Media Release. 11 March 2010. Mossel Bay Tourism

Mossel Bay’s Eight Bells Mountain Inn has always had a bowling green of sorts – but now it’s opened one that has already begun attracting bowlers from around the country.

The hotel – a popular, historic, 4-star, family destination situated on a 400 hectare estate in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains – has been hosting guests for more than eighty years, and is well known for the wide variety of its outdoor activities.

“We realised that we had everything from a bell-shaped swimming pool to two all-weather tennis courts, a glass-backed squash court, and a volleyball court; that we could offer our guests attractions like horse riding, walking, birding, and mountain bike trails, and that we had fun things for children to enjoy – like our donkey cart rides (which take place every day after breakfast), a playground, and a games room with table tennis and a pool table,” said René Bongers, who owns the hotel in partnership with his brother, Charles.

“But our bowling green wasn’t much to talk about – so we set about having it professionally re-built to competition standards,” he said.

“This upgrade was definitely a sound business decision because even with all the hype about football, rugby and cricket, bowls remains one of the most popular sports amongst the holiday-going public,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.

She pointed out that sports tourism was an important part of the town’s domestic marketing campaign.

“We’ve recently been reminding visitors and potential visitors that Mossel Bay will be an affordable, welcoming destination for South Africans when all the fans descend on the country for this year’s FIFA World Cup,” she said.

“And, now that Eight Bells has provided us with yet another attraction, another group of people has another reason to visit Mossel Bay – both during and after the World Cup.”

Ms. Holm said that it wasn’t unusual for Cape-based bowlers to travel to KwaZulu-Natal for their inter-club tournaments.

“But hopefully they won’t want to travel that far any more – especially since we now have a bowling green in the mountains that can equal any of theirs.”

“The Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn Bowling Clubs were the first to use the new green when they held an inter-club tournament at the end of last year,” said Mr. Bongers. “All the bowlers were very impressed with the condition of the green, and commented on the beautiful surroundings, the views over the paddocks, and the Outeniqua Mountain as a fitting backdrop.”

He said that the Eight Bells Mountain Inn had developed special packages – which included dinner, bed, and breakfast, green fees, teas, and a light lunch – for bowlers travelling in groups of six or more.

“And, as an added bonus, the members of the Mossel Bay Bowling Club have indicated that they’d be happy to put a team together if your club needs some competition while you’re here,” he said.

For information and reservations please call 044 631 0000 or go to www.eightbells.co.za

ENDS 509 WORDS

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