A popular card playing group is hoping for a grand slam when it comes to a permanent home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Southern Highlands Bridge Club has been working to realise the dream for a permanent, purpose-built home base for about a decade.
The club members, currently including about 150 enthusiastic players, have been saving, planning and researching options for the past 10 years.
Club president Craig Curry said that consideration had been given to sourcing and renovating an existing building.
However, the club's plans reached a new positive point late in 2019.
Wingecarribee Shire Council agreed to lease a portion of land to the club following approval granted through the NSW Local Government minister Shelly Hancock.
READ MORE:
Mr Curry said the land was located on the western side of the existing car park at David Wood Playing Fields in East Bowral.
"We have committed to the land lease for 21 years," Mr Curry said.
"Now we need to find the money to build a club house.
"We've been saving for years, so we have a healthy start."
However, Mr Curry said the club would be looking into grant options and loans to secure all the funds needed to complete the building project.
He said this would include applying for a grant from the Australian Bridge Federation.
In the meantime plans for the proposed building are in the process of being drawn.
Mr Curry said the building would include a kitchen, bathrooms, storerooms, provisions for people with disabilities and additional car parking to the existing public parking provisions adjacent to the site.
It will also incorporate a computer system which uses a specific program for designing and scoring bridge sessions.
Mr Curry said that while the proposed new building would be designed to accommodate up to 24 bridge tables, it would rarely run a session in the foreseeable future with that many players.
"The great thing will be that we will not have to pack up after each club get-together," he said.
The club has an ultimate vision to hold sessions on most days of the week for a variety of programs including lessons for beginners.
Mr Curry said the proposed new club house was specifically for the bridge activities and would not be used by other community groups.
Bridge Club activities include supervised bridge course with U3A, learn to play programs and general competition.
The club also boasts four grand masters within its ranks who play regularly in the club and take part in various major national competitions.
"Bridge is great fun to play and it is also very good for the mind," Mr Curry said.
"It has been proven to assist with a healthy brain function. Each year we play in the Bridge for Brains tournament.
"It is also a great social activity to come together with like-minded people."
But those get-togethers have been on hold throughout the COVID-19 restrictions.
"We are all missing it at the moment," Mr Curry said.
"Some club members have taken part in online competition and we are trying to stay connected as best as possible.
"The 20 person limit in a community centre restriction, currently applicable, does not make for a good competitive game of bridge.
"We are waiting until the restrictions ease further and the members can't wait for that time.
"In the meantime we have done a lot of work to ensure we are Covid Safe when we are finally allowed to meet again in a club environment."
Mr Curry said that the Bridge Club members were very excited about the prospect of a new club house.
"Idealistically we would like to turn the first sod this year," he said.
"But that will all depend on funding support."
Mr Curry said that the club would not meet on Saturday afternoons during the soccer season, which meant the additional car parking to be provided through the Bridge Club development would be available for sporting groups at David Wood Playing Fields.
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.