s experimental farm, and Coetzenburg was purchased, leading to the Coetzenburg sports facilities we know today. Naturally, students benefited from this, but farmers and workers faced challenges with leisure time, which led to the establishment of the Vlottenburg Rugby Club. In 1921, Springbok player Tokkie Scholtz became captain of the Vlottenburg club, and with his drive, the club moved from Vlottenburg to town.
According to the council minutes of January 31, 1922, the Mayor and Councillor Cluver reported on their discussion with the Administrator, resulting in the municipal council receiving permission to purchase the 76-morgen Bergzicht farm from Mr. Du Toit. Dr. Bosman, on behalf of the Council, bought the farm for £6,825 at an auction. The objective was to establish a park there.
On April 25, 1922, the Town Clerk reported that Tienie Louw had given notice that he would begin preparing the site at Bergzicht for football on April 26. Tienie Louw was the owner of the Neethlingshof farm and Chairman of the Vlottenburg and Van Der Stel Sports Clubs. The Mayor, Charlie Neethling, and Councillor Hermanus Stiglingh would ensure that the work was done according to the agreement. The club was also reminded that permission to play there was granted only for the 1922 season.
The club was still referred to as the Vlottenburg Football Club in early 1923, as shown by its application in the Town Council minutes to rent the football field for the upcoming season. The request was approved, and they were able to rent it for eleven months at £1. They were even allowed to construct temporary buildings on the site under the supervision of the municipal engineer.
After the Vlottenburg Football Club received permission in February to rent the football field at Bergzicht again for the 1923 season and even construct temporary buildings, the first reference to the “Van der Stel Football Club” was found on June 6 of that year. When the club wanted to construct a temporary wooden and iron changing room, bathroom, and toilet in January 1924, the Town Council only approved a wooden structure with a corrugated iron roof.
This clubhouse was built where the BAT parking area is currently (2024) located. The name was later changed to the Van der Stel Sports Club, and over the years, various sports clubs, in addition to rugby, began to develop. Bergzicht’s Cape Dutch residential house was used over the years for business activities and now houses the Bergzicht Training and Development Center. The Bowling Club would later develop next to this farmstead’s buildings.
A parking area for wagons and other vehicles, especially for farmers coming to town to shop, developed. The outer buildings of the old Bergzicht farm were also used as stables by farmers who wanted to stay overnight in town. These stables were later converted to house the Klein Bergzicht Theater, which eventually burned down to the ground. Meanwhile, the Stellenbosch Tennis Club was founded and began operating as a club in 1922.
The origins of the Stellenbosch Bowling Club can be traced back to 1939, when Mr. J.L.S. Franzen took it upon himself to establish a bowling club in Stellenbosch. He wrote in his diary dated January 1939, “I will have to keep my promise that I would some day tackle the question of forming a bowling club.” In a subsequent entry dated February 1, 1939, he wrote again, “I think of tackling the question of starting a bowling club.” In another excerpt from his diary dated February 9, 1939, he wrote: “Start canvassing Dr. Mally, Abe Bosman, van Coppenhagen, Dr. Cillier, Jan Smith, Bouman, Taute. It appears the time has arrived for successful starting. I WILL ACT ON MY OWN AS A ONE-MAN SELF-APPOINTED COMMITTEE AND WILL PROBABLY GET SOMETHING DONE.”
In later excerpts, it becomes clear that several people began to support and encourage him, including Prof. Edgar (who later became the club’s president for the first five years), R.C. Okes (Magistrate), Frank Pope (Assistant Magistrate), and P.J. Roos.
A later entry mentions that Mr. Franzen visited his friend Prof. C.S. Edgar to get him interested in the idea of starting a bowling club. The visit bore fruit, and together they left no stone unturned to make things happen. Great effort was made to obtain the right type of grass. Advice was sought from various sources, and as a result, Mr. Franzen undertook to obtain grass, likely grass seed, from a farm of Dr. Reitz near Harrismith. This choice proved to be very successful.
