Doug’s 53 years of service to Bowling
Written and submitted by Marie Williams from Port Pirie BHAS Bowling Club
PORT PIRIE – Legendary BHAS bowler Doug Ahola started his career in 1972 and played for five years before stopping in 1976 as his son became involved in sailing.
Life became looking after a yacht and trailer and delivering the same to the yacht club every Saturday.
When his son was old enough to look after things himself, Doug returned to bowls.
He has been a consistent driving force at the club for the betterment for all club members.
Doug is a very successful player, being part of numerous Boucher, O’Shaughnessy and Blieschke pennant winnng teams over the years and winning club singles, as well as being a part of winning fours, triples and pairs.
Over time he has held every position at the club including general handyman and dogsbody, turning his hand to everything, looking after the bar for ten years, greens manager for over four years, treasurer for three years and club president for six years.
Doug was awarded Life Membership in 2002, named Port Pirie Sporting Association Administrator of the Year in 2012 and has notched up well over 800 games for the club, and still counting.
In 2018 as resident greens manager and handyman, he was honoured when the new $250,000 synthetic turf was named “The Doug Ahola Green”.
Doug has continued to be a hands-on member and recently led the team which investigated the installation and upgrade of the new replacement green.
He has had many highlights in his illustrious bowling career and seen and been a big part of numerous significant changes at the club, as 1969 was his very first involvement at the bowling club.
His department at the Port Pirie Smelters was tasked to design and supervise construction of the new BHAS bowling clubhouse.
In 1971 the company decided to build the bowling another green because membership at the club had increased.
At this time Doug had been promoted to Mo Bishop’s position as cleric of works, so his job was to engage and supervise contractors to build the new “B” green.
Doug joined the club in 1972 after being encouraged by his connections and was soon playing Saturday pennant bowls, before being promoted to the top side in 1975 to play off against Port Pirie Club in the grand final.
The game was played on the Caltowie green which at the time was considered the best green in the north, the win giving Doug his first pennant badge.
Between 1986 and 2000, the club won five more pennant flags in the top division.
Doug was elected president of the club in 1992 and held this position for two years.
During his reign as president, Doug won the BHAS Club Champion singles and between 1993 and 2013 he added six more pennant badges.
He was awarded life membership of the BHAS Bowling Club in 2002 and again elected as president in 2009.
In 2017 and 2018 he won the club pairs championship with Glen Jackson and twice won the NWBA champion of champions pairs with Tom Brewer and twice with Ray Baverstock.
Doug is still an extremely valuable and active member of the Port Pirie BHAS Bowling Club, adding to his impressive history each week.
