The first Hastings Open Bowls Tournament was held in the summer of 1911 at the Central Cricket Ground (which is where today the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre stands) in Queens Road under the title of 'The Hastings & St Leonards Open Bowls and Quoits Tournament'.
The tournament venue was later changed to its present location in White Rock Gardens where there were eight greens, of which only four remain today.
The Main Bowls Pavilion in the gardens, used as the tournament's control centre, was completely destroyed by fire in 1968 and subsequently rebuilt later in the same year.
Between October 1999 and April 2000 the Pavilion was completely refurbished in a joint effort by members of White Rock and Rosemount bowls clubs and Hastings Borough Council.
Additional toilet facilities, men's and ladies' changing rooms, a kitchen, and a bar were added.
The total number of bowlers participating in 1937 amounted to a near record of 1843 being 629 singles, 295 pairs and 208 triples.