The first notice asking who would be interested in joining such a bowling club was sent out on October 21, 1940, by R.C. Okes in collaboration with Mr. Franzen and Prof. Edgar. The first meeting that followed was held on October 23 at the old Good Hope Café. It was attended by 28 people, including C.F. Markotter, the son of Oubaas Markotter.
Many meetings followed, and by 1942 a committee was established consisting of Prof. Edgar (President), P. Mohr (Vice President), Mr. J.L.S. Franzen (Honorary Secretary), L.C. Van Coppenhagen, M.L. Louw, Dr. Diemond, and Mr. Tyres (Treasurer). The legal firm Cluver and Markotter would later serve as the official sponsor of the Stellenbosch Bowling Club, helping to support the club through challenging times.
Tam Butler (Mowbray), Mr. Harry Furness (Worcester), and Mr. John Longwill (Hermanus) are specially mentioned and thanked for their valuable contributions to building the bowling green, while Mr. Franzen’s tireless effort is given special mention. To quote: “To Mr. Franzen, therefore, the Stellenbosch Bowling Club owes a debt which cannot be repaid except perhaps by ensuring at all times that the game is played in the spirit of good sportsmanship and good fellowship.”
On December 12, 1942, the current facilities of the club were officially opened, and the first bowl rolled on the green. The first President of the club was C.S. Elgar. One of his successors as Chairman/President was P.J. (Paul) Roos, who held the office in 1947–1948. At that time, he was a member of the House of Assembly and died unexpectedly shortly thereafter at the age of 67. His association with Paul Roos Gymnasium is well known. As Rector of the school (1910–1940), he clearly also played a role in the early years of the club. In 1906, he was the captain of the Springbok rugby team that toured Britain. It was the first time a Springbok team toured overseas.
Initially, the club was known as the Stellenbosch Bowling Club, but the Municipality later decided for administrative reasons that there were too many separate clubs. Consequently, the hockey, cricket, tennis, squash, bowling, judo, and other sub-clubs were grouped under one umbrella, forming the Van der Stel Sports Club.
In the early 2000s, the Vlottenburg Bowling Club, which was starting to decline, merged with the Van der Stel Bowling Club. Members at the time wanted to restore the name Stellenbosch Bowling Club, but the Van der Stel Sports Club opposed this. A compromise was reached, and the name was changed to Stellenbosch Van der Stel Bowling Club. However, in 2022, it was decided that the name was too long and cumbersome, and it was changed back to Stellenbosch Bowling Club.
From 1942 until about 1980, the club only had one green. A second green, the Paul Roux Green, was later added. The clubhouse itself was much smaller and had no bar. It consisted of men’s and women’s changing rooms, a small kitchen, and a lounge area, but no bar. Members had to be content with tea. Based on later renovations, it appears there was a space of 5–6 meters between the clubhouse and the bowling green, as well as a stoep covered with thick clay tiles. Remnants of these tiles remain visible today.
The rules of the club, like those of bowling clubs in general, were very strict regarding dress code. Women, for example, were not allowed to wear trousers and had to wear dresses that extended below the knee. It was reportedly checked regularly to ensure that dresses were not too short. Women also had to wear hats under certain circumstances.
A significant change occurred at the club when the front wall of the clubhouse was moved approximately 3 meters closer to the A Green, significantly enlarging the clubhouse interior. The distance between the clubhouse and the A Green was reduced by about 3 meters. It also seems the kitchen was extended by more than a meter to the back. This must have occurred around 1980. With this expansion, a small bar and larger lounge area could be established. The bar was built by the members themselves.
Around 1983, another major improvement was made when the current dining hall (10m x 10m) was added with funds raised by the members. Members were asked to contribute R100 each (according to John Malan who at the time was a member of the club). This addition was a significant improvement, enabling tournaments like “All Days” to be successfully hosted. At such events, teams from other clubs would play all day at the host club. Meals were customarily provided, making it an important fundraising initiative.
An annual report dated June 30, 1995, indicates that the bar’s profit that year was R1,650. It also states that tea fees (later called green fees) remained R1 per playing opportunity, and annual membership fees would not be increased, staying at R50. The total income of the club for the 1994–1995 season is indicated as R6,632, with expenses of R9,362. The club thus suffered a loss of R2,730 for that financial year.
Twenty years later, the club’s income exceeded R1.3 million, with green fees at R25 and annual membership fees at R2,000. The quality of the club’s greens improved over the years, particularly under the leadership of Johann Gerber, who served as the Greenkeeper for more than 20 years from 2000. Under his leadership, the greens were elevated to an A classification. Appropriately, in 2009, the club’s A Green was named the Johann Gerber Green in his honour.
In 2006, it was decided to appoint another person to help maintain and tidy the grounds and assist in the garden. This was necessary since the Municipality started to withdrew from helping to maintain the upkeep of the grounds. Along with this, the club had to purchase gardening tools to take over tasks previously handled by the Municipality. The club’s finances were such that the main club had to assist with costs, on the condition that they could also use the tools when necessary.
In 2006, an ideal pursued by one of the club members, Johan van der Westhuizen, came to fruition. Poles, lights, and other equipment for floodlights were acquired at a reasonable cost from Eskom, which no longer had use for them. The floodlights on the B Green were inaugurated on Thursday, October 19, 2006. The first bowl was rolled by Executive Mayor Lauretta Maree under the watchful eye of the club’s President, Johann Gerber, and Vice President, Lome van der Westhuizen. Johann Gerber also served as the Greenkeeper.
In 2007, Herman (Snorre) Theart began involving a group of non-bowling players at the club on Wednesday evenings under the floodlights. This initiative later became the precursor to the Evening League (Business League). However, before long, he handed over this initiative to the club, stating, “Now you must take over.”
By 2007, after a year of struggling to fill the B Green’s lanes (where the floodlights were), the Business League idea for Wednesday evenings quickly gained popularity. At that time, the outdoor braai area did not exist, and there was a growing demand for a suitable braai and social area outside. One of the members, Jan Smitsman, took responsibility for establishing such a braai facility. He commissioned the plans and funded the project himself. The club committed to repaying him as funds became available. The plans were drawn up by Rotumbo Architects in August 2009, and construction began shortly thereafter.
A skilled mason, assisted by some of the club’s own garden workers, completed most of the work. Jan Smitsman also hired a highly skilled carpenter, Dave Pope, to craft the bar counter, the solid wood mantelpiece above the fireplace, and the double doors to the club’s bar from Oregon Pine. The paving stones for the braai area were donated by the Van der Stel Sports Club. The braai was completed and came into use in 2010. Fourteen years later, it was named the Jan Smitsman Braai. This outside braai became a money spinner for the club and was the forerunner for more changes to be made at the club.
A good sound system was purchased to provide music, and an temporary outdoor bar near the B Green was set up because the indoor bar was too small to handle the volume of people. The provision of meals (handled by Babie Bredell and Louise Coetzee) was the next step. At this point, Marlene Lambrechts (highly competent and beloved by everyone) became increasingly involved in recruiting teams and organizing the Business League. For over 15 years, she made an enormous contribution to the league’s unprecedented success.
Under her leadership and with her team of helpers, the Business League gained momentum. Through sponsorships she secured, generous prizes were awarded. Additionally, beautiful wooden benches (a total of seven) were crafted for the covered braai area, funded by league players and some club members. Each bench, made from solid wooden sleepers, cost R3,000.
The maximum number of players on a given evening was 112, consisting of 28 teams of 4 players each on 14 lanes. It soon became clear that providing meals on such evenings was too much for club members alone, so external caterers were brought in. Ollie, with his potjiekos meals and braais, handled this for many years.
The President’s wife, Marthie Swiegers, took on the task of managing the chaos caused by 112 non-bowling players searching for bowls to use in the evening and ensuring that everything was orderly afterward. She sewed neat bags, each holding two bowls, all categorized by size for efficient checkout and return. She carried out this task for many years and trained others to assist as needed.
Brian Shepherd, who also served as the club’s President (2014-2016) during this period, was actively involved in the management of the Business League and other club functions.
This Business League and external events initiative generated enough funds to repay the cost of the braai area and undertake further projects, including:
- Replacing the Wendy house storeroom with a 12m shipping container.
- Upgrading worn-out machinery.
- Improving the club’s greens (led by Johann Gerber).
- Renovating the club’s exterior (managed by Bernabe Strydom serving as President from 2010-2012).
- Purchasing a petrol-driven lawnmower and groomer (R108,000).
- Installing indoor lighting to create a cozy atmosphere.
In 2013, an application was submitted for lottery funds (R200,000) to expand the club. This resulted in new women’s changing rooms, and an enlarged dining hall (trophy room) and upgrading of the men’s changing rooms. Pretplan (Botha Pretorius) drafted the plans free of charge for the club.
Meanwhile, a new trend emerged because of the Business League: focusing on functions for non-members and groups who wanted to use the facilities for team-building events, with club members assisting. Businesses in groups of 40 to 100 people would come to play bowls, braai, and enjoy themselves. The value of using the facilities to generate additional income from non-members, beyond the Business League, was now fully realised and implemented. Pietman Retief, previously involved with Rembrandt and the Brandy Foundation, was ideally suited for this role and quickly established and expanded the initiative further.
He led this effort with a team for several years, later handing over to Karin and Johann Burger. This was a significant and thankless task, but it brought great benefits to the club. The club now had a steady income flow from non-members and businesses.
The Klein Libertasteater, housed in the old stables of the Bergzicht farm since 1967, burned down on June 13, 2015. The theater’s remains were demolished and removed. The open piece of land between the Bowling Club and the town’s taxi stands quickly became a haven for homeless people, who began erecting structures as it was an ideal location for them. However, no provision was made for running water or toilet facilities. The fence between this new “settlement” and the club’s grounds was rusted and completely inadequate. Malicious individuals started using the club’s taps and water tanks for domestic use. This also led to the theft of especially copper items such as taps and electrical cables.
Every effort was made to lock and secure items to improve the situation, but the problem persisted. Mike Kühn and Lieb Swiegers (President 2018-2020) made valuable contributions during this time, resulting in the installation of a proper new fence and improved alarm systems.
In 2016, the old women’s changing rooms, which had deteriorated into a disorganized storage area for “junk,” were converted into a functional bar with storage spaces, a small office, and a larger lounge. This bar could now handle larger volumes, eliminating the need for a temporary bar outside during large events. The transformation of the changing rooms into a bar significantly impacted the club’s overall functionality, as a club cannot operate properly without a bar. Bertha Lane, who had managed the bar excellently for many years, set up a temporary bar in the dining hall, ensuring members continued to receive the necessary service.
In 2017, a severe drought hit the Western Cape, and sports fields and gardens were no longer allowed to be irrigated with potable water. To save the greens and garden, an emergency plan was implemented without a budget. Water tanks, pump equipment, and a pipeline from the main club’s borehole to the club were installed at a cost exceeding R100,000. The greens could now be effectively irrigated, but at one point, treated water from the sewerage plant, (grey water) had to be delivered by tankers, with even the fire department called in to assist.
Once the water crisis was resolved, the kitchen was renovated. The inside of the old kitchen was completely demolished and rebuilt in 2021. With all the changes made to the club, as much of the old vineyard and other character features as possible were preserved.
Jannie Malan who off and on chairman/president of the club since 2006, was deeply involved in the projects such as building the outdoor braai area, constructing new changing rooms, enlarging the dining hall with lottery funds, designing and building a new bar, and upgrading the kitchen. The new Trophy Room was named after him.
Compiled by Jannie Malan and Pietman Retief
Acknowledgment to Prof. Floris van der Merwe for his research and source references on the Van der Stel Sports Club